What was the hardest class you ever took and how did you get through it?

I think “hard” is a subjective term. Personally, I can find a class “hard” in one of two situations — either I don’t understand the concepts or I don’t find the material interesting. And the second situation is worse because there’s not much you can do to develop interest, but it would be potentially easier for you to reach out for additional help to better understand the concepts being taught.

I took a chemistry class my freshman year, and that’s been my hardest class so far. It wasn’t the lecture that was tough, but rather the lab I struggled with. I would do all the assignments properly during the lab, finish up my report and submit it on time, but I still wasn’t making a good grade. In fact, when we got our midterm grades, I had a C in that class, and believe me when I say that I did not sleep that week. It was the most upsetting and disappointing thing ever.

I decided to go to the TA’s office hours and get help with the lab. They really helped me understand where I was going wrong and how I could easily fix my errors. Once I realized the fundamental mistake that I was making in each lab, my grades started to soar. I started doing really well and ended with an A in the class.

I know this sounds like a well-crafted story with a happy ending, but it’s true. The course TA helped me figure out my mistakes and that really helped boost my performance in that class. I already knew that I was working hard and trying my best to do things right. It was only a matter of some tiny error that was affecting my grade.

What I learned from this entire experience was that it is not embarrassing to ask for help. If you’re struggling with a class, whether it’s due to lack of interest or lack of understanding, approaching your professor, instructor or TA will really help you. They’re experts in these situations and can guide you toward a successful journey in that class.