Participating in STEM Education

Nine out of ten problems on exams and in lectures are solved using tricks to make them surprisingly easy. If you ever find yourself going down a rabbit hole to solve a problem, asking yourself, “How is this even possible to complete in an hour on an exam?” It is because you don’t know the tricks and were not paying attention in the lecture.

Always take note of every question, its solution, and any tricks from the lecture. You’ll be well prepared for exams.

ii. participating

Yes-yes-yes. You are shy, lah-d-dah. It is time to grow up. You’ll be studying and taking care of yourself for the next four to five or more years then you’ll graduate and continue this. Time to stop living in your head of fear. By the way, whatever you are thinking, so is everyone else. And the person sitting at the front of the class who appears smart, answering all the questions. Guess what? That is the one who is retaking the course—a false projection of intelligence to feed an insecurity of failure or something like that. I know this because I was that person.

The person in the back of the course is so quiet that no one knows or talks to them. That is the photographic memory that aces everything. The people in the middle who only care about understanding the material and not their grades are the ones that make groundbreaking discoveries and excel in the science they study.

Ask yourself, “What classification am I?” Do you need people to think you are smart? Are you just an A student? Do you love science and want to embed your life into it and focus all your energies on it and nothing else? Or are you simply in the wrong major? Figure it out sooner than later so you don’t waste time and money just to end up in another major.

Some of us do grunt work nine to five and have a life. Some of us have no energy and do science twenty-four-seven. Some of us become managers of other scientists because we can’t do original thinking. Just figure out who you are. There is no shame; you’ll be much happier and more content.

iii. making yourself known

Why would you want to make yourself known? You’re shy and want to hide with your head in the sand and let the world pass by. That is okay if that is your thing. And you may be fine getting an A in the course without saying a word. This part is more so for those who put in 80%. I think, in college, our grades reflect only half the effort we put in. So, if you follow the tips and tricks I offer in this book, you can increase that effort effortlessly.

1) When you participate in class, you will be favored in the grading system simply for helping to make the class less boring. Professors (in general) want interaction from the students.