Heather McKay

Chemistry reflection

I remember the very moment when I saw the notification that I was

registered for Chem-1010. I have always heard from others that chemistry was a

horrendous class to take and that because of it, this semester would end up being

my hardest yet. Truth be told, by looking at the syllabus and the intro assignments

I was almost convinced.

As expected, in the beginning I didn’t really understand much, and I was

having a hard time understanding the materials being brought out in lecture.

Though as I went along, I started to understand how to apply the material. I

learned what elements to use in a formula, how to balance an equation, and even

the highly anticipated yet, slightly odd jokes the professor brought out. I used to

think I was good at movie and song references but professor Okleberry has proven

me otherwise.

When studying for exams I used critical thinking to make problem packets

that covered the materials we were being tested on. This was the most effective way

in helping me understand the concepts and prepare for the test, and n all honesty,

this class of was not nearly as hard as I expected it to be. I even ended up using the

periodic table methods I learned from chemistry in the biology class that I’m

currently taking. If there’s one thing I learned, it’s that things will only be as hard
as you make it. If you truly believe that a class is too hard to understand or

impossible to pass, then it really will be.