Published on
Updated on
We’re already beginning to register for spring courses! But, before we get into how you can prepare, take some time to commend yourself on the semester you’ve had thus far. Give yourself grace as you head into midterms and prioritize yourself where you see fit.
Now, your shopping carts in My Zou are likely filled with all of the classes you’re hoping to take next semester. From cross-referencing your degree audits to clearing holds to ensuring you have all of those prerequisite classes done, course selection can often feel like a cyclical checklist.
However, choosing your classes is likely one of the best ways to explore potential career paths, uncover unexpected passions and connect with faculty who want you to thrive in and out of the classroom.
So, this week we sat down with Dr. Steven Keller, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry, to discuss the pursuit of curiosity, finding your niche and what students can do to make the most of their time at Mizzou.
Meet Dr. Keller
Professor Keller is an Associate Professor of Chemistry and also serves as Co-Director of the Missouri Scholars Academy.
He grew up in the Pacific Northwest, earned his B.S. at Pacific Lutheran University and his Ph.D. at UC Berkeley. He has been a faculty member at the University of Missouri since 1995.
When he isn’t in the classroom, Keller devotes his time to being a husband and dad to his two children. He also dabbles in keeping up with soccer, naturally his cousin is former U.S. National team goalkeeper Kasey Keller.
Q&A
What is one of the most fulfilling parts of your job as an associate professor at Mizzou?
Hearing from students that they have a new or better appreciation for chemistry and science after taking a course with me.
Why chemistry? What about it piques your interest?
Ever since I was a kid, I have enjoyed mixing things together. As I got more into formal chemistry education, the act of explaining macroscopic observations with unobservable (to us humans) microscopic objects like atoms and molecules was/is very satisfying to me. That sounds sort of ironic, but I like it.
What are things that your students do that bring you the most joy?
Generating and asking questions because they are curious about something; doing their own investigations outside of any required coursework to satisfy that curiosity.
What are some of your student icks?
Students today are just as smart as they were two decades ago. But I feel there may be an increased sense of entitlement. Some students also don’t take advantage of the myriad of academic resources available to them and then may externalize the blame when they struggle.
What do you do to recharge? What makes you happy outside of teaching?
Teaching, being in the classroom with students doesn’t drain me; just the opposite. But some of the bureaucracy of higher education certainly does, so watching and helping my kids navigate some of the obstacles inherent in being 16 and 9 certainly brings me joy.
What is one thing you want people to know about you?
I’ll speak for myself, but I think it’s nearly universally true among faculty that we want our students to succeed…in our courses and in life.
What advice would you give to graduating students looking to find their niche?
Be honest with yourself about what brings you satisfaction. It may not be what you were expecting, or what people were expecting of you. And be open to change.
The big 3 takeaways
- As Dr. Keller shares, learning begins when you start to questions things and remain in the pursuit of curiosity. A great way to flex that muscle is through elective courses, take classes that you are genuinely interested in and want to learn more about for the sake of learning.
- Use your resources! Mizzou has a robust network of resources in place to ensure you have the tools you need to succeed. Go to office hours, form study groups and turn to career counseling to create a plan before you’re met with obstacles.
- Follow your first mind. As you begin planning your spring schedule and thinking about your post-grad goals, prioritize what brings you joy rather than following the crowd.
By Raigan Clay