Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Splattered with Equations

Well I am into my second week of school. *wiggling fingers and toes* yep still alive. Yep the teachers are doing more than reading the syllabus in class so it is the real thing.

I have never studied so hard in my life. In the past I have taken 14+ hrs and still had free time now I have 8hrs and am busy all the time. Yesterday I caught myself reading my textbook while I walked between classes. And amazingly it is no exaggeration that I am studying every waking hour. Yes I do take breaks. One of those times is usually walking between classes! :D

Breaks are essential in my learning I am finding out. If I do not take them I find my brain begins to pretend it is stupid. Such as the other day after 3 hours straight of physics problems I started to not be able to make out the most simple question. I looked up at Charles in real terror and said that I ought to go get checked for a learning disability cause I can't make out what is going on in this simple question. He kindly told me that maybe I should take a break and eat food. Yep...what a miracle a break and food can be. My mind hummed along storing and retrieving information like normal. WHEW!

Let's see. Physics a very interesting subject but my most difficult and is made even more difficult by the stereotypical professor who cannot teach simple concepts. He likes to complicate them with algebraic equations that mysteriously lose and gain numbers and units with a whisk of an erasure or a jot of a pen and no explanation but this endless of muttering which is mostly numbers and letters not sentences. (YES I sit in the front row even.)

I am narrowing down why people look at me weird when I walk out of class. It is either because I have a terrorized, stunned, deer-in-the-headlights look. Or it could be I have discarded remnants of algebraic equations all over my face that have splattered me as they are used and discarded in the frenzy of activity at the white board. I also wonder if my hair will get frizzy like Einstein's because of all the heat my brain is generating to catch up to "uber physics genius dr professor guy".

Fortunately, I have found the tutoring center and have a down to earth chemical physicist that is a friend of ours who will take the time to carefully explain things to me. I will also go spend some quality time with my professor in his office. He really does seem to be a nice fellow. Perhaps just not cut out for undergraduate entry level physics.

The Physics tests will be in the same format as the MCAT (not on purpose it just happened that way) and although they are going to be difficult if I can master them, the experience will go along way to helping me with the MCAT. So I am thankful for that and the information in physics is interesting and that helps a lot for me.

Chemistry, so far, is fairly easy for me. I have had several chemistry courses and taught some high school chemistry so I don't expect too much drama from this class. The teacher is excellent and very open.

All in all I think it will be a good semester. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers because I am concerned about my physics course it is a bit overwhelming.