My current perspective for school involves finishing up my Junior year. Since I started the school year in January, my school year has extended into the summer. The last two weeks of May I did an intensive intro course to physics.
Physics is not my thing.
The first day, the first chapter, I thought, “Maybe I can do this!” It was all Aristotle, Newton and Galileo. I LOVE history! I know this stuff!
Day two quickly followed and my perspective changed. I was at sea. No one told me I would have to do algebra in this class! Introducing 20 new formulas all in one wack that we could not have notes on for the test the following day. Half the letters were repeated and meant different things in different formulas?!!!! What the hell had I gotten into? Chemistry might have been easier after all! (Ole Miss requires a second science not related to your primary science requirement- in my case, biology.)
That day? I was on Zoom for 8 1/2 hours for class, lab, and test prep. We were supposed to only be in class from 8 am to noon. Then there was homework and studying for the test all the while with my kids at home due to COVID. So many days of that two week class were like this. It was SO bad I kept telling myself if I could get a C in this class I’d be happy. I gave the algebra questions my best shot but didn’t plan on getting them right. Instead I did every extra credit offered to me, hoping to make up the points. I asked for prayers from friends and family who I knew would storm the gates of Heaven for me.
The fact that I survived it at all is only due to the many prayers that were said for me. I know that they were effective, because prior to the prayers? My brain was sitting in a fog that nothing was penetrating. After my friends started praying, the fog started lifting and I could begin to understand.
By the end of the two weeks though? I spent that next weekend in bed completely exhausted with a low grade fever.
And much to my surprise? I didn’t get a C, which would totally wreaked my grade point average. I got an A!!!
Getting an A in physics of all things, for me was thrilling! But two other things stood out larger.
1- I could depend on God to hear the prayers of my friends and family to lift the fog of my confusion. I knew that he hears our prayers and answers them. But having him confirm it again and again? That is precious.
2- The other thing? In the past year and a half, I’ve gotten A’s in Algebra, Statistics, and Physics, subjects that have never interested me. Subjects I find extremely challenging and do not come naturally to me by any stretch. Getting this A in physics clicked something on in my brain that I have never believed for a second. Something that will forever change my perspective about myself.
I’m smart?!
I will never regret the twists and turns my life has taken. It doesn’t bother me that I am 42 and will finish my first Bachelor’s degree at 43. That is just the path my life took. I’ve been able to live all over the U.S. and have a husband, children. These things were important goals for me.
But what getting this A in physics made me realize? I’m smart enough to be and do whatever I want. Had I wanted to become a doctor or a lawyer? Academically, I could have pulled it off. I might collapse in a pile of exhaustion never to be heard of again after it was done, but I can do it.
I’ll be perfectly happy to earn my Master’s degree and become a licensed therapist. I’m not disappointed with going just that far. But I want my kids to know and understand that they too are smart enough.
It’s going to take HARD work.
But they ARE possible.
WE are possible.
If I can do this, I’m telling you, you can too.
Do you have dreams waiting?
It’s time. They are ready for you to reach out and grasp them with both hands. That mountain that looks like Everest is high. But it’s not quite as high as you think. It’s possible! All it takes is a change in perspective.
