Am I Doing Good? A Junior College Physics Aspirant

[Mohammed Ayaz Quadri]

I am in First Year Junior College (almost at its end). I literally love Physics. I want to become a Physicist. I want to be capable of explaining any phenomenon in terms of Physics. I love solving complex, interlinked numericals. I am one of the fastest one to solve them. But I feel I am not fast enough if I keep my target in mind: Physicist. I need time to think. If I am clear with concepts, my thinking should be instantaneous. Sometimes I also don't like numericals. I have problems when working with a lot of variables, in naming them and making their equations. But I am definitely fast enough according the my academic level. Am I doing good? If no, please suggest me something.

 

[Choppy]

I need time to think. If I am clear with concepts, my thinking should be instantaneous.

I don't believe this is the case. Often when thinking is "instantaneous" it's more the result of a drilled or memorized response to a given set of conditions. The people who tend to be the most successful in physics are the ones who can view problems from different angles. They think deeply about each problem and are able to recognize the different concepts at play and apply logic to them in a formal way they can articulate.

That said, testing often rewards quick responses. So you do have to be able to arrive at answers in a timely fashion to successfully get through just about any educational system. But just because you're not arriving at them instantaneously is not a reason to believe you'll struggle or that you don't understand. What's more important is that when you do arrive at the answer, it's correct, and you know how you got it.

Sometimes I also don't like numericals. I have problems when working with a lot of variables, in naming them and making their equations. But I am definitely fast enough according the my academic level. Am I doing good? If no, please suggest me something.

Not everyone gets things immediately. If you're doing well in your classes and enjoying your studies, you're doing as well as you need to be. I think it's a common misconception that you need to be working above whatever level you're at to be successful.

 

[Mohammed Ayaz Quadri]

Thank you sir. Thats a relief.