This academic year has been a very successful one. I have learned quite a lot about both physics and law, and made several connections which will no doubt prove useful after graduation.
If I have learned one thing about the physics program here at Ohio State, it is that one has to be resilient in order to avoid becoming discouraged. Every honors physics major here is used to being the best student in their high school physics classes. Even in the freshman honors physics courses, “A” grades on all tests and quizzes are very attainable with just a bit of studying and perseverance. Once you become a sophomore, however, that all changes. Sophomore level physics at Ohio State is meant to be very hard, and it accomplishes that goal. Some incoming physics majors may (like me) be unintimidated by the notion of a class entitled “Intermediate Mechanics.” After all, mechanics is the first thing that one learns in physics, and how hard can it really be when it has “intermediate” in the name? I was in for a rude awakening. Intermediate Mechanics I and Intermediate Mechanics II are the two most challenging courses I have ever taken. There were several points during this last year in which I wondered whether or not I was even meant to be a physics major. I later found out that I was not alone in these concerns. Every sophomore physics major has, at some point, wavered in their assurance that they truly belong.
There is some good news for incoming sophomores. If you can survive the unfamiliar indignity of being confused and needing help, it will pay off in dividends. While your courses will push you to your limits, they will also show you that your limits extend much farther than you ever thought they could. In truth, Dr. Kilcup (the professor for both sequences of Intermediate Mechanics) is everything that a professor should strive to be. He is incredibly smart, motivated, and dedicated to his students. He’s been known to host office hours that last into the late night just to help his students succeed. If you’re willing to ask for help, he will provide it. If you’re willing to work hard, he will shape the way you think about the world around you.