Introduction to Biochemistry: BIOC 406
I don't have any work to show for BIOC 405 or 406 because all we did in class was go to lecture and then take exams. The only reason that I wanted to talk about these two classes was because I ROCKED them. I got a 3.7 in 405 and a 4.0 in 406. How, you might ask? Well, I finally started doing things right, doing things the way I should have done them in all my science classes the first two years.
I made an actual effort to go to Office Hours this time. Before, it always felt like I understood everything in class and so I didn't feel the need to go to Office Hours. I didn't have any questions that I felt needed to be answered by the professor. I changed that misguided way of thinking for Biochemistry. I went to Office Hours even if I understood everything perfectly during lecture, and I found that it helped even when I did know everything. We had so much information dumped on us during lecture that Office Hours was extremely helpful for reviewing that information, taking it at a slower pace, and really being able to digest it. I feel like Office Hours is where the professors were actually able to TEACH the material, rather than RECITE the material. If I didn't go to Office Hours, I'm sure I would have had an understanding of Biochemistry and would have done fine on the tests, but because I did go, I received a thorough grounding in Biochemistry and was able to do really well on the tests. I was also blessed with having awesome professors, especially Dr. Brzovic. When he was teaching in Office Hours, it became readily evident how much he cared that the students learned the material. He went above and beyond any professor I've ever had to ensure that we did well in the class, which I really appreciated after two years of professors in weed out science classes being indifferent to my existence.
When it came to the tests, another thing that I changed for BIOC was my study habits. Where before if I had done the homework and a practice test, I would consider myself ready for the exam, for BIOC I actually reviewed for the exams. A week before the test I would start going through all the lectures and my notes again, and only then would I take the practice tests. And when taking those practice tests, I wouldn't just score it and be done there. Instead, I went back and analyzed each and every question, explaining to myself why certain answer choices were incorrect.
These two biochemistry classes were great because they revealed to me what I can accomplish when I actually fully apply myself. It has also convinced me that I'm going to be more than capable of doing well in medical school. The thoroughness and discipline that I brought to these classes are what I'm going to bring full force to medical school. My accomplishments in these classes I feel are a manifestation of all the growing up I've done. The Freshman and Sophomore me would have blamed his poor performance on his exams on the professor for being unfair, even after only making a half ass effort to study. Now I know that the extent of what I can accomplish is predicated solely by how much I'm willing to invest. For the first time, medicine isn't just something that I want to pursue, but something that I have the right to pursue. I now have the tangible evidence to prove that I belong in the field of medicine.
I made an actual effort to go to Office Hours this time. Before, it always felt like I understood everything in class and so I didn't feel the need to go to Office Hours. I didn't have any questions that I felt needed to be answered by the professor. I changed that misguided way of thinking for Biochemistry. I went to Office Hours even if I understood everything perfectly during lecture, and I found that it helped even when I did know everything. We had so much information dumped on us during lecture that Office Hours was extremely helpful for reviewing that information, taking it at a slower pace, and really being able to digest it. I feel like Office Hours is where the professors were actually able to TEACH the material, rather than RECITE the material. If I didn't go to Office Hours, I'm sure I would have had an understanding of Biochemistry and would have done fine on the tests, but because I did go, I received a thorough grounding in Biochemistry and was able to do really well on the tests. I was also blessed with having awesome professors, especially Dr. Brzovic. When he was teaching in Office Hours, it became readily evident how much he cared that the students learned the material. He went above and beyond any professor I've ever had to ensure that we did well in the class, which I really appreciated after two years of professors in weed out science classes being indifferent to my existence.
When it came to the tests, another thing that I changed for BIOC was my study habits. Where before if I had done the homework and a practice test, I would consider myself ready for the exam, for BIOC I actually reviewed for the exams. A week before the test I would start going through all the lectures and my notes again, and only then would I take the practice tests. And when taking those practice tests, I wouldn't just score it and be done there. Instead, I went back and analyzed each and every question, explaining to myself why certain answer choices were incorrect.
These two biochemistry classes were great because they revealed to me what I can accomplish when I actually fully apply myself. It has also convinced me that I'm going to be more than capable of doing well in medical school. The thoroughness and discipline that I brought to these classes are what I'm going to bring full force to medical school. My accomplishments in these classes I feel are a manifestation of all the growing up I've done. The Freshman and Sophomore me would have blamed his poor performance on his exams on the professor for being unfair, even after only making a half ass effort to study. Now I know that the extent of what I can accomplish is predicated solely by how much I'm willing to invest. For the first time, medicine isn't just something that I want to pursue, but something that I have the right to pursue. I now have the tangible evidence to prove that I belong in the field of medicine.