Strategies for Gen CHEM Lab and Gen BIO Lab

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 Labs are stuffy. 

They are awkward.

They get embarrassing quickly.  

And it's like the professor pretends they have never worked with you in lecture before or haven't had you in lab all semester!

Tips to make lab more bearable

Write down (on paper) what makes the lab uncomfortable. 

For me:

  1. It felt like the lab was rigid because students weren't allowed to sit.
  2. I could never find the sweet spot for partners
    1. Too perky/popular or not at all prepared
  3. Lab googles looked funny and felt uncomfortable
  4. I never felt prepared enough, no matter how much I prepared. 
  5. Lab reports were high stakes, and I was expected to have all the answers. 
  6. Clothes had to be a certain way, but it felt restricting, like walking on eggshells. 
  7. Could not touch anything. 
  8. Could not spill anything.
  9. Could not clean anything.
  10. Could clean some things.
  11. Not enough sleep the night before.
  12. Walking into the same situation each week, with compounding amounts of defeat.
  13. Same 

Wear comfy clothes. 



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