Thinking Beyond the Formula by Antoni

Thinking Beyond the Formula by Antoni - July 2026 Scholarship Essay

When I began my education, I assumed that success in science involved memorizing formulas and replicating solutions from examples. In AP Chemistry and OnRamps Physics 1, I quickly learned that science involves more than memorization of procedures. In AP Chemistry, the biggest challenge I faced was understanding why reactions took place rather than just remembering expected answers. Topics like equilibrium, stoichiometry, and acid-base reactions were difficult at first because they required connecting multiple ideas at once. In OnRamps Physics 1, the problems were challenging because they were presented as word problems that did not directly match the equations we learned. I often felt like I understood the material, but struggled to apply it.

At the beginning of these classes, I often got stuck and relied on examples without understanding the reasoning behind them. Even small changes to a problem would cause confusion and make it hard to find a path to a solution. My results reflected that, and I realized I had to rethink my approach to thinking, not just my studying methods.

Instead of relying on patterns, I started focusing on understanding the problem itself. In AP Chemistry, I began breaking problems down by identifying what each value represented, what was being conserved, and which principle applied. In OnRamps Physics 1, I used diagrams and broke problems into smaller parts instead of trying to solve everything at once.

The biggest change in my approach came from how I dealt with mistakes. At first, I saw errors as proof that I did not understand the material. Over time, I learned to use them as a tool. When I got something wrong, I focused on identifying the exact step where my reasoning failed rather than just correcting the final answer. This helped me improve and gave me more confidence in my problem-solving.

As a result, I stopped memorizing steps and started analyzing problems, identifying patterns, and understanding why certain methods work. This approach made me more patient and intentional when facing challenges.

Now, my perception of science is shaped by these experiences. As I plan to pursue petroleum engineering, I know I will face problems that cannot be solved through memorization alone. These courses taught me how to think critically, not just what to think.