u/Argentum881

Pics: Me x2, favorite book, wildlife photo I took, favorite painting (Melody of the Night, Leonid Afremov)

I am a 19-year-old male university student, studying chemistry and environmental science (earth and atmospheric science concentration) with a focus on organic synthesis. I plan to get a PhD in organic synthesis and work in drug development. I work very hard to reach this goal, and am very proactive. I have combined ADHD, which I am currently unmedicated for due to harmful side effects from medicine l’ve experienced. Enneagram 5w6.

I’m a very curious person, encouraged by my upbringing in a Montessori school. My interests include fencing (where I also am an armorer), DnD (forever DM), linguistics (comparative morphosyntax), gaming (immersive singleplayer or complex simulation), solo camping/hiking, and cooking. I enjoy my interests because of the stimulation provided by immersing myself in a new world or mastering a new toolkit— I like complex systems I can master. I like to go down rabbit holes, investigating questions until I fully understand the answer, and can rarely leave a question unanswered. I try to fully comprehend concepts by grasping their big picture, understanding via inductive reasoning and generative principles (“it’s basically this”) instead of memorization. This makes me a highly effective tutor and gives me powerful observational humor.

Socially, I’ve been a pariah most of my life. Now, however, I have an inner circle of friends who I’m very goofy and loud with, an even smaller circle that I’m vulnerable with, and a large social network which I’ve found particularly advantageous. I tend to keep my inner world highly guarded, adopting a quiet yet amiable character in public.

While I do get need structure and have routine in my day-to-day life, I do not stick to it religiously. I generally choose to structure via to-do lists and plans with a degree of built-in tolerance for unforeseen circumstances. These plans are often restructured depending on my energy levels or the development of the situation, especially if there is a human variable to consider. Basically, I structure where necessary to prevent me from getting lost or feeling overwhelmed and trust my own expertise to fill in the gaps. I have a strong independent streak when it comes to organizing my life and reject systems that are supposed to work for me in favor of ones that actually do.

Healthy behaviors: Maintaining work-life balance, conserving my energy, being financially frugal, getting things done.

Unhealthy behaviors: Not being present in the moment, difficulty initiating tasks, anxiously obsessing over doom-and-gloom scenarios, self-isolating, forgetting to eat followed by binge eating, getting insufficient sleep.

Pet peeves: Being micromanaged, people who act superior, unearned confidence, incompetence, forced bonding activities and brainstorming sessions

Cut myself with a chefs knife 4 days ago. Using band-aids and somewhat erratic Neosporin (reapplied around every other day). Had a band-aid on overnight last night that was wet, made the area pruny and white. Cut hurts but red area isn’t expanding, no pus, no odor, no chills.