CHEMISTRY. That dreaded subject so many of us struggle with in both high school and college. The endless memorization of the periodic table; the intense calculations that seem to go on and on….and on. Endless hours in the classroom, staring at an educator, hoping he/she can help you make sense of this scientific mayhem. Taking extremely detailed notes only to find they are little to no help for the assigned homework. Preparing for a test and hoping it is multiple choice. Asking yourself why Chemistry is a prerequisite to your particular major. These are all questions and struggles high school and college students have encountered at some point in their educational career. But, like so many obstacles in life, this seeming impossible subject can be learned and conquered. Chemistry isn’t THAT hard!
Like so many of you, I was intimidated by Chemistry when I was first introduced to it in high school. Wow, that was 17 years ago! Who knew I would receive my BS degree in Chemistry from an accredited university in 2008. Yes, BS in Chemistry! If anyone had told me in high school that my major in college would be Chemistry, I would have laughed and thought they were losing their marbles. But, here I am, with the diploma to prove it. So, how did I conquer Chemistry? It wasn’t easy and there wasn’t an easy fix. Using my own methods and materials for studying, I was able to understand this seemingly complicated subject and its application in the real world.
When asking yourself how Chemistry applies to you, just remember…..WE ARE CHEMISTRY. Our bodies, our brains, the pencil you take illegible Chemistry notes with….it is all Chemistry. The atoms that make up matter; the protons, neutrons, and electrons that make up the atoms. It’s all CHEMISTRY!!
Anyway, enough about the importance of Chemistry in everyday life. How are you supposed to learn this subject in order to graduate high school or continue your educational journey toward a major? How can Chemistry be learned by the average student, who has no interest in becoming a nuclear physicist? Can you conquer Chemistry even though your strongest skills do not include math or science?
Every aspect of the world today – even politics and international relations – is affected by chemistry. — Linus Pauling
Succeeding in High School/College Chemistry
1.) Show up
Having grown up in a household dominated by educational influence (my father is a retired teacher of 35 years), one common thread among students and failure is not their inability to learn the material, but their absence from classes or lectures. To me, it seems pretty obvious…..go to class, learn, succeed. But apparently it isn’t that easy. Many students lack the dedication to attend classes. Just by showing up to class, you will absorb information provided by the lecturer. Attending class is the most important aspect of learning Chemistry. Every other learning technique stems from you being present for lectures.
2.) Take Notes
You’ve looked over your high school/college requirements and see that a Chemistry course must be taken in order to graduate and receive your diploma. At this moment two thoughts run through your mind…..Do I really need to graduate? and Let’s just do it and get it over with. I don’t want to be in high school/college longer than needed. Both thoughts can be reasonable, but the latter will be more successful. Now, you have made the decision to take General Chemistry. All of your materials, ie. books, notebook, calculator, have been gathered and you are nervously waiting in class for the start of your first Chemistry session. The educator starts to lecture and the first thought in your mind is, “This isn’t a foreign language course, is it? I’m already lost and he/she hasn’t even made it through attendance!” Don’t worry, that’s how most of us feel on our first day of Chemistry. Take a deep breath, calm yourself down, and try to focus.
Focus on today’s lecture; don’t think about how difficult the quizzes/tests may be or any what-if’s that plague a high school/college student. Focus on the here and now. Put all of your effort into paying attention to the lecturer. Use your note-taking capabilities to produce the most detailed notes you’ve ever taken. You don’t have to write down the entire lecture word-for-word, but your notes should be able to explain to you, in your own words, the most important aspects of the lecture. Detailed note-taking is vital to passing a Chemistry course. Your notes serve as a reference for any questions encountered during homework assignments or study sessions. The more detailed the notes, the more successful you will be in comprehending and retaining the information presented during that day’s lecture. Note’s are a great way to summarize key points from any Chemistry lecture.
3.) Ask Questions
There is no such thing as a stupid question. No words are more true, especially when trying to master Chemistry. You’re attending every Chemistry lecture, taking amazing notes, and still some points from the covered material are unclear. Don’t sit through class quietly, hoping the next lecture will seem more clear. Missing key points during any lecture will jeopardize your ability to succeed and pass General Chemistry. ASK your teacher/professor QUESTIONS! I cannot stress this enough. Asking questions allows the educator to explain any questionable content in a new and more detailed way, thus increasing your chances of understanding the material. My father was a high school teacher for 35 years and for him, there is nothing more enjoyable than QUESTIONS.
4.) Don’t Be Intimidated By Math
At the mere mention of Chemistry, the eyes of most people glaze over; they stare straight ahead and mumble, “Chemistry is a lot of math, right?” Did you pass Algebra? If you answered yes to that question than you can pass a General Chemistry course. Chemistry is so often affiliated with complicated mathematical formulas. This simply isn’t true. While Chemistry CAN involve complicated mathematics, a General Chemistry course can be mastered with basic Algebra rules and formula solving. If you haven’t taken Algebra in months, years, or decades, a quick review of its rules will greatly increase your chances of passing that dreaded Chemistry course.
5.) Practice
Practice makes perfect. It applies to most things in life so why not Chemistry. My rule of thumb is for every one hour of time in the classroom, devote two hours reviewing and practicing at home what was learned during that day’s lecture. Yes, it seems excessive and overwhelming, but with this practice and preparation you a greatly increasing your chances of success. Don’t just review the assigned homework problems and complete only the questions with answers in the back of the book; take the initiative, go off the deep-end and attempt the questions that don’t have any given answers. The answers may not be there, but the same thought process can be used for these questions as well as those containing answers within the textbook.
So….that’s it? Show up to lecture, take some notes, ask questions, review math from a decade ago, and practice some textbook problems! These are the essentials to passing a General Chemistry course? The answer is YES. Everyone is capable of processing information in their own format. Chemistry is no different. Chemistry involves processing theoretical and mathematical information. Anyone can learn the basics of Chemistry as long they utilize the given information in their own way. By applying the previously mentioned study points and making them your OWN study habits, you are on the road to successfully conquering General Chemistry. Like I said, Chemistry isn’t THAT hard….just learn it in your own words.
Did you find this post helpful? Let me know by commenting and asking questions. If you get a break from studying General Chemistry, check out my new and upcoming posts covering….what else….successful completion of a Chemistry course. Hope to hear from you! Good luck!
