ALDRIDGE: Introductory classes are failing students
As I walked through the door into my Chemistry 1410 Expo section on the second week of class, I was feeling exhausted, defeated and completely lost in the massive amounts of material thrown at me — it was like I was expected to know every theory of quantum mechanics on the first day of a self-proclaimed “Intro to Chemistry” class. Throwing down my backpack and collapsing into my chair, I looked around at my table of classmates. We were all equally unique, talented and bright students who wore the same dark circles and worried expression. We, the hopeful future doctors and engineers, were being beaten down by a class that was not designed to promote success. A class with the very purpose of weeding out those who may not be as strong in an intro subject so class sizes can be decreased and the professors running the program can determine who the truly dedicated are. The intent is good, but does this mentality of “survival of the fittest” truly belong in a college lecture hall? Or does it prevent diversity of background and perspective from seeping into these large “tracks,” leaving students in the dust as it continues to promote a singular, uniformed model of the perfect pre-Med or pre-Comm student?