Surviving STEM

By Josh K.

Math and science courses - they can be the best of times, and the worst. With all of the big ideas, and the annoying minor details, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) classes can be a real endeavour. Of course, there are ways to survive - in fact, by adopting a few simple habits, you can not only survive, but thrive in STEM courses.  

Learn to ask questions. This seems to be something that’s rehashed over and over, with everyone telling their mother to ask questions. However, this especially rings true with subjects like mathematics and science - they’re loaded with small steps or connections, that if not made, can leave you clueless and confused. Just asking a question not only helps you and your classmates out, but it makes you seem smarter too (for all of you who are self-conscious).

Examples, examples, examples. You’d be surprised as to what a good example can do for you in terms of understanding and application. It’s one thing to learn a new concept in a subject like chemistry, but quite another to use it to solve problems. Through examples, you can build a framework and foundation for your knowledge, and use it in different situations. You can find worked out problems and the like anywhere online, in a textbook, wherever. By knowing how to apply your knowledge, you can ace any test thrown at you!

Do not memorize. STEM subjects don’t operate the same as English and Social Studies classes; memorization will NOT get your far in STEM. With science and math, understanding is crucial, and it’s important you know where equations come from, and what they mean. It’s tempting to memorize as many different situations as possible, and just pick and choose the setup for any problem you encounter. However, you end up shooting yourself in the foot with this technique. Eventually, you’ll come across something you don’t recognize, and shut down completely. If you learn to come up with relationships based on facts, you’re better off in the long run.

Focus on understanding, not the grade. This in particular can be really difficult to pull off; with mom and dad pushing you to earn A’s in every subject. As I said earlier, you will not only do far better if you shoot for deeper understanding, but you’ll feel way smarter too. When dealing with difficult parents and peers that push you for excellence, tell them that the first few weeks, maybe even months are rough. You have to put in the leg work to come out on top, which is what math and science are all about.

Learn to take a break. One day, you’ll have that one problem you just cannot figure out. No matter what approach you try, no matter what you do, you’re stumped. That’s a cue to take a break; do something else, be it homework for another subject, or enjoying a tub of ice cream. What’s important is that you take your mind away from the problem - often times, your mind will continue to do some processing in the background, and you’ll have a Eureka moment at the most random time. Heck, scientists like Richard Feynman knew how to take breaks - so should you.

Looking back, I’ve said a mouthful. A lot of this may seem bogus, since these strategies sound so simple. I’ll tell you right now, it’s going to be a long and tough road. You may feel like quitting time to time, and that’s perfectly normal. Learning to think and problem solve is like working out - you destroy your muscles (in this case, your brain cells) and build them back up to be stronger. Wherever you may be in your STEM career, just remember: you get out what you put in.