[Kimyko]

This might end up being just me complaining...not in a bad way, of course, just feeling a little down, so I decided to take a break, be mopey for a little while, and maybe even ask for some guidance. (Sorry, again, if this is in the wrong forum...it seems right, though, but I'm not sure. And to whomever has the ability to move it, please move it if it's in the wrong forum)

Anyway, I have a Chemistry test tommorow which is why I'm feeling particularly down in the dumps at the moment. I've been studying this for a bit, and when our teacher teaches this stuff in class, I totally get it. It's not hard, and I feel like I understand it. At least...I think I do until I go out and try to prepare. I mean, okay, first of all, our teacher is a million different kinds of amazing. He's funny, smart, patient, and really knows what he's doing. He goes the extra mile to try and help kids understand...so, I don't get why I don't understand. I mean, I do, but never when it matters.

He talks about it in class, and I completely get it. I didn't before, but now I actually follow the lessons. But then, I go home and I open my book, take out my worksheets, and I freeze. Everything stops making sense and it's like I'm staring at something written in another language or something. It's the same when I ask questions, take tests, anything other than just listening...and it frustrates me. Last week, when I went to get help, I actually had to ask him what molar mass was...

It was just embarrassing, and I don't know why I do that. I mean, I'm not stupid...True, I'm not particularly bright either, but I know I'm better than what my test scores say, and I know I work harder than it seems, yet...I don't know why I don't get it. Maybe if I were stupid or if I hated the class, I would care less, but I'm not, and I don't (hate the class, I mean).

It's really getting to me because tommorow, I have a Chemistry test which I have been studying really hard on, but I can't seem to remember anything. And I swore to myself that I would do better, but apparently, that's not going to happen. Anyway, I've taken out my worksheets, and when I look at them, I know that it's easy, and that we've discussed it in class a million times, but now, I can't seem to get the answer anymore. It's just not coming. And all the definitions and equations that I've worked hard to memorize this weekend, just seem to have been forgotten...and I don't know why.

And every single time, seriously, every single time, I sit down to take a test, I know the answer, but it's just out of my reach and I can't get it. The annoying thing is, I love Chemistry, it's the one subject I want desperately to excell in, but I don't. Sometimes, I honestly just want to bash my head in with my Chemistry book or something...

Has this happened to anybody? Does anybody know what I can do to get over it? Am I just hopeless? I don't seem to know anymore.

[lemonoman]

I wish I had proper guidance for you ...

Showing your professor this post might do something...I'm just not sure what he would do about it, what he would interpret, etc.

If this is happening ONLY in the subject of chemistry for you, then that's certainly out of the ordinary...

I wish you the best of luck...

and try to think positively   You CAN do this...just reading your post, I know it's inside you somewhere

[Yggdrasil]

Here's my two cents:  The best way to study for chemistry isn't by reading through your text and memorizing equations and formulas.  The best way to study is to do as many problems as you can (any worksheets your professor assigns plus some relevant problems from the book could be helpful too.  You can also ask your professor for some additional practice problems.)  Familiarize yourself with the process of how to think through and approach certain problems.  At first, this will be difficult and you may have to consult your professor or other helpful sources for help.  But, once you start developing problem-solving skills, you will be able to recognize certain problems in your tests and recall how you solved them previously.

Also instead of memorizing equations from the book, write down the equations on a separate piece of paper and consult them as you do the worksheets and other practice problems.  As you do more problems, you will memorize the equations just by having used them so much. Instead of looking through your notes before doing the worksheets and expecting to answer the questions completely on your own, don't be afraid to consult your notes as you do the problems.  Sometimes, the concepts become more ingrained in your head once you see them applied to a problem.

Hopefully this helps.  Good luck on your tests.

[Dan]

I'm with yggdrasil on this one.

I think your problems stem from the following:

Reading and understanding the text is the first step. The key is to be able to apply your knowledge to a variety of cases. Applying your knowledge is a different skill in its self, and comes with practice, there's no short cuts. It will probably help if you can get some one on one tuition with someone to go through your problems with you - you will certainly be helped on the forums, as you seem keen to learn and put in alot of effort, but face to face tuition will be better.
Talk to your teacher, he might be willing. to give you some extra classes.

[constant thinker]

I agree Yggdrasil and Dan here.

Another tip I have for you it to try and identify how you learn best.

It took me awhile but I found I'm horrible at listening, and visual is a case by case. The way I learn best though is by doing.

Just identify which way you learn best, and try to take what you're taught and apply to that method. Example would be if you're an auditory learner, try to say out loud what you're doing as you do say a stoichiometry problem.

Best of luck.

P.S. One general trend I've noticed is that people who like chemistry tend to be kinesthetic learners (they learn best by doing).

[Kimyko]

I completely understand, thank you everyone. When it comes to getting outside help, my teacher is more than willing; I've talked to him about it a hundred times. It's just, I'm not the only one who needs help, of course, and since I have a full schedule, the times I'm able to see him are limited and usually someone is already there, and I don't feel like it's fair to horn in on somebody else's time especially since they made the effort to be there first. I'm slowly getting over that, but at the moment, it's a little too late since the year is already over and the damage has already been done. Still, that's why I love these forums so much, I can ask for help and not feel like I'm taking precious learning time away from anybody else. (At least, I hope not...)

Anyway, it seems that everybody agrees that the best way to improve is through practice, which brings me to ask, does anybody know where I can find a problem book for Chemistry. My dad attempted to find one, but they were mostly how-to books, rather than problem books themselves. Does anybody have any reccomendations or anything of that sort?

I'm sorry. I seem to just be asking for things one after the other, not pausing to even thank people for their time. So thanks, everyone, I really appreciate all the help.

[xiankai]

you could try looking at past questions posed in the forums, and try to answer some as well. that'll be killing two questions with one look

[Yggdrasil]

Does your chemistry text book have practice problems?  Those would be a good starting point.

[english]

And all the definitions and equations that I've worked hard to memorize this weekend, just seem to have been forgotten...and I don't know why.

That's a big part of your problem right there.  Remember that a lot of people that are in chemistry now weren't very good at it at first.  A lot of the guys on here were like that, even me!

Anything takes time to understand.  Maybe you're dulling yourself over with the homework?  Think more creatively about such things.  Dream about it (no joke), think about it when not in school.  Try to apply it to other things you more commonly understand. (make analogies!)

No one's perfect.  There are few geniuses out there....but chemistry isn't a science populated by geniuses.  It takes time to perfect.  If you were perfect from the start, you were never a chemist, because it doesn't exist!