On Your Marks! by Shannen Lorraine

The start of each academic year finds the corridors of chemistry beaming with new faces crafted by expectant and engaging smiles, exuberant personalities and an overabundance of restless vigour. Timeless in its deliverance of new knowledge, unlimited in its scope of novel ideas and unsurpassed in delivering the best that the Mona campus can deliver. In this regard, the Department of Chemistry wishes to welcome our newest Postgraduate Students:

Littlelet Scarlet, Sharna-Kay Daley, Garfield Williams and Mario Christie.

It wasn’t so long ago since I made that transition and every step has been stimulating whether in academics or social settings. The thought of personal publications, travelling to foreign countries and presenting my research at seminars motivated me to work assiduously. Far more than that, however, the thought of novel research spurred my enthusiasm; wanting to be the first to publish in my research area. As such, the journey has been exciting …and tedious, but let’s face it, who said it was smooth sailing? Certainly not the fine prints (if any) on the application form! There will be moments of doubt, tantrums, hair-pulling, teeth-gnashing and simply wanting to quit, but when one thinks of the rewards at the end of the tunnel, our passion and motivations are rejuvenated.

 It’s with that perseverant spirit, the determination and the unquenchable desire to overcome trials and frustration that new graduate students are encouraged to face research. It takes a dash of genius, but true success sprouts from that drive to strive, need to succeed and that sense of excellence which has already embedded itself in our hearts and minds.

Never feel alone; communicate with your supervisors, senior graduate students or lecturers for advice, clarifications and encouragement.

Prioritize your time; formulate your ideas and goals, the objectives of your project and how it should proceed.

But most importantly, HAVE FUN.

I encourage you to take these steps… PEPS

Be PROACTIVE…results don’t come to you; you make them happen; always read and review literature or new materials that can be applied to your research.

Never PROCRASTINATE (Enemy No. 1)

Be EARNEST…always seeking results.

   Never GIVE UP (Enemy No. 2)

Be PATIENT…Rome wasn’t built in a day.

  HASTE MAKES WASTE (Enemy No. 3)

Be STEADFAST…focus on your aims and work accordingly.

       Don’t LOSE FOCUS (Enemy N0. 4)

One last thing…GET THAT LITERATURE REVIEW DONE!!

Yes...NOW!

To our returning Grad. Students

Welcome back to another academic year! Congratulations to the students on their final leg. May God grant you success in your future endeavours. To those of us on the bench…don’t decelerate yet; Press Hard…Press On…and Stay Focused.

Lastly but certainly not least, we welcome back all chemistry staff and lecturers who have made an indelible mark on the Chemistry Department and our academic lives.