September 28, 2006 - 10:46 p.m. It seems like every conversation turns toward my plans for after graduation, my two majors, the ever-burning question of which way I'll finally go. So many people have given their opinions, and every one is the same: Chemistry. They have their different reasons, whether it be an issue of gender and the shortage of women in chemistry, or the ease of finding a science-related job. For some it is the practical value of scientific reasearch as opposed to the less demonstrable value of literary criticism. I suppose I should expect this, since most people that I talk to are related to the sciences and/or academia. But it is interesting. Today Dr. Purser and I were talking in the lab, and in the middle of our conversation, he paused to tell me that I should know that the questions that I was asking, the considerations I was making were typical and expected of graduate students in chemistry. He mentioned that he did not want to push me either way, and I believe him. He said that should I choose chemistry, the professor under whom I worked would probably be thrilled--and lucky--to get me. I've realized in the last 48 hours or so, before this last conversation, that this bears striking resemblance to the nature of my call to the ministry. Perhaps I am jumping to conclusions too quickly. Perhaps this is still the high from getting the highest grade and only A on the inorganic test. Yet as Dr. Purser began his comment today, I knew what he was going to say. And I knew that he was right. So the flavor of the week is chemistry. And it's gaining momentum. It's calling. ...before & after...