The Wicked Problem

I don’t have much to say about undergrad, but I had a wicked problem in high school. High school mostly went well for me, but it got real in my chemistry class just as everyone was returning from COVID-19. For some reason, this class was harder than most others for me. All the tests were open notes, which didn’t help my confidence either. I realized that my hand-written notes were so messy, that they were actively hindering my learning because I couldn’t read what they said on the tests. I also discovered my learning disability was making it harder for me to pay attention and take the notes I needed, not to mention the class started at 7:45 AM! 

 

Finding a Solution:

After a bit, I emailed my teacher that I was struggling in their class, and we came up with ideas that would help me be successful in that class, such as being able to use my computer to take notes instead of writing by hand. With those changes, the class became easier for me to navigate and my learning was more impactful.

 

Takeaway:

I know it sounds cliche, but if you need help, seriously ask for help. Your teacher/professor can’t read your mind, and they will want you to thrive in their classroom or lecture hall. It can be hard to ask for help, but when you ask, it helps 1. Get it off your back, and 2. Be able to thrive when you couldn’t otherwise.