- #1
accountkiller
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I'm currently a junior in college (in physics) but for the past half-year, I have struggled between staying in physics or switching to education to become a teacher instead (not necessarily in science, either, just elementary). My issue is...
I'm not the best at physics but I enjoy it. I've only gotten C+'s in the three general physics courses I've taken so far. I'm not a very logical person - I'm not in physics for the mechanics part of it... I'm very abstract, and I'm in it for the theoretical stuff... magnetism and black holes and quantum mechanics and those sort of things. Since I don't have a lot of common sense, things don't always click with me like they do with others, but I have been told I have a great mind for science precisely because I don't have much common sense, because I see things that others don't, since I think differently.
So, I'm worried I won't be much of a good physicist. I know Einstein wasn't an expert either, but he at least knew what he was doing. Because of this fear, I thought maybe I could go through the teaching program and become an elementary school teacher instead. This is because many people over the years have told me how good I am at it - at explaining things simply, at teaching. So I thought maybe I could have a steady job as a teacher while I finish my Bachelor's in physics so I don't end up with just a physics degree and nothing to do with it - to get into grad school, I'd need A's and B's and to really know what I'm doing. I'm worried I won't.
I guess I could always just finish the physics degree and get a teaching certificate and teach physics in high school (although eh, who enjoyed high school?) while I do physics research on the side... so that's a way to do it.
My question here is just asking for advice. For those of you who had any similar concerns, I'm desperate for some guidance during this time in my life. I'm so drawn towards physics and it's been with me all my life (my mom's into physics, my dad's into electronics), and I've always had this feeling that I was meant to do something great in the world like discover something you know, but I feel sometimes I'm not dedicated enough to it. I don't spend my free time thinking of black holes or anything, you know? I read adventure books and go out with friends like 'normal' kids. But I know that I am still very young and given another maybe five years, I would be more focused and be more dedicated. Right now, life is still more about just having fun. So I'm worried I'll make a wrong decision now to go into teaching instead of physics and then when I'm older, I'll realize I should have stuck with it since I'd be more focused... and I know I can always go back to school, but I don't want to have 'wasted' so much time already.
So, can anyone offer me their stories or advice or ANYTHING? Thanks!
I'm not the best at physics but I enjoy it. I've only gotten C+'s in the three general physics courses I've taken so far. I'm not a very logical person - I'm not in physics for the mechanics part of it... I'm very abstract, and I'm in it for the theoretical stuff... magnetism and black holes and quantum mechanics and those sort of things. Since I don't have a lot of common sense, things don't always click with me like they do with others, but I have been told I have a great mind for science precisely because I don't have much common sense, because I see things that others don't, since I think differently.
So, I'm worried I won't be much of a good physicist. I know Einstein wasn't an expert either, but he at least knew what he was doing. Because of this fear, I thought maybe I could go through the teaching program and become an elementary school teacher instead. This is because many people over the years have told me how good I am at it - at explaining things simply, at teaching. So I thought maybe I could have a steady job as a teacher while I finish my Bachelor's in physics so I don't end up with just a physics degree and nothing to do with it - to get into grad school, I'd need A's and B's and to really know what I'm doing. I'm worried I won't.
I guess I could always just finish the physics degree and get a teaching certificate and teach physics in high school (although eh, who enjoyed high school?) while I do physics research on the side... so that's a way to do it.
My question here is just asking for advice. For those of you who had any similar concerns, I'm desperate for some guidance during this time in my life. I'm so drawn towards physics and it's been with me all my life (my mom's into physics, my dad's into electronics), and I've always had this feeling that I was meant to do something great in the world like discover something you know, but I feel sometimes I'm not dedicated enough to it. I don't spend my free time thinking of black holes or anything, you know? I read adventure books and go out with friends like 'normal' kids. But I know that I am still very young and given another maybe five years, I would be more focused and be more dedicated. Right now, life is still more about just having fun. So I'm worried I'll make a wrong decision now to go into teaching instead of physics and then when I'm older, I'll realize I should have stuck with it since I'd be more focused... and I know I can always go back to school, but I don't want to have 'wasted' so much time already.
So, can anyone offer me their stories or advice or ANYTHING? Thanks!