Mt. Pleasant Classical Academy

Our homeschool support group had their family night tonight and the event was “Career Night” The request had gone out several weeks ago for parents to submit professions their kids were interested in. I requested a Pharmaceutical Researcher, preferable a drug research scientist. Since the beginning of time ScienceKid has stated that he wants to be a scientist, and his actions have supported his words. He has always had a keen interest in bugs, chemistry, and biology. Since our visit to U of IL last year for the National Science Olympics ScienceKid has stated that he’s considering biochemistry or biochemical engineering;

“but Mom, that is not pharmaceutical.”

Right, I went ahead and requested a Pharmaceutical research scientist anyway. ScienceKid heard me make the request on the phone and stated he was NOT interested in attending. Right kid, you are going was what I was thinking.

So we get there and meet Jim. Actually we walked in with him, started chatting and then learned he was the pharmaceutical researcher. Well let me tell you that when Jim got up in front of the group to introduce himself ScienceKid perked right up. You see Jim decided to be a scientist when he was 2yo—just like ScienceKid.

Jim loved collecting bugs, frogs, toads, salamanders; anything wild in the woods was what he wanted to examine. He thought he would be an entomologist and study how they carry disease and how to prevent the spread of disease from bugs. By this point ScienceKid was on the edge of his seat, although I’m sure he wouldn’t admit it to anyone now. But you see Jim was describing ScienceKid to a “T”. ScienceKid has never met anyone like him, with his interests. What a match!

Jim went on to describe majoring in Biology; getting his advanced degrees in Chemistry, and how the two degrees go so hand-in-hand. Well as soon as the kids could go and speak with the presenters ScienceKid was off having a technical chat with Jim. 30 minutes later the two were still chatting away about how drugs are developed, about developing molecules, and proteins, and markers, and all that lovely science stuff.

It was a wonderful evening, and now SceinceKid thinks that maybe the Biology/Chemistry field and aiming for the Pharmaceutical industry is the direction for him.

MilitaryKid came along for the evening too, and visited with the various presenters. The evening was geared for high schoolers so I mistakenly thought MilitaryKid would be bored but he couldn’t be left home since DH was a presenter too. Amazingly he has decided that being a chef but be a fun job. Mind you this is the kid who has tactile sensitivity, does not like to get his hands wet or sticky or messy, and rarely wants to help mix food together. But he can dream. Whew, at least he didn’t come away from the military recruiter saying he wanted to be a soldier.