Last Thursday I had biochem lab and I've been trying to process the entire experience. It's a 400 level lab and the most lab work I've done is general chemistry 2 lab. So, notably, I walked into this lab feeling nervous but thinking, "hey, it's the first day, how bad can it be?"
I walk in and the lab coordinator is just freaking out:
At this point, I learn that the registrar somehow managed to fuck up the lab sections and decrease the number of students while one of the TAs decided to not TA anymore. So, even the other students in this lab were also freaking out.
Meanwhile, I am sitting there, observing the clusterfuck happen, and I'm like "ok, so today is kind of hectic." Gets worse. We did 4 different exercises in the first lab, 2 of which will contribute to our semester's long project. That is scary enough because on the first fucking day we are expected to just walk in and know how to do shit when the lab description clearly states that this is an introductory biochem lab. Additionally, we are given only enough reagents to run an experiment once. So, if we fuck up, then we basically fuck up stuff for the rest of the semester.
The work is divided by group member. We work in pairs and each person does 1-2 experiments per lab. I lucked out and had 3 in my group and I was given the exercise to make 2 buffers. Let me remind you folk that the last time I made a buffer and titrated in gen chem lab, it was a complete and utter disaster. So, getting this exercise to do alone was super anxiety inducing.
To top it all off, while I did the relab and read the labs, I was expecting to take part in each activity and collaborate with the work. So, my partners prepped some sample for PCR and I have zero idea what they did as I have never done PCR before and I didn't take part int the experiment. Annnnd they fucked it up.
And I can't even get upset about it because I couldn't remember how to calibrate the pH probe. Seriously. I never had to do it before and I was just like "errrr derp." So, my labs mates and I were all frustrated. They likewise felt that this was too much work and not enough explanation for the first lab. Especially since it is a 3 hr evening lab ending at 9pm. We left full of rage.
And then our rage turned to not giving two shits.
After we got our rage and ennui out of the way, we decided that the best course of action was to try and divide experiments up before hand, know the lab manual, and write questions and concerns before coming it. For me, this means looking up videos on lab procedures. I mean, none of it is particularly difficult. Conceptually I know what I am doing but I just don't know how to work the lab equipment. And that's the problem. So, in order to not waste time, look stupid, or have a derp face perpetually glued on my face, I have to do a shit ton of work to prepare for these puppies.
Thursday was one of those moments where I wished I cared about research more.
