Chem Sucks, But It Worked Out 

My first science foundation class: Chemistry. Why was it such a big deal for me? I remember thinking this class determined everything: my chances of getting into the program… so my entire future. No pressure right? Thinking back on it now, it wasn’t that bad. Still, I know there are those of you who are currently in the class or going to take it and I know it feels like the world is on your shoulders, so let me help you carry that weight. 

The chem course I had to take consisted of three subtypes: general chem, organic “O” chem, and bio chem. It was a rocky start because I wasn’t grasping gen chem as well as my peers. A good friend of mine, we’ll call her Sammy, understood the concepts in the class faster than most in particular. Sammy was doing well in gen chem and I felt like I was lagging behind. She was my partner in crime during this class; she was a blessing. Without her, I wouldn’t have done as well in the class. We did everything to make sure we’d get A’s. We went to office hours before every class, and took an additional class called “SI” or supplement instruction. SI classes are generally offered when those classes were considered to be more difficult and are taught by someone who has taken the class in the past, so they were especially helpful. If your university offers SI classes for your core class, take them. 

A few days before our first big exam, I had been studying for about a week, but still feeling discouraged. To make it worse, when Sammy and I were in office hours, our professor started to compare the way she and I solved problems differently, valuing her way and disliking mine. I felt so embarrassed and dumb. It was frustrating because no matter how hard I felt I was working to understand, I still wasn’t getting it. By the time the exam came, I was doubting every answer I solved.

I ended up getting a B on the exam, but I was devastated with that B. It felt like the end of the world. 

Was it really? 

No, but pre-nursing Maggie didn’t know that. 

Sammy was really encouraging, saying that I can always do better on the next exam and we still had quizzes and labs that could help bump up my grade. I felt disheartened and intimidated because we had organic chem and biochem up next. I remember thinking “If I can’t do gen chem, how much O chem?” Luckily, I was so very wrong.

Organic chemistry, oh how I loved O chem. O chem was my savior and surprisingly biggest strength in this course. I’m a visual learner, and O chem was just about drawing and naming structures. We were only scratching the surface with this level of O chem, so I’m not saying I’m an expert, but it gave me confidence. O chem is what helped me get my A in the class. My friend was right. But I didn’t do it alone.

Chem 140 brought a group of friends in my life that made pre-nursing and nursing school tolerable. They say that study groups don’t really work, especially if there are like 10 people in the group. Well, there were like 10 of us in my study group. We took our studying seriously, but also had great laughs and played around. Work hard, play hard! 

Study groups are honestly fantastic, with the right people. Everyone brings their own strengths and helps each other in areas that are not necessarily their forte. I wouldn’t consider anyone in my study group to have any weaknesses. I felt like we were all on the same level, but some just understood concepts better than others. Just like my friend with gen chem and me with O chem. We all helped one another understand the different concepts, motivated one another, struggled together, and had fun. All those late nights studying, and freaking out over simple concepts turned into a group of friends that weren’t competitors because we all knew we would get into the nursing program. We started off as a study group, but became a really good group of friends calling ourselves “The Nursing Crew.”

It’s very nostalgic and gives me a sense of relief when I look back on my chemistry experience. I really thought that one B on an exam took away all chances of getting into the nursing program. But it was not the end of the world. It did hurt my confidence, but not my determination. 

Moral of the story:

1. A bad grade on an exam does not determine anything. It does not determine your future. It does not determine who you are as a person. It does not determine what kind of nurse you’ll be. It does not stop you from what you want to achieve. Use it as motivation to bounce back. You can and will be a great nurse.

2. Find a group of people you vibe with and that want to accomplish the same things as you. These people are your support system with a common goal and good intentions. You will literally bond over your struggles, cry together, and contemplate the future together, sometimes even take huge group naps between classes. You may even find people that will be lifelong friends.

Things will always work out.

<3 Mags

Thank you Em for being the best editor!