Contemplation

Today, I start this blog on a recommendation made by a good friend. Over the past couple of years, I have been enrolled in the Undergraduate Science program at U of A. Although I entered the program with high hopes and amidst dreams of learning a new way of thought, my experience thus far has been anything but so far. Since starting the program, I have been conflicted internally if I made the right choice entering into this field. Before I go too far, I want to say I love the sciences - I am not simply in the program because I could find no other better program. I believe that Science is a dynamic force that can effect change on the world continually and should force you to question your mode of thinking perpetually. To the contrary, I have been barraged with courses where the focus has been on rote memorization rather than learning conceptually. I realize the necessary development of fundamentals that students have to understand before fully being inundated into the role of a scientist. However, as students there should be a key focus on fostering the mindset and soft skills which are in the job description of a scientist. I am left jaded at my faculty for mindlessly molding classes of students into a mindset where the focus of learning is so narrow.