Saying Thank You to Dr. Lavelle

[Chem_Mod]

Dear Dr. Lavelle, all the TA's, UA's, and staff who helped make online school possible,

Thank you for all of your hard work! With everything going on during this pandemic, I was anxious about being unable to learn or do well in the course. However, you all went above and beyond during these last two quarters and I cannot thank you enough. Although I still found the chemistry courses challenging, having the support of the educators and my peers helped me immensely (especially those bright and uplifting messages you included in your lectures Dr. Lavelle)! Again, thank you all. I hope everybody stays safe and healthy in the meantime. Have a wonderful day!

You know all the TAs and UAs names.
Two staff that went beyond all norms to make everything possible were:

Jonathan Erde
Mark Perlstein

Both were absolutely terrific Fall and Winter quarters.

[Gabriel Nitro 1E]

Dear Dr. Lavelle,

As a UCLA student, I am happy and proud to say that you were my first chemistry instructor at the college level. While I had some experience with AP Chemistry in high school, you made my experience wonderful and truly remarkable! You made learning chemistry for myself, and as I am sure hundreds of other students, a thrill and a heartwarming experience even during these times. The way your lectures flowed, the organization, the interactions, and the optimistic music (and dancing which always made me smile) which accompanied the beginning of your class made it all the better for me!

While I am sure attending your class in person would have been incredible, I know based on your experience you made a virtual learning environment just as well versed in everything in we needed. And I wholeheartedly appreciate that! As I continue learning chemistry in the future, you'll always have a place in my mind and in my curiosity for how chemistry influences the world around us. Hope you have a wonderful year and hope we can cross paths again when we all return to campus. :)

Gabe

[Nick P 3D]

Dear Dr. Lavelle,
I wish all my teachers were as prepared as you for online learning! I have had a tough time adjusting to online learning and you have made the transition much easier by providing so many resources and ways to prepare and learn at our fingertips. Thank you!

[uclakat]

Dr. Lavelle, You're a pretty cool dude! Keep it up!

Katerina (uclakat)

[305614361]

I just wanna say THANK YOU DR. LAVELLE. You made online learning not so bad and were always prepared. This is probably the most I have learnt in a chemistry class and to that I say THANK YOU!

[jasonfarrales3D]

Thank you Dr. Lavelle for pushing me to work harder. Furthermore, thank you for providing a UA program to the class, they all were so helpful in understanding the overall concepts in the class. Hope you have an amazing Spring Break!!

(PS, I am going to miss the little dances that you would do before every lecture haha)

[Audra Mcleod 3G]

Thank you Dr. Lavelle for your hard work and commitment to enriching our learning experience! We are all grateful for everything you've done!

[Mina Tadros 3L]

Dear Dr. Lavelle,

Thank you for an amazing quarter! I know this has been a challenging year for all of us, but you were able to keep me motivated and engaged. I learned so much from you, which I am forever grateful for. Thanks again for everything, and have a great spring break!

[Hannah Biju 1E]

Dear Dr. Lavelle,

I just wanted to thank you for making chemistry so digestible and easy to understand. In high school, I dreaded chemistry because I did not get it and just thought I was super bad at it. In fact, I was really dreading having to take chemistry in college. Your passion for chemistry and for wanting us to succeed was apparent even through a computer screen. These last two quarters of chemistry have made me realize that chemistry is super interesting and applicable to basically everything, and have given me confidence that I can succeed when I try hard enough.

[BrittneyMyint1D]

Thank you Dr. Lavelle for your hard work and dedication! All the resources you provided were really helpful as we learned some challenging topics. While I took AP Chem in high school, I didn't actually understand the concepts behind everything until I took your class, so I'm very grateful! Also thank you to the amazing UAs and TAs for your time and effort!

[Kaleb Tuliau 3E]

Hey professor, I will admit that I have struggled in this class and have even talked to you personally through email on certain tactics to take to make sure that I pass. Just wanted to thank you for taking the time out of your day to truly help

[Phoebe Joseph]

Hello Dr Lavelle,

Thank you so much for being such a caring and helpful professor. Even online you have truly created a welcoming and resourceful environment - something I wouldn't say about any other professor at UCLA. I am so sad that I didn't get to have you in person for this class. Your fun DJ-ing and inspiring poems/quotes really brightened my day, especially considering a lot of our days lately have been hard. I even showed my mom the music and slides you would play before and after class and she then proceeded to look at all your credentials and world experience through your website! This class was very hard for me but you made it enjoyable. I am actually now switching over to Chemical Engineering because this class was the last spark that made me realize I could potentially have the ability to complete this degree and go on to pursue chemistry in other ways after college.

Thank you again and I wish the best for you in the future.

[705340227]

Thank you so much for all of the effort you put into our class! I feel so prepared to move onto organic chemistry after two quarters with you!

[905579227]

Thank you SM Dr.Lavelle you really are the OG Dj, I heard that the Karaoke event was a blast you should keep it an ongoing tradition.

[Anthony_3C]

Dear Dr. Lavelle,

I want to say that I really appreciate your passion and also compassion towards students. You're lecture music, chemistry community (wonderful way to review!), online sessions are all well made and made with love. You deserve everything, including this little poem of mine:

You come and go in our lives,
turned on our passion like it's spontaneous,
lovingly removed our energy barriers,
like an enzyme that embraces
with active sites.

Sincerely,
Anthony

[005137088]

Dear Dr. Lavelle,

Thank you for everything this quarter. You are a amazing professor. I hope to have a class with you again in the future. Thanks

[Chem_Mod]

Thank you all!
We had a great two quarters!

Wishing you all the best.

[Joseph Lee]

I have been in this class for a few days now but I thought it would be cool to write a letter of appreciation at the beginning, and then redo it for my final community post as well. To be quite frank, I thought the class would be so difficult to get to know someone's teaching style and personality, and yet I feel familiarity in the way that Dr. Lavelle lectures. The funny yet informative way keeps me hooked and it's enjoyable to say the least. Then again, we just had the fundamentals unit only haha.

[Alejandra Hernandez 2A]

Although I have only been in this class a little over a week, I can already tell that it is going to be one that I will truly enjoy. It is very evident that Professor Lavelle is truly passionate about what he teaches and it makes the class all that more fun and engaging. I am really looking forward for not just the rest of the quarter but also for the rest of the chemistry series :)

[605733348]

As a freshman, it's really lucky for me to get into Dr. Lavelle's lecture. I love the music and the knowledge covered in class. Thank you, Dr. Lavelle!

[905715668]

Thank you!!! Your songs before class make me happy.

[Jacob Kirkosian 3C]

To Dr. Lavelle,

Thank you for genuinely teaching chemistry! I have learned more within a quarter of your general chemistry class (14A) than I had in AP Chemistry my senior year. Again, thank you!

[Parinita Jithendra 2A]

Thank you Dr. Lavelle for making this class enjoyable and easier to understand. After not taking chemistry for four years, it was slightly difficult to adjust to, but your teaching methods have made it better to understand.

[905715668]

Thank you! I always enjoy your lectures.

[605721741]

Dr. Lavelle,

From the opening DJ intros to the occasional memes that you include in slides during lectures, you are always injecting energy into Chem 14A. Thank you for all the effort and thought you put into this class! Thank you for making the transition from online back to in person seamless with recorded lecture sessions as well. Hope all is well!

Thanks,
Lisa Barooah

[N Kanuri 2E]

Dr. Lavelle,

Thank you so much for the time and effort you put into teaching us! I enjoy seeing your passion for chemistry, your jokes, and email emojis. Your class has been a great transition to a first year at UCLA, and I look forward to having you for a few more weeks in Chem 14A, and the entirety of Chem 14B!

Thank you again!

[Claudia Longo 2J]

Dr. Lavelle,

In less than ten weeks, I've felt my understanding of chemistry soar. I took Honors Chemistry and AP Chemistry in high school- I didn't even pass the AP test! I barely knew what a dipole moment was. But thanks to you, my understanding of chemistry has improved greatly and I genuinely enjoy coming to the lectures and listening to you teach. This is currently my only in-person class on campus as well, so I'm glad I have a reason to go to UCLA :). This class will probably always have a special place in my heart... the first official university lecture I've had at the legendary UCLA campus was for Chem 14A at 1:00 p.m. :).
Thank you for sharing your knowledge of chemistry Dr. Lavelle! And thank you for having a nice sense of humor, I'm sure it helps your first-year students (such as myself) relax and a seemingly daunting place. I'm really happy the first memories I got to make at UCLA were in such a versatile and valuable subject.

[Claudia Longo 2J]

I would also (I'm saying also because I posted another reply) like to say thank you for all the effort you place in educating us. You really put the "try" in "Chemistry!" Your jokes at the end of class and all the resources that you provide your students are testimonies to your work ethic and they're the reason why so many of your students pass the MCAT exams with flying colors or whatever other exams their majors/career paths require.

[Emily Wu 2G]

We love and appreciate you!!

[asfakhan_2H]

I’d like to thank you for being a kind and understanding professor. You provide so many resources for us that aid us so much. Your lectures are useful and each class we gain a lot of knowledge. Thank you for making chem not as bad as it should have been. Thank you for all the effort!

[Kayla Ziebell 1H]

We thank you so much for your teaching and bright and welcoming personality! We love you!

[405566265]

Dear Dr. Lavelle
I have enjoyed this class so much! Thank you for putting in so much effort to make sure we have access to all the resources and help we need. I appreciate it!

[Sofia Cerpa 2E]

Dr. Lavelle,

Thank you for making this quarter as exciting as it was! I always enjoyed your class and learning something new each day. Thank you for making it easy for students to succeed with all the help that you provided. I look forward to spending another quarter as your student in 14B.

Sincerely,
Sofia Cerpa

[505706331]

Dr. Lavelle,
It has been really nice to be in your class during my first quarter at UCLA. Thank you for putting so much effort into providing so many extra resources to make sure we succeed. I am looking forward to another quarter with you in 14b.

[Morgan Micallef 1A]

Thank you Dr. Lavelle!
It has been a great quarter even in an online class. I'm excited to get to attend lectures in person next quarter!

[Esther Kim]

Thank You Dr. Lavelle,
Thank you for genuinely caring for your students and teaching us Chemistry 14A. Your passion for the subject shines through and your accent makes listening to the lectures that much better <3 Thank you for everything and I can't wait to have 14B with you next quarter !

Best,
Esther Kim

[Isabelle Kludt 2B]

Thank you for all the effort you put into teaching and giving us resources!

[radhika singh 1A]

Thank you Dr. Lavelle!

I have really enjoyed your class and can't wait for chem 14b with you!

[Chem_Mod]

Thank you. Appreciated.

[Chem_Mod]

Thank you for all the effort you put into teaching and giving us resources!

Most Welcome. It is huge effort but also rewarding, especially when students appreciate the many resources.

I am trying to have/organize the same good quality lecture recording for next quarter in Chem 14B as well as many UA sessions, etc.

[Zara Okeiyi 3C]

Thank you, Dr. Lavelle! We didn't get to see much of each other since my lecture with you was online but I can't wait to meet you in person next quarter in 14B!

[eve444]

I just want to say thank you, Lavelle! Thank you for keeping my passion for chemistry alive by providing new information and helping us apply these to topics to see the intersectionality between various topics. I can't wait for 14B especially since it'll be in person!

[605537776]

Thank you so much, Professor Lavelle! I definitely struggled in this class but thank you so much for being such a great professor!

[Emily Wu 2G]

Dr. Lavelle, thank you for always putting the opinion of your students first. You adept quickly to the student's suggestions and is always providing so much resources for us to succeed. I feel like you genuinely want us to succeed in chem and we really appreciate that.

[Zoe Collins 1G]

Dr. Lavelle,

I can't lie, I don't expect to get a particularly high grade in your course and I've struggled through every single concept thus far. This class has been an incredibly difficult learning experience for me, but I'm really grateful for all the room to grow. This was one of the first classes in my college experience so far that really made me work hard for the answers, and I'm really glad I had the chance to take the class from a professor who provides resources to people from all backgrounds. Even though the class was difficult, I've never felt that I didn't have the support to succeed. Thank you so much for everything you do.

[Lulu Almoshawah_2K]

These 2 quarters of chem have not been easy but I'm thankful for all the resources and help you provided for us! never been a big fan of chemistry yet still you made me enjoy it :)

[Kayla Ziebell 1H]

Thank you so much!

[AngelinaYuleiGao 1B]

This course really helped me enjoy Chemistry again; I hated the subject with a passion in high school because it felt so convoluted and scatted, but your class expertly connected all of the bits and pieces we've learned over the years into a super cohesive course, and everything made so much more sense after learning it here! I really really appreciate how much resources were provided to help us succeed, and you managed the transition to a hybrid learning model expertly, and I can't express how grateful I am.

I'm going to miss your music at the start of every lecture! Thank you, Dr. Lavelle!

[Nayeli Valtierra 2F]

Thank you Dr. Lavelle,

I am glad I was able to take these two courses with you. I am especially thankful for all the resources you provide for your students, we greatly appreciate it. Definitely an amazing professor!

[Nayeli Valtierra 2F]

Thank you Dr. Lavelle,

I am glad I was able to take these two courses with you. I am especially thankful for all the resources you provide for your students, we greatly appreciate it. Definitely an amazing professor!

[Bailey Herbert 2L]

Thank you so much for everything Dr. Lavelle! You are clearly very passionate about teaching chemistry and I appreciate how much you care about student success.

[Rainy Liu Ruoshui_2K]

This is possibly my last post in chemistry community. As a freshman in UCLA, I feel really supported in this class.

Thank you Dr. Lavelle!

[oliviacarnot]

thank you Dr. Lavelle! you really want us to do well:)

[Parinita Jithendra 2A]

thank you Dr.Lavelle!
I am so glad I was able to take these last two courses with you. I was able to understand the material and greatly appreciated all of the additional resources provided to us on your website!

[victoria alvarez 3c]

Dr. Lavelle:
I have never liked chemistry, nor have I ever been good at it but after taking both 14A and 14B with you I can definitely say I enjoy the subject more. The countless resources were key to my understanding of the content and it is because of that increased understanding I feel prepared for the final, as well as the MCAT (hopefully, with more study of course). I am so very glad I was able to start my chemistry journey here at UCLA with you as my professor, and I truly have enjoyed these last two quarters. Thank you so much for all you have done!

[Dianne Ayala 1B]

Thank you for teaching me some chem and for all the helpful resources you provided.

[Samuel Mushinski 2G]

Thank you Dr. Lavelle!

[Ally M]

thank you, Dr. Lavelle,
even though I was never able to attend your lectures in person, I can tell you care so much about your students and their success, both in your class and beyond. You put so much time and effort into this class, more than I have ever seen from another professor. I wish you all the best and I think you for helping me navigate this class. Hope to see you around sometime :)

[Erin Woolmore 1C]

Dr. Lavelle, thank you for everything these past two quarters! I'll surely miss your class and your music. :)

[Chem_Mod]

Thank you!

Great class last quarter in Chem 14A and this quarter Chem 14B!

You did well today and I am proud of the class performance. :-)

Wishing everyone successful finals, an enjoyable break, and Good Chemistry!

[eve444]

Thank you Lavelle for an amazing two quarters! I feel more than prepared to tackle any other chemistry courses required. I truly appreciate all of your hard work and dedication to helping your students learn and grow.

[eve444]

Thank you Lavelle for an amazing two quarters! I feel more than prepared to tackle any other chemistry courses required. I truly appreciate all of your hard work and dedication to helping your students learn and grow.

Wrong year, lol but point still stands!!

[Chem_Mod]

Thank you!

Great class last quarter in Chem 14A and this quarter Chem 14B!

You did well today and I am proud of the class performance. :-)

Wishing everyone successful finals, an enjoyable break, and Good Chemistry!

There were so many posts this quarter Chemistry Community will be moved to a new and faster server!
:-)

[Chem_Mod]

Thank you Lavelle for an amazing two quarters! I feel more than prepared to tackle any other chemistry courses required. I truly appreciate all of your hard work and dedication to helping your students learn and grow.

Thank you Sade/eve. :-)

[Zara Okeiyi 3C]

Thank you so much for teaching me this quarter Dr. Lavelle! You are appreciated!

[Julia Todorov 2F]

Thanks Dr. Lavelle for always starting lecture with the music and fun intro, it always gave me something to look forward to compared to all other lectures and you made chemistry fun!

[Chem_Mod]

You are most welcome Zara and Julia.
I am fortunate to interact with many, many terrific students. :-)

[azurexrose]

Thank you Mr. Lavelle!!
I really appreciate how much time and energy you put into giving your students as much help as they need. :))

[Chem_Mod]

Thank you Mr. Lavelle!!
I really appreciate how much time and energy you put into giving your students as much help as they need. :))

Thank you and you are most welcome. Glad you appreciated my daily energy all quarter. :-)

I good way to end two quarters with terrific students!
:-)

[Nicole Pablico]

Dr. Lavelle,
Thank you so much for making this quarter interesting and worthwhile. It is very rare to see professors to this day still have the same passion and energy they once had. I have been inspired into doing the things I like and truly enjoy. At the same time, I am more encouraged to complete work for this class because of your enthusiasm for the subject. Thank you for providing so many resources and assistance for your students- it is much appreciated! It shows how you care for the benefit of your students and as well as to the TAs and LAs.

[Danielle Paisley 1H]

Dr. Lavelle

Thank you so much for all of the resources that you provide! The music, jokes, and engagement help the class to enjoy learning new material despite challenges. You demonstrate your genuine passion for educating your students and it allows us to perform to our highest ability!

[Jane_S 2C]

Dr. Lavelle,
Thank you for being the best chemistry teacher I've ever had. I have had such a hard time learning chemistry, but you make it fun and enjoyable. I find working through problems exciting and rewarding once you get them right. You make class so fun by starting it out DJing and provide useful examples during class. I know you put in so much time into ensuring our success and I'm so thankful to have you as a teacher.
Thanks,
Jane

[cassidy_schmitt]

Dr Lavelle,

You have exceeded my expectations and sparked my love for chemistry again. In all honesty, I did not have the best professor last quarter, and having you this quarter was such an honor and blessing. You are truly so sweet and genuinely care about your students in a way that is clearly very visible. Thank you for sharing your extensive knowledge about chemistry with us in a way that is understandable and insightful. You are a one of a kind!

Thank you!!

[Russell Ahmed 2K]

Dr. Lavelle:

Thanks for making the difficult concepts covered in 14B more clear. I walk out of lecture with a better understanding of the content, and that is in large part because of your teaching style and the effort that you put into making this class run smoothly. Thanks for a great quarter!

Best,

Russell

[liapletcher 1A]

Dear Dr. Lavelle,

Thank you so much for all of the hard and thoughtful work you put into your class. Your dedication to your students' success is so inspiring and invaluable. This is the first chemistry class I have ever taken that has gotten through the entire syllabus on time (impressive!!!). I truly enjoyed all of your lectures and the music and jokes you added. Thanks again for all of the good chemistry!

[Malia Rose 1C]

Thank you Dr. Lavelle for all your smiles and your dancing and your beats and your jokes and your motivation throughout the quarter. You're an amazing teacher and I'm so glad I got to be in your class.

[105736938 AADL]

I did not have the best experience in Chem 14A so I was very nervous coming into this class. Dr. Lavelle has completely changed my perspective on chemistry and I just want to say thank you. I really learned a lot in the class and although pretty challenging, overall I enjoyed this class so much more. Dr. Lavelle is truly an amazing professor who really cares about student learning.

[Augustin Kelly 3E]

Thank you Dr. Lavelle! I regret not signing up for an in-person lecture, but you have provided us with enough resources so that we can do well even online!

[Aiden Lieb 1I]

Thank you, Dr. Lavelle! I appreciated the music you played at the start of every lecture. It made my Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays just a little better.

[105944027]

Hello Dr. Lavelle,

I just wanted to say thank you so much for the sincerity you put into teaching your students. You have provided us with so much resources so that each and everyone are all able to succeed in the career path they chose. Although chemistry is something I have always struggled with, you made it somewhat bearable. I also want to say that I think it's so cute that you play music before we start class. Thank you, truly.

[Marisol Meneses 2C]

Hi Dr. Lavelle!

As the quarter has come to an end, I wanted to say my gratitude to you! My high school teacher didn't have much passion to teach us, but seeing how you teach and all the material that you provide, it's so clear that you love chemistry! Not just that, but you care about us as you put in so much work to make sure we get as many resources as we need, that if we have any questions, to ask and to speak up. Every lecture you taught, you came with all of your energy (Even when it was pouring rain!!). Thank you so much! It's been a pleasure and an honor learning from you this quarter.

[Emily Vargas 2I]

Thank you Dr. Lavelle for this quarter,

I'm honestly terrible at chemistry but you've made it manageable :)

[Rhea Jain 2I]

Dear Dr. Lavelle,

After taking 14A with you, I knew that there is no one I would rather go through the 14 series with. Your organization and obvious care for your students is so comforting, as it's clear you really want your students to learn and feel confident about their knowledge in chemistry. I find that rare across a lot of lower division series at UCLA, so I'm so grateful I was able to take 14A and 14B with you :)

[Grace M Miller 1K]

Great final, everyone! It looks like this thread was started in 2011, which is crazy, so c'mon Winter Quarter 2023 let's keep it going. I am so grateful that I had you as my professor this quarter. It must be extremely difficult to convince 1,000 students that yes, you DO really care about their learning, and you DO want them all to succeed, but you have. I was always confident that you cared about us, our success, and our mental health. I really appreciated that there was always help available. It kept us from getting stressed out, at least for me it definitely did. Your enthusiasm and optimism about Good Chemistry truly made learning enjoyable, and your smiley face-ridden emails were always a mood-booster. I wish you were my professor for 14BL next quarter too, but I guess now we have to say goodbye. Have a restful Spring Break, and thank you again from me and I'm sure all of the other students!

[Chem_Mod]

These posts are very much appreciated.
It takes a lot of energy creating and maintaining all my class and student resources before and throughout the quarter.
Your Good Chemistry helps me keep going! :-)

[Jonathan_Yu_2C]

Thank you Dr Lavelle,
Thank you Arthur,
You worked tirelessly to help me learn.

[Luke Iwai 3L]

Thank you Dr. Lavelle,

I wish there was a version of Chemistry Community for every class/ subject as it is a super helpful resource and builds a sense of community. Also for the extra weekly Friday workshops that really solidified concepts and teachings from the lectures and promoted curiosity and engagement with the material. Also the smiles and music before class always raised my spirits.

Have a restful Spring Break!

[Sophia Peavy Lec 1]

Dr. Lavelle,

Thank you for showing up to each lecture with positive and happy energy. It made my mornings much more bearable and more motivated to pay attention and work hard!

[Chem_Mod]

"I wish there was a version of Chemistry Community for every class."

My UAs also express they wish their classes had UAs.

:-)

Many great posts, from positive energy every day, to helpful TAs, UAs, and Chemistry Community.

Thank you and wishing you all the best.

[406245725]

Dear Dr. Lavelle,

Thank you for the countless number of resources you have provided for us to succeed in Chem14A. I was really overwhelmed with everything before starting course but, after attending the first lecture, not so much. I feel more steady on my feet. I can understand everything as we're learning and I'm doing my own reviews in my own time. I'm really looking forward to gaining a much better understanding of chemistry. Thank you so much for everything! :)

Sincerely,
Simran Kaur

[Chem_Mod]

Great to hear.
Most Welcome. :-)