We did it! Two thrilling
books, 54 experiments, and two and a half years. I named this blog "My Steve
Spangler Inspired Science Adventure" and it was exactly that. Steve continues to
be my inspiration and this truly was an adventure of epic proportions. I got to
do things I have never done before, discover the unexpected, learn more than
just the science, and share my adventure with all of you!
But I began this two and
a half years ago....... why did it take me that long to finish? It was a variety
of things but some of the main reasons were that my junior year of high school
kicked in and time became very precious. Getting through the second book became
a challenge. Usually doing the experiment was the easy part. It was the blog
posts that would take me an hour or two to write up! Often it was difficult to
take out three hours of my day to do the next experiment. If you remember my
post way back in the fall of 2013 of why was I doing this entire thing.... it
was because I didn't have anything better to do with my afternoons. I had time
to do the experiment and blog.
Even though it took me so long to make the blog
posts.... I wouldn't have had it any other way! Because I would go back and type everything that happened and why it happened which got me thinking and that helped me remember it WAY more than if I had just done the experiment and moved on. I
still use a lot of the information I learned at my work and
in everyday life. I have knowledge that I wouldn't have retained if I hadn't
reflected on it through writing this blog.
Plus if I hadn't taken as
long as I did... I don't know if I would have been able to finish my blog with
my inspiration for this whole thing. Making fire bubbles with Steve was such a
perfect way to end this journey.
There was one other
thing that kept me really busy..... I started a business. Now your thinking
"Whaaaat?". Yup that's right! In the Spring of 2016 at the age of 17 I wrote,
produced, directed, organized, and starred in a 20-minute science show called
"Science Girl in Dr. Von Heister's Hijinks". It was a senior project that was
required by my parents. They wanted me to do something that I thought I wanted
to do for a career. I spent nearly 300 hours and my show premiered at Explora in
their theater for 3 weekends. Nine showings total and we had a full house nearly
every time. We had such a great response that it grew from my high school senior
project to my small business. Want to know more? Look at the official Science
Girl website at www.sciencegirlslab.com
There were a lot of changes
over these last couple of years but some things haven't changed at all.
For one thing my writing has improved (thank goodness!). Then again that silly
sense of humor hasn't really changed at all. When I started the blog... I was a
volunteer at Explora, now I am part-time staff! My looks have changed. I have
not cared too terribly much about my looks growing up but it's so weird to look
back and see the differences. You know the lab coat and glasses I used for every
experiment?..... Those are the same coat and glasses I use for my Science Girl shows (and
I still use the epic fail sign!). I was 15 when I started this journey..... now
I'm 18 and headed off to collage this fall. My dream of being an on-stage
science performer hasn't changed but it has become a reality.
This adventure has been
such a big part of my teenage life. It kind of started everything! This
adventure, and every experiment, have been the seeds of what I want to do with
my life. I have experience and knowledge that I would have never grasped if I
didn't have this blog. I will always have this knowledge and experience to help
me through my business and job.
Even though right now I am
shelving the books...... I am moving onto the next step in my life. I will
continue my work as Science Girl and I will always remember this.
This is my first picture I
put on my blog and then the last.
So long everyone. Steve, thanks
for the Adventure...... Go Be Awesome.
