That One Time When I (Almost) Failed Chemistry Class by Emily

That One Time When I (Almost) Failed Chemistry Class by Emily - May 2021 Scholarship Essay

I hate chemistry. This was the mantra I knew most of my junior year and the one I repeated in my head every day. During my sophomore year, chemistry had seemed like a breeze, but AP Chemistry, with its kinetics and equilibrium equations, seemed like instructions for a puzzle written in a foreign language—and I do not like puzzles either.
For an hour every weekday morning, I sat in a freezing chemistry classroom taking tedious notes with my teacher’s words going in one ear, and straight out the other. I wanted to understand redox reactions and the photoelectric effect more than anything, but none of it made sense. Even extra lessons from my teacher did not help. The concepts were just a jumble of numbers, formulas, variables, and random atomic elements in my head. At surface level, I understood enough to complete the homework, but connecting all the pieces together left me at a loss. Despite all of this, I was dead set on taking the AP exam at the end of the year.
Then March came and my school unexpectedly shut down. Surprisingly, quarantine was exactly what I needed. I spent every day reviewing my chemistry notes, following along with online courses, and cramming practice problems. At times, I would stumble across a concept that I did not understand. Instead of just skipping the problem altogether, I spent extra time painstakingly reviewing that concept to make sure I comprehended every piece and detail. Even when I felt like I was drowning, I kept pushing through. I still dreaded the AP exam, but decided that, even if I failed the test, I would nevertheless be proud of my improvement. I mentally prepared myself to accept a low score when my results were released.
For most of my junior year, AP Chemistry seemed like an unsolvable puzzle with broken pieces and mismatched edges (and you know how I feel about puzzles). I barely passed my teacher’s tests, and I dreaded my homework. Not until I prioritized fully understanding the concepts that the pieces began to fit together and form a clear image. I finished the class with an A and earned a 5 on the exam. More importantly, I found a new appreciation for chemistry and began to see the appeal of solving these chemical puzzles. There is something fascinating about being able to understand how molecules and atoms make up everything—how microscopic bits create the massive stars and planets that dot the universe. If someone had told me last year that now I would be considering a minor in Chemistry, I would have laughed at that ludicrous idea. But truthfully, overcoming my chemistry learning block has inspired me to pursue more and filled me with a new sense of confidence in my abilities. I now welcome new challenges because I have learned I am capable.
Now “I hate chemistry” is no longer my mantra, and I have discovered puzzles are really not all that bad. And, I have to admit, these improvements to my mindset are all thanks to that one time when I (almost) failed chemistry class.