Have you a unique achievement

[TonyMcC]

Do you think you have done something of benefit to others that possibly nobody else has ever done?

 

In my case I ran a course to prepare a group of students for a recognised academic qualification. At the end of the course I sat down with my students and sat the same exam with them because I didn't have the qualification myself. That has to be unusual!

I am glad ,and at the time was not a little relieved, to find when the results came through that I had passed!

 

The course was run in 1974. The exam was for the UK General Certificate in Education at "O" level, the subject Electricity/Electronics. I was serving at R.A.F. Gan in the Maldives at the time and had been posted before the results were published. To this day I don't know how my students did. They would be around 60 years old now. If you recognise yourself then post to say how well you did!

[skyhook]

I've planted a few trees and various seeds of plants. If that counts for anything, haha...

The seedlings were planted 10 yrs ago, but till now they are still no more than 2m tall. I might have planted them on hard ground. A few were eaten by some people, they went for the heart of palms. We chinese have a saying," A man plant a tree , the next generation can relax under its shade. " 前人载树，后人乘凉 Its a time waster though, the government have plans for every patch of land. Trees get bulldozed.

Edited January 9, 2011 by skyhook

[TonyMcC]

I've planted a few trees and various seeds of plants. If that counts for anything, haha...

The seedlings were planted 10 yrs ago, but till now they are still no more than 2m tall. I might have planted them on hard ground. A few were eaten by some people, they went for the heart of palms. We chinese have a saying," A man plant a tree , the next generation can relax under its shade. " 前人载树，后人乘凉 Its a time waster though, the government have plans for every patch of land. Trees get bulldozed.

 

Worthwhile - but hardly unique lol. Though I suppose nobody else planted those particular trees!

[Doc. Josh]

I won an ambassador award at my high school, for helping troubled youths in bad situations. I coached them on the importance of education, protective sex etc.... And being a school to school speaker. Along with a top research award for most Thorough report in that graduation year. Not really a unique acheivment but an achievment non the less.

[TonyMcC]

I won an ambassador award at my high school, for helping troubled youths in bad situations. I coached them on the importance of education, protective sex etc.... And being a school to school speaker. Along with a top research award for most Thorough report in that graduation year. Not really a unique acheivment but an achievment non the less.

 

I think I appreciate how you must feel. The very first course I ran as a college lecturer was known as a Youth Training Scheme (YTS). I was given 6 teenagers who had acheived absolutely nothing at school. I lost 2 along the way, 1 to the police for some crime and the other I suppose just got fed up. 4 of them passed a City and Guilds exam in electricity and electronics. The next year I was running a course for unemployed people and arranged a visit to an electrical company in a nearby town. At the door were my 4 ex-students who formed a sort of guard of honour and gave me a cheer as we entered. They then insisted on escorting me and my class around the factory and showing us the work they were doing. Quite honestly it was the proudest moment of my life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youth_Training_Scheme

[mississippichem]

I synthesized a novel compound last year; under professor supervision. I designed the synthesis and confirmed the structure independently though. Nothing revolutionary, but a new compound none the less.

Edited January 11, 2011 by mississippichem

[TonyMcC]

I synthesized a novel compound last year; under professor supervision. I designed the synthesis and confirmed the structure independently though. Nothing revolutionary, but a new compound none the less.

 

Sounds interesting. Did you have some particular purpose in mind for your compound. Some benefit in mind such as medical or industrial?

[mississippichem]

Sounds interesting. Did you have some particular purpose in mind for your compound. Some benefit in mind such as medical or industrial?

 

My novel compound was actually a ligand that was then used in the synthesis of another compound that was a mixed meal anti-cancer complex. It worked well in cell trials, (it cleaved DNA selectively by forcing one of the base pairs [at a specific site] into a high energy excited state by producing a singlet [spin configuration] oxygen species*) but was too toxic for rats. Folks in that lab [i worked there for a semester] are now tweaking the drug to try and get less toxicity.

 

*no kinetic studies were conducted but similar mechanisms have been established in the literature and spin transition rules are indicative of the fact that a singlet oxygen species was involved.

Edited January 11, 2011 by mississippichem

[TonyMcC]

My novel compound was actually a ligand that was then used in the synthesis of another compound that was a mixed meal anti-cancer complex. It worked well in cell trials, (it cleaved DNA selectively by forcing one of the base pairs [at a specific site] into a high energy excited state by producing a singlet [spin configuration] oxygen species*) but was too toxic for rats. Folks in that lab [i worked there for a semester] are now tweaking the drug to try and get less toxicity.

 

*no kinetic studies were conducted but similar mechanisms have been established in the literature and spin transition rules are indicative of the fact that a singlet oxygen species was involved.

It's not my field so I don't understand all that you have said, but it certainly seems a very worthwhile thing you are working on and I wish you success for the future.

[ydoaPs]

Do you think you have done something of benefit to others that possibly nobody else has ever done?

 

In my case I ran a course to prepare a group of students for a recognised academic qualification. At the end of the course I sat down with my students and sat the same exam with them because I didn't have the qualification myself. That has to be unusual!

I am glad ,and at the time was not a little relieved, to find when the results came through that I had passed!

 

The course was run in 1974. The exam was for the UK General Certificate in Education at "O" level, the subject Electricity/Electronics. I was serving at R.A.F. Gan in the Maldives at the time and had been posted before the results were published. To this day I don't know how my students did. They would be around 60 years old now. If you recognise yourself then post to say how well you did!

I had a similar thing happen to me when I was in the Navy, but it wasn't to the same extent. I was put on the watchbill with an under instruct watch. I was supposed to teach him how to stand the watch. However, I had never stood the watch before-not even as an under instruct.

[TonyMcC]

I had a similar thing happen to me when I was in the Navy, but it wasn't to the same extent. I was put on the watchbill with an under instruct watch. I was supposed to teach him how to stand the watch. However, I had never stood the watch before-not even as an under instruct.

 

I hope your "student" performed his duties satisfactorily after your instruction!

[Moontanman]

I'm not sure if this counts but when I was 12 years old I planted about 200 hybrid long leaf pine trees, I planted them myself as part of a state wide program. It took me three weeks to plant them, when I was 12 that seemed like forever, lol. There are now about 75 to 100 of them still standing, they are all in the 100'+ range tall and more than 2' thick, I think i made my carbon foot print a little smaller by planting those trees.