Today a student ask, “How do you know all of this?” when I was helping out with a lesson.
“Well, I had Chemistry 1 as a Sophomore in high school. Then I took A.P. Chemistry. Then I took Environmental Chemistry as a Senior. Then I took Chemistry in college and a bunch of chemical engineering classes. Then there’s all of the chemistry in biology-subjects. You learn a little, build on it, and learn some more. Practice, practice!”
Her tablemate sat and nodded, eyes wide. The person who asked the question looked incredulous.
But it really is as simple as that. Pick whatever it is you are passionate about. Invest time and energy into it and you’ll get better. Effort counts for a lot with learning things.
My bigger picture for this is: “It’s the journey.” Through all of those classes, and the places my education took me (literally, in the case of travel and whatnot) have made such a difference in me being a more well-rounded person. Science was once my passion, but now I have so many. I learn so much all of the time: art, social justice, union organizing, pedagogy, bike repair…
My hope for my students is that they become lifelong learners. And always do the work that accompanies curiosity.
