Introduction to Preston's Biochemistry Experience
In the fall of 2019 I signed a lease to a rental house for the 2020-2021 school year. The lease began in the summer (June 1st to be exact), so that fall I decided to enroll in a course for that upcoming summer. I was already going to be living in Norman because of my lease, so I thought why not? While the dampers of 2020 were not known at the time, I could surely not "un-sign" my lease, and the class I enrolled in was an extremely important one for my major, so I followed through with my plan. Last summer I moved into the home I'm living in now and attended my first lecture of biochemistry.
Going into the class I had no idea what to expect! What topics does biochemistry even cover? I knew it was very important that I not only earned my A, but that I truly retained the information taught to me. Along with my major I'm pre-med, which essentially means I'm going to have to take the MCAT at some point in order to be accepted into medical school. Having a good foundation in biochemistry helps extremely when studying for and taking the MCAT. I was locked in from day 1 not even knowing what to expect.
A "fairly" brief map of the body's metabolic pathways. Wikimedia
A short time into the first week I figured out the class was about the body's metabolism, the reactions that happen in our body, where certain reactions happen, the transfer of energy from a simply gummy bear after it enters our mouth, and the list goes on. Needless to say, I was instantly hooked.
Instead of listing off everything I learned last summer, I'm going to talk more about what the class did for me as a whole. A key thing I previously said about the class was that it highlights basic human metabolism. I instantly explored the rabbit holes and eventually found my way to the health gurus and gym rats on YouTube. In the long run, biochemistry inspired me to balance my meals properly and be more active in order to take better care of my body.
Hello Preston! I am so excited for you! The MCAT is definitely a beast. It took away every single life I had left in me. Biochemistry is definitely a big part of the MCAT so having that background is great. I definitely recommend taking as many practice exams as you can. As I am writing to you right now, I am actually in the process of medical school interviews so definitely let me know if you need anything!
ReplyDeleteHi Preston! I think your story of finding biochemistry is really fascinating. You sound very passionate about it! I also love learning more about the body’s metabolism and how we process food and energy because I am a bit of a gym rat, but my eyes glaze over if we get too deep into the hard science, haha. My best friend is going to med school, and she was waist-deep in the MCAT stuff this time last year, too. It was definitely daunting, and my goal as her friend was to just support her, hype her up, and give her a person to go to when she needed to get away from the books. I hope you have some great friends or hobbies that you can use as support, too! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHey Preston, great story about your biochem experience. I can't even imagine taking that class and what a grind it must have been. I mean I know that I struggled once everything switched to fully online so I am sure biochem was even worse. That's pretty cool to how you actually could use this class to inspire you and focus on your nutrition. I'm sure it's easier once you actually understand it all.
ReplyDeleteHey Preston! Wow, I can't imagine taking biochem during the pandemic, with things being online and just all the stress of last summer. So congrats on getting through that! I think it's really cool that you were able to be inspired by such a difficult course to take care of your body better. I don't know much about our bodies, but I am also slowly learning what mine needs and doesn't need and ways that I can care for it without it being about how I look. Good luck with the rest of your semester and studying for the MCAT!
ReplyDeleteThe Fall of 2019 sure seems like a different world now, Preston! I've been thinking so much about the weirdness of this past COVID year, since it really is a year now (and it feels like five years, not just one!).
ReplyDeleteAnd I love the idea of biochemistry from the perspective of a gummy bear, ha ha. Of course, it doesn't look like a gummy bear for very long, but what was once a gummy bear really does become the raw material which our bodies need to do what they do! Now I'll be hoping that in the same way that biochem gave you this new perspective on gummy bears and metabolism, maybe this class can give you a new perspective on words and meaning. Metabolism is way more complicated than language is... but language is still pretty intricate and amazing too: and without writing, nobody would be able to write biochemistry textbooks, so it all fits together! :-)
Hello Preston!
ReplyDeleteI am also Pre-Med, so I will have to take the MCAT as well, which has actually been stressing me out a little bit here recently! I cannot imagine being a biochemistry major, that sounds like so much to handle on top of the Pre-Med course work! I do plan on taking Biochemistry next fall however, so maybe it will surprise me and be more intriguing than I thought!
Hi Preston! Like several of the commenters above, I too am a pre-med student. I am a senior, so I have been going through the application process all through this year and have already taken my MCAT and biochemistry. So, I can totally relate to what you have done and what you will be doing as you continue along your journey. I wish you the best!
ReplyDeleteHey Preston!
ReplyDeleteI think it is amazing that you are majoring pre-med. I bet it must have been crazy taking biochemistry in the summer, especially in the midst of the pandemic. I wish you the best for the MCATs. It is also wonderful that biochemistry paved a way for you to balance your meals and be more active. I need to get into the routine of doing that as well.
Hi Preston!
ReplyDeleteMy roommate also took Biochemistry at the same time as you so you might have been in class together! I'm sure it's a really interesting topic and wish I could've gotten the chance to take it! I like those types of classes and it makes learning fun! She is also taking the MCAT and has taken it once already, so I see firsthand how stressful it can be for people. I know you're gonna do great at it and am rooting for you!
Hi Preston!
ReplyDeleteWow, you like biochemistry... more power to you! I took the class and did not necessarily hate it like most people claim to, but I also would not say that I loved it at any point. I am so glad that you found a class and subject that fascinates you! It is a rapidly growing field as well. Good luck in it!
Hey Preston!
ReplyDeleteI am taking that classes in the upcoming semester and I am very excited. I love science in general because it can’t stop to fascinate me to learn more about it everyday. I am thrilled to be taking the MCAT soon as well, so good luck to you on the MCAT. I hope that you will eventually reach your goal and good luck on what you are doing.
Hello Preston. I think that it is really cool you found a passion for learning about biochem. I on the other hand do not like chemistry at all and the only chem class I have taken was in high school. I do think that it is really cool too that you went down the rabbit hole and are doing things to take care of your body that you have not previously done before taking the biochem class. Best of luck with the semester.
ReplyDeleteHi Preston!
ReplyDeleteI am a biochemistry major, and that picture basically sums up the complicated maze that is biochemistry. Taking that course during a full semester is difficult as is, so kudos to you for taking it over the summer. I can't imagine how stressful it was, but it is really amazing that you were bale to take away what you learned in that class and let it introduce you to healthy habits and such. I wish biochemistry inspired me as much as it did you. Good luck on the MCAT!
Good afternoon, Preston! I would not even know where to begin in biochemistry. The name itself is daunting haha! Tough classes become much easier when you are passionate about them though. It is so awesome that you are pre-med. I'd be interested to hear more about the classes you have taken so far. What are you wanting to do in the medical field?
ReplyDeleteHey Preston,
ReplyDeleteI was a biology major my first year at OU and I definitely have respect for anyone majoring in Biology or Chemistry. I ended up changing to pre law because that's more my area of interest, but those chem classes were definitely tough. Good Luck on prepping for the MCAT!