fangirling meme, part four

[mari4212]

strangealchemy

I have to admit, you really intimidated me at first. I started lurking on sorting_elite for about a month and a half before I applied, and I always noticed your votes because they seemed to be so intelligently reasoned and decisively stated. You seemed so confident and aware of yourself, and I loved the Sith Lords sorting tags, partially because the geekishness of them amused me, but also because you clearly had thought through them so well.

Anyway, then I was sorted, and it wasn’t until we got involved in a conversation about sorting various Star Wars characters that I realized that you weren’t as scary as you seemed at first. That conversation, along with your journal did prove to me that you were as intelligent as I had first thought though.

Your frequent mentions of omg_lightsaber have shown me how silly you can get and never fail to amuse me. That sense of humor and insanity is absolutely irresistible in a friend.

And your descriptions of your work on your biology degree have made me very grateful for the biology faculty at my school, I’m ashamed to say. I have to applaud your patience and determination for making it this far with an advisor who did absolutely nothing to help, and admire your cunning and tenacity in finally figuring out what was wrong.

And now for the final reason I’m going to write down to explain why I like you? Your kitty. What can I say, I’m a cat person and Verushka is definitely a cute cat with a very unique name.

Comments

[sileri.livejournal.com]

Thanks! This totally made my day. *adds to memories*

for making it this far with an advisor who did absolutely nothing to help
As odd as it sounds, I will defend Harry somewhat here. And myself as well, because I didn't intentionally choose a bad mentor. When I first joined the lab, I was in danger of being kicked out of the program because of my first year grades (apparently the ability to memorise signalling pathways in which every protein in named R__ is essential to graduate success). At the time, Harry was my biggest advocate, convincing the other faculty that I was good in the lab and an asset to the department.

Unfortunately the relationship's all gone to hell after quals and I'm not really sure what happened or how to fix it. I do know that these things work two ways and it seems like things have been going unidirectionally for some time. There's a lot more distance and a lot less mentoring going on. I can understand giving me more freedom once I moved up in rank, but that shouldn't change the fact he's still my mentor. And when I've spent months not progressing, that speaks poorly for both of us.

I am grateful for all he did during my second year and I've learned a lot from him during that time. However, I'm not at all pleased with the current situation. It's probably because of that contrast that I find myself so conflicted.

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

Ah, okay. That does raise him in my estimation a bit, to know that at one time he really did help and support you.