Re-learning to Love Learning
Remember when school used to be the most fun place in the world? Remember when we were little elementary schoolers coming home, jabbering on about all the cool stuff we learned, from shapes to simple math equations. Our parents constantly doing their best, "Wow, that's so interesting!" on repeat. Our heads were buzzing with questions, annoyingly asking "why", “but why”, “why?” over and over. But as we get older, that enthusiasm quickly fades. School turns into a chore, just something to get through, with homework to finish, a place to tolerate, and the same old routine. "Sit down and read this," "be quiet and solve this equation," "if you don't take too long or ask too many questions, you can start your homework early." We began dreading asking questions, stopped asking why, and started stressing over grades.
But what if we could all be elementary schoolers again, geeking out over our favorite subjects? What if we started asking questions again? What if we re-learned to love learning?
This has been a question that has free rent space in my brain. As the resident nerd, obsessed with perfect scores and petrified of failure, I often wonder if all the stress and heartache was all worth it. I flashback to my freshman biology class in college. I got my first and only “D+”. From a straight-A student, I thought the world was literally going to split open and swallow me whole, and I’d fall deep to the earth’s core and become magma. (yes, that is overdramatic, but I was a dramatic 19yr old) I panicked, thinking I had to change majors. How could I possibly study science, let alone biology, if I could barely pass an introductory biology class?
Years later, I wear that “D-” like a badge of honor. “Why?” I hope you are asking. Well, because that not-so-flattering grade on my transcript was the turning point that led me to rediscover my love for learning.
It all started with me quietly sobbing under a big pine tree behind the science academic building. I asked myself, “Why? …why was it so difficult to pay attention in class? Why did I dread doing the readings? Why did I hate studying?” It slowly occurred to me that it wasn’t because I was a terrible scientist, stupid, or hated biology. It was because it felt like a chore. It wasn’t exciting, and I was avoiding it like leftovers (I don’t like leftovers).
I began to think about the parts of the class I did enjoy, which just so happened to be during the ecology section of the lab when we went on a field trip. That trip to a local stream was the most fun I’d had in school since elementary school. We kick-netted for macroinvertebrates, measured tree diameters, and collected leaf litter. It felt almost silly— I thought “how could this be science? This is so much fun, science is hard and super serious.” But then I started wondering, “What if it was fun? What if I spent all my tuition money on classes I actually enjoy?”
So, I started loading up my schedule with ecology and botany classes, and I began loving it. I found myself actively listening in classes, excited to attend lectures, and learning hands-on in the field. Studying and doing homework assignments stopped being a mundane task but I was excited to complete projects and learn about topics I enjoyed. It felt almost uncomfortable because it felt too easy as I began ‘effortlessly’ getting high marks on every test and assignment. After so long of pushing and clawing to get perfect grades, why did it feel so natural? After years of pondering this, I realized the answer: I just loved the act of learning about these topics.
Now, a few years out of my bachelor's degree, having earned my master's and just starting my PhD journey, I can honestly say that I absolutely love learning again. I'm thrilled to talk about all things biology and to keep asking questions. I look forward to seminars and lab meetings, hell I even read the paper for journal club (…ehh well at least most of the time). As I mentor undergraduate students, this is my most important piece of advice: re-learn how to love learning. It’s a slow process of reframing your mindset, but once you do, it starts to feel natural, and the excitement comes back.
Science isn’t hard, science is complex. And you, dear researcher, are doing a fantastic job at learning about that beautiful complexity.
Allasandra’s Guide to Re-learn Loving Learning
Think about what you loved to do as a little kid
When you had no pressure or fear of looking uncool or stupid what did you genuinely love doing? Think about that field trip day in elementary school that got you so excited that you had you put your clothes out the night before hand and slept in your shoes because you didn’t want to miss the bus that day. How can you make everyday as exciting as field trip day?
Slow down
One of the hardest parts for me was slowing down. Sometimes we just want to go…go…go bouncing from one thing to the next. This is not a sustainable way to keep our excitement up as we can quickly burn out. Taking time to rest and keep your brain on "airplane mode” for a bit can help rejuvenate us to rocket us forward in our scientific career.
Ask why
Just like when you were a little kid ask why about everything and then ask why again. I have found that starting this “why” chain is best done with seemingly simple questions. Simple questions often have complex answers, asking why is just the first step. Ask why the sky is blue, why the grass is green, and why is that stupid Mosquito is biting you.
Enjoy the process and make it fun
While we should always striving towards a goal, sometimes we really get caught up in the destination that we totally miss the journey (I know so profound, but it is really true). This is a slow processes and science was never done in a night. I often ask myself “what would make this more fun”. Some ideas of making dreaded tasks more fun are adding music, joining a working/writing group, treating yourself to coffee while you work, or implement rewards for yourself. A recent example of this is this one lab analysis that I absolutely dreaded doing, it was long and boring and overall mind numbing. I then implemented a rule that I could only listen to my favorite audiobook, Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, while running the analysis. After a few days, I was practically running to the lab. Finding ways to enjoy the processes more keeps it exciting and enjoyable.
That day when it all changed
Little Allasandra having the most fun doing science
