Lessons in Chemistry
November 15, 2024
Writer: Sam Luper
Editor: Cameron Bell
As I shut my laptop on the final day of my online COVID sophomore year, I swore chemistry was behind me forever. Little did I know that four years later, I would be opening my laptop as a second-year student at the University of Michigan, sitting in a lecture hall with 400 other students—engineering majors, pre-med students, and me, a Psychology major enrolled in General Chemistry.
Whenever I tell someone that I’m taking chemistry, I receive confused and concerned responses. Compared to my psychology distribution requirements, chemistry has a higher workload, more memorization, and technically little to do with my major. So why would I choose to endure a difficult class instead of opting for one of the easy “A” natural science credits like most people? Sometimes, I find myself asking the same question while buried in hours of MasteringChemistry homework or trying to memorize polyatomic ions that I may never need again.
I don’t remember how I first developed the idea, but I’ve always found chemistry interesting. Although my virtual year of high school chemistry wasn’t the most enjoyable, the concept of microscopic particles and chemical reactions forming everything has always fascinated me. I was, of course, worried that taking this class would hurt my GPA—I hadn’t taken chemistry in years, and how much had I really learned from my COVID-affected schooling? Nevertheless, I decided to challenge myself and commit fully to succeeding in this class, driven by the sheer sense of accomplishment it would bring.
Now, more than halfway through the semester, I can confidently say that taking Chem130 has been one of the most rewarding choices I’ve made as a college student. Not only has it expanded my understanding of the composition of the world around me, but it has also enriched my academic experience and highlighted the importance of pursuing passions rather than avoiding challenges. While others might view a three-hour chemistry lab as torture, I welcome it as a weekly mental break from my other coursework, like French or Social Psychology.
Engaging in this course has required me to think critically, follow complex instructions, collaborate with lab partners, and understand how different elements interact and build upon one another—skills that will undoubtedly benefit me regardless of the field I choose to pursue.
This course isn’t just about meeting requirements or passing exams; it’s about proving to myself that I can tackle challenging subjects and gain a perspective rarely found in liberal arts classes. When passion and curiosity drive your choices, rather than external expectations or preconceived notions of what you "should" do, you rediscover the joy of learning and truly experience what it means to be a student. I may not be taking Organic Chemistry next semester, but I can confidently say I know Avogadro’s Number—and, more importantly, I’ve rekindled my joy of learning beyond grades and requirements.
Image: Leighton Gray
