Eureka Moment

Last April 7 was IPL's graduation party, held at UP Balay Kalinaw. Not that there's something special this time, it was composed of the usual message to the graduates marathon and AVP fest. But what I really loved about it was Ma'am Jing's message to her advisees, and to the whole of Instru as well.

First, let me introduce you to Ma'am Jing. She is Dr. Maricor Soriano, an Associate Professor at the National Institute of Physics. She specializes in image processing, and she's been my teacher for three subjects as of last semester. Anyone can attest how hardworking and how passionate Ma'am Jing is, it is an honor to know her and belong in the same laboratory as her.

She opened her message citing the eureka moments of her advisees who will graduate this school year: Ate Lau, Kuya Vars, Ate Cherry and Ate Kaye. When you are troubleshooting for days and a spark of realization hits you, that is a eureka moment.  When you keep on running your simulations and then find a very viable solution, that is a eureka moment. When you calibrate your sensors exactly right to be able to gather all the needed data, that is eureka moment. She said that her eureka moment was to have led her students to their eureka moments. And that from there, she needn't do anything and all she needs to do is to stay back and let things fall into place.

A eureka moment in research, or in any endeavor, really buoys you up. It gives you a certain momentum to keep on going, to keep on working even if it's 3 in the morning. It is such a great feeling to realize something significant when you've been working at something for so long. It's like a pat in the back that you're doing well and what you're doing is correct. Ay. How I wish moments like that happen more often. But can only think of two ways to increase the frequency of eureka moments, to work more frequently and to work more rigorously.

Ma'am Jing made me realize that I do want my eureka moment(s?) and I want my adviser to have his eureka moment while I have mine. Actually, I think I miss being eager to do research and I miss being fueled by good news to present in my RM.

After my social life suicidal decision to take Bio 11 this summer, I will have my eureka moment, hopefully more than once.