Dear future Chem Clubbers,
The optimist sees the glass half full.
The pessimist sees the glass half empty.
The chemist sees the glass completely full, half in the liquid state and half in the vapor state.
I got a 66 on my first Chemistry Honors test. Significant figures were the death of me but then I picked up my slack and the A’s began to come my way. One day, after our Chapter 3 and 21 test on Nuclear Chemistry, the chemistry goddess a.k.a Dr. Ors, approached me and told me that a tight knit circle of seniors in Chem Club wanted me to be their president just because one of them, Kate Morris, knew me from chorus and saw potential in me. The fact that they had even thought of me as someone who could carry on a legacy was flattering yet intimidating.
The first meeting I went to there were five seniors there and one junior: Alex Clarke, Luke Cook Griffin, Kate Morris, Olivia Angsten and Alex Braun. I knew none of them and I have to admit, they seemed so nerdy. But I’m a giant nerd too so I said hey, what the heck. Then the next year AP Chemistry rolled around. Boy oh boy did I get my butt handed to me on a silver periodic table, if you will. The seniors I had come to love and cherish had gone to prestigious schools and now more of my classmates found their way into our little Chem circle. Which leads me to some advice for all you that trickle in after us:
Never judge a book by its cover. Chem club has taught me that you can make friends with people you never thought you’d make friends with, especially over something as geeky as chemistry. These kids were all shy but the excitement we shared over making ferrofluid, thermite, and watching Parker Mason straight up light lithium metal he extracted from batteries on fire was pretty awesome.
Join even if you think you suck at Chemistry. I am nowhere near the best at Chemistry compared to some of my classmates and I definitely will not major in it in college but I love it so much because it is so much fun and a part of every single aspect of life. Like the color pages on this issue of the Torch? Yeah, that’s because of conjugation in the ink molecules. Ask Dr. Skipper about it if you survive the purgatory which is AP Chemistry and make it to the Paradiso that is Chem II.
Always write on Dr. Ors’ board that Chem Club is happening. Please. There have been a handful of meetings where just the officers would show up and eat all the food we brought when we were expecting a bunch more people. Oh and also…
If only the officers show up, it is no longer Chem Club. It is Gossip Girl featuring Dr. Ors. Seriously. Some of the best Chem Club meetings we had were when no one showed up and Paige Howell, Zack Jordan, William Wang, Elizabeth King, and I would give Dr. Ors the low down about everything and anything that was happening in our grade. Dr. Ors may be the queen of sass but you will be her best friend by the end of Chem Club, which is probably the most rewarding aspect of it all.
Don’t expect more than 10 people to consistently show up unless you are making ice cream. Not many have what it takes to commit to three years of chemistry and the biweekly commitment that is Chem Club. But if you are one of those Platinum Ten then well, baby we got some chemistry 😉 But if there is ice cream involved… expect 30 plus people so you don’t have to run to the cafeteria to buy extra milk. Trust me. Def not as good. And on the topic of food…
You must continue the tradition of Bucky Balls. Buckminsterfullerene is 60 carbon atoms bonded together like a soccer ball in what is known as the “Bucky Ball”. But in Chem Club our bucky balls are raw cookie dough balls dipped in chocolate. Handcrafted by Elizabeth King and the highlight of Zack Jordan’s life aside from the lovely Paige Howell. We will pass down the recipe, you just gotta commit to it.
If it is your turn to bring food, you just can’t forget. Food is chemistry. Chemistry Club is food. Without food there is no chemistry between us. #Sorrynotsorry.
Convince Mrs. Dr. Ors to bring THE Mr. Dr. Ors to at least one of your meetings. He is one of the most interesting people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. And it’s great to call him the “Mr. Dr. Ors”. Not every day can you do that, now can you?
Cherish every moment you have. I’ve never been friends with such a smart, quirky, talented, and all around kind group of people than those I’ve met during my three years in Chem Club. Being Vice President my junior year and Co-President my senior year has led me to build relationships with some awesome people and most importantly, Dr. Ors. I cannot stress enough how wonderful of a teacher, mentor, and friend she has been to all of us Chem Clubbers over the past years. Shouts to you homegirl, physical chemistry beats Orgo any day (sorry Dr. Skipper, but the resonance just ain’t workin’ for me).
So yes, future Chem Clubbers of Pine View, from the Class of 2016, we are passing our bunsen burners on to you. Whatever alkali salt you choose to light on fire during a flame test on our burners, we know it will be a good one (but not NaCl because that is orange and just plain boring).
Here’s to surviving high school, making Chemistry fun, and getting lucky by leaving class with Avogadro’s number (because we all know he’s a total babe times 6.022e10^23),
Lexi Hart Class of 2016
Chem Club Co-President 2015-2016
Vice President 2014-2015
General Member 2013-2014