A Study in Patience by Tara

A Study in Patience by Tara - August 2016 Scholarship Essay

Physics is the study of matter and how it exists in relation to space and time. It is considered one of the fundamental components of science and it is believed that if you understand physics, you can start to understand our universe. But for me, it was much more than that. Physics would make or break me: if I could not even understand basic physics, how would I achieve my dream of becoming a mechanical engineer? I would be eaten alive if even basic physics tripped me up.

Physics is tough. No one in their right mind would say physics is a simple subject. Physics is especially tough when it is the first time you learn it. The concepts seem foreign and abstract, seemingly arbitrary and confusing. It was not uncommon in my class to hear, “Why do we even need to know this?” muttered under one of my classmates’ breath. In the beginning, I agreed wholeheartedly. Why do I need to know that a free-falling object forms the path of a parabola? Who cares about projectile motion? I would have academic meltdowns over one-dimensional kinetics, one of the simplest units my class learned that year. Not understand science, especially one I took great interest in, was new territory for me and it was daunting.

Somewhere down the line, between a cycle of freak-outs and frustration, I realized that my asking of these questions just made things worse for me. Then I realized the only reason I asked questions of that nature was because I did not understand the material, almost as if I gave myself an excuse to be doing poorly in a class I knew I should have been doing well in. After that revelation, I calmed down. My stress made everything worse. When I started believing in myself and my abilities, and actually gave myself time to really learn and understand the material, everything began to click. It was as if I found the key to a locked door and I finally unlocked the door. Physics became one of my best subjects, and most importantly, my favorite.

Now, after completing my first year of physics, I can recite dozens of formulas, units, and definitions, all because I finally gave myself the time to really comprehend the subject. I was never a patient student but physics definitely changed that for me. Now, I realize that even if you do not understand something, whether it is chemistry or history, it is not the end of the world or even your academic career. If you just dedicate the time and the effort, any subject, no matter how difficult it seems, can be understood and conquered.