science is for everyone
Q: Hi, i'm someone that is struggling with a learning disorder and i was wondering if you think it is possible for someone like me to finish a biology degree in university? do you have any tips?
yes! of course it's possible! you can do it!!!
i don't have any tips for getting through classes, because i struggled a lot with mine and never quite figured out how to struggle less. one of the ways i dealt with it was getting involved in research! it didn't make my classes easier, but it helped me realize that there are more important things than getting good grades.
getting a degree is not a race or a competition. i took longer than everyone i work with to finish my degree, and i'm okay! no one makes a big deal about it. no one asks about my grades. try your best, of course, but remember that your best doesn't have to look like anyone else's. it really is okay to take things slower. you don't have to ace everything and be a superstar student to be a good scientist. it's not about memorizing the most facts or recalling them the fastest, but about being curious about the world and willing to try again when experiments don't work out. whether you want to do wet lab work or field work or some other kind of work after graduating, they're all very different experiences than being an undergrad, and they engage your brain in different ways. struggling now doesn't mean you'll struggle forever. you can get through this!