My Unemployed Dollar

Today, I had my very first meeting with a financial adviser.

It felt a little odd to to this, because I'm merely a graduate student, and the compensation I receive is a stipend that's only intended to cover living expenses. For that reason, I've never looked into professional financial advice in the past.

One point the adviser made during our discussion today  is that there is no minimum salary for investing and making wise financial decisions. I totally agree with that point. [I know it sounds like a line they all say, but truth is truth regardless of who says it.]

Although I'm not a multi-millionaire, I agreed to meet with him for several reasons.

First, he's a high school friend whom I've known for most of my life, so I know he's a genuine, honest person. Second, I've been secretly pondering seeking professional financial advice for several months. Third, I've been pretty well at sticking to my budget, and I'd like to start making my money work for me. I've always loved this concept, and am beyond excited to finally put it to practice. Fourth, I'm at a position now, where I can only really depend on myself financially, so it's important that I have a big, fluffy cushion in case an emergency arises. Fifth, I'd like to set the proper example for my daughter. I plan to teach her how to save and use credit wisely, so it's important that I show her by example. Finally, when my life mate comes along, I want him to see that I'm financially responsible just as I expect him to be.

Despite the first reason I agreed to meet with him, I will still do my research prior to investing or buying any products. He's a former classmate and friend, but he's also an employee working to advance himself. I trust that he's open and honest, and he even provided information that shed his competitors in positive lights, but at the end of the day its my money. That means I have the most to gain, but I'm also taking all the risk.

With that said, I'll keep you updated with what I learn and how I decide to begin making my money work for me.

Exposing Students to Scientific Theory

So I'm very passionate about exposing children to science early, but I'm cognizant of the fact that not all children are raised with the opportunity to meet and speak with a scientist, or to attend local activities that teach basic science.

For this reason, I've devised a method for a class of middle school students to visit my lab. This will be the first time students will visit our lab, and it's an isolated event, but my hope is to have more classes visit in the future.

There are several reasons I wanted to do this. First, I find it important for students to see that scientists come in lots of different shapes, sizes, and colors. This is especially important for students of lower socioeconomic status, those from underrepresented ethnic and racial backgrounds, and those who affiliate with underrepresented groups. Second, seeing the diversity that comprises scientific labs can encourage students and make careers in science more accessible goals. Finally, students need to begin to understand how useful scientific theory can be, and how it can be used to make incredible scientific and medical discoveries.

How did I arrange all this? I didn't really.

One of the guys I dated had a daughter, who was about 13. Based on information he gave me, his daughter didn't seem to have a specific interest in any school subject. Therefore, I offered to have her and her classmates from the military school she attends visit my lab for a field trip. I assured the guy that she was welcome to visit my lab regardless of how things ended between he and I.

Anyway, he passed my contact information along to her science instructor, who in turn, contacted me.

The guy I was seeing didn't inform me of the timing of when he passed my contact information to the instructor or when the instructor would contact me, so I was surprised and excited to receive the instructor's email.

Since that initial contact, the instructor and I have been working to pinpoint an exact date for their visit. For now, they plan to visit in May, but an exact date hasn't been established.

Over the next couple weeks, it's my job to 1) find out what the students have learned this year, especially most recently, 2) identify topics that would be of specific interest to the students, and 3) identify where the science we do in our lab overlaps with what may most interest the students based on what they've learned this year. I intend on discussing these 3 items with the instructor. I certainly want to do my best to incorporate his recommendations for what we should teach the students and show them through experimentation into the sessions I develop for the students.

I look forward to meeting the students, either those of this class, or another class of this instructor, if this class isn't able to visit prior to the end of the school year. In the future, I'd also like to identify additional local science instructors that would like to have their students get hands-on learning experience in a university research lab.