The Sad Truth about Me and Science (Before this Class)

Before this class I was grappling with my “scientific self.” I was prepared to tell my future students that there is a scientist inside of each one of them but I was not entirely positive I believed there was one in me. I knew science was a part of my every day life, however, put the word science on such a high pedestal I felt that it was a branch of education I would never be comfortable with.

My tenth grade biology teacher was a real lazy, jerk. He chose not to teach us anything but instead give us free time to do homework or whatever we wanted. He wanted to be everyone’s friend and all my classmates thought he was the greatest. I knew he didn’t deserve the privilege of be called a teacher. Long story short, I didn’t do very well on my biology regents and neither did the other kids in my class but I did learn that I wanted to be a knowledgeable, respected teacher, everything he wasn't.

At the beginning of this course when asked to draw a scientist, I regret to admit my drawing resembled the stereotypical man with crazy white hair, goggles, and beakers of smoking chemicals. I believe I had this view partially because it is the farthest thing from my self and partially because science has always been so mysterious to me. After all, science is about the unknown and that is why I hadn't established a comfort level with it. The part about science that I have been forgetting is the part where you search and search until you find the answers and then you know! Science is about discoveries and sharing knowledge which is the job of a teacher.

I must admit thinking of two women or minority scientists didn’t come easily. The name Marie Curie popped into my head but I couldn’t remember exactly what she did. After refreshing my memory, I remembered she was a physicist who researched radium and radio activity. Elizabeth Blackwell was the first female Doctor in the United States.

I have more opportunities to explore nature than I choose to take. Every day when I walk to class I could observe the trees, plants and animals. I could take trips down to the Hudson to explore the wild life there. I could simply look at the night sky and observe the constellations. Unfortunately, I have not taken any of these opportunities in the past but I hope to develop a new appreciation for nature and see the world through a scientific lens.