As we sat in the back corner of a small classroom, people ranging in ages began pouring in, staring as they entered. Expressions of question and doubt crossed the brows of these students when they saw the three new "intruders." Nervousness passed through us when they asked what we were there for. After we explained ourselves, tension was calmed for the time being. When the lesson began, normalcy began to return, for the most part.
On Wednesday February 13, 2002, three Physics students; Scott Palliser, Rafael Rodriguez, and myself, attended a Water Chemistry Lecture and Lab at SUNY Cobleskill. Chemistry/Physics teacher, Mr. Matthew Bender, organized the excursion. The experience proved to be beneficial and worth while. Bender, an adjunct professor of Chemistry at Cobleskill College, worked with Mrs. Barbara Brabetz, a professor of Chemistry, to arrange a day for the three of us where we could take a college class and lab to see what it was like. For the class that we were to participate in, there were two prerequisites for the college students, meaning that it was not necessary just a basic and simplistic class. It was not a class which every student enrolled. It was just for those who intended to study such areas as the fish and wildlife.
The day started out with some confusion. We left the school and drove over to Cobleskill. When we arrived at the college, we knew the building in which we were supposed to have class, but we did not know what the professor looked like or where the room was. So, we ventured up one flight of stairs and then another until we found an office. We asked the secretary what room the class was in and she showed us.
There were a couple people in the room but it was fairly empty. All of a sudden a crowd of people walked in and stared at us. They sat around us and asked who we were and what we were doing there. Professor Brabetz entered and gave us the needed materials for the class. The rest of the students piled into their seats as the session was about to start.
Right away, the similarities between high school classes and college classes were obvious. Notes were all written on an overhead in logical order for everyone to copy down. Subject matter was explained in great detail to anyone who asked. The topic itself was basically that of the Chemistry taught in Middleburgh High School. In fact, some of the information that was "new" to the college students was "old" to the three of us. Up until the very end of the lecture, the information was all review. When class ended, the students left and we waited for the professor to take us to lunch.
Lunch took place at the on-campus restaurant that is run by the culinary students within the college. During the meal we talked of future plans, college possibilities and opportunities within college. A lady from the admission office joined us to talk about possibilities at Cobleskill College.
Chemistry lab was our next adventure. Our objective was to test the alkalinity of our water sample from Middleburgh and one unknown sample which was given to everyone in the class. In order to test this, |
