Chemistry

Chemistry

Chemistry is my favorite class, if you believe that I got some damp land in Florida I would like to sell. I haven't had chemistry since about 1977 so when I signed up for chemistry I had a completely different idea of what to expect. I studied everything on the PowerPoint slides and the chapter and I was prepared for a comprehensive test. It was quite a shock when I took the first test and realized it was nothing but a glorified math test. My math skills were nearly as rusty as my nonexistent chemistry skills. I came in to chemistry knowing full well that I did not understand it and more so I didn't like it. In fact I quite despise it, but nevertheless I give it my all. Each and every day I try to pay attention and gain an understanding of what is being said. Then I go home and read the chapter, do the homework and study for the quiz. When I think I finally understand it and I take a quiz or test I get quite a shock with the results. I try to keep a positive attitude and keep applying my best efforts but somehow it just doesn't seem to matter. I refuse to give in and withdraw. Who knows I may pay for that decision later. But if I give up I'll never know if I could've made it, besides I have to have it I might as well do it the first time as opposed to doing it over. Chemistry reminds me of plumbing when it comes to tubing sizes there is no rhyme or reason because it's based on so many different standards in the old adage we've always done it this way. I got the biggest kick out of it when I went for tutoring and the tutor could not apply common sense to the problem but merely regurgitated what the professor had said. I feel the best way to understand something is to understand why something is the way it is or how it works but chemistry is kind of like electricity you really can't see it you can only see the results. And when it comes to explanations the professors seem content to say you just need to memorize this as opposed to explaining how. I guess I'm a visual learner and memorizing a bunch of numbers and letters to me is just mumbo-jumbo. But I know I'm not alone because each day the class gets smaller and smaller and the frustration gets higher and higher. I guess I'm very thankful that chemistry teachers are not math teachers because their methods leave a lot to be desired. Can you just imagine a math class without any form of chalkboard to explain the problems. That's the everyday routine in chemistry. I wish chemistry class focused on chemistry and the mathematical portion was taught by a math teacher with an understanding of how to best explain the problems. Word problem seem to be the most difficult in math and that's the principle form of chemistry problem.