Honors Physics: Unofficial Electives and Academic Confidence by Elodie

Honors Physics: Unofficial Electives and Academic Confidence by Elodie - September 2017 Scholarship Essay

I thought that the problem was that I was in the wrong Physics class. I was wrong. Upon further reflection, I realized the issue was in my beliefs about myself as a student and about my ability to succeed in a challenging Physics course. I created an obstacle in my own mind due to self doubt. Being in the wrong class, while a problem, was a side effect of the real point of concern, self doubt. By addressing one problem, I was able to tackle the bigger one, my insecurities regarding my abilities. Solving the problems that you have created yourself can be either extremely difficult or extremely simple depending upon the mindset that you decide to adopt; you have a choice. You can dig in and reinforce the ideas that created the problem or you can step back and reevaluate the situation and move forward with a plan for success.
I was supposed to take Honors Physics my junior year, but I didn’t know if I was capable of mastering the material covered. I spoke with people who had already taken the class and they told me it was extremely difficult. I knew I had taken on a heavy academic workload and I ultimately decided to settle for College Preparatory Physics. By the time we had covered our third unit, Vectors, in December, I knew I had made a mistake. The pace was too slow. I was earning a high A in the class with little effort expended. Near end of the semester, it was too late to switch into the Honors class for credit. However, I had come to realize that I had a newfound passion for the subject and I was determined to pursue it, whatever it took.
I approached my teacher, Mr. Black, and asked to audit the section of Honors Physics he taught. A dedicated teacher, he offered to help me learn the material in the Honors curriculum not included at the College Preparatory level. I gleaned information from both Khan Academy and the Honors textbook; I also worked with Mr. Black to learn everything I needed. While many of my friends were off skiing over February break, I worked tirelessly to master a significant amount of new knowledge to get up to speed. I spent between three and seven hours each day learning material, solving practice problems, checking my work, and correcting mistakes until I fully understood the concepts; I loved every minute of it.
When school resumed, I began participating in the honors class as an unofficial elective. Even though I would not be penalized for missing a class or failing to turn in a homework assignment, I showed up for every class and completed all the work. Joining Honors Physics meant extra effort- I now had another honors class on top of my already rigorous course load. My friends thought I was crazy to undertake such a task especially since I was not receiving credit. However, I did not care. I was challenged and excited to learn new concepts that explain the complexity of our physical world. When all was said and done my average was on par with that of the class; I was on equal footing with many of my peers. Actively auditing the Honors Physics class was an empowering opportunity to pursue a budding interest and discover something for which I now have a passion. By believing I am capable of conquering difficult concepts through hard work, focus, and persistence, I can excel in challenging classes.
My experience with Honors Physics this year not only taught me that I am academically capable; it also taught me that I am a good problem solver. I needed first to understand that I had created a problem. I then evaluated the situation and came up with a plan to rectify it. By reaching out to Mr. Black, I was able to problem solve with him work towards a feasible solution. Then I had to take action; I had to work hard to catch up with the rest of the class. In the end, my performance showed me I had successfully solved the problem. The reward was invaluable; I changed my ideas about myself as a scholar.