A capstone is a culmination or peak of achievement. My experience in Neurochemistry this semester fit this label well, as it integrated several scientific fields into one, encompassing field with exciting applications.
I was nervous for this class at first. I was very interested in Neurochemistry, but I lacked a through background in biochemistry or neuroscience or even rudimentary biology before the semester began. Assuming I would have to play some serious catch up, I went into the class with trepidation, but with a significant interest in this burgeoning field. The first few weeks were a little rough. Besides knowing (generally) what a neuron looked like and being able to distinguish a brain from a potato, I was completely devoid of any advanced neuroscience knowledge, and it took a decent amount of out-of-class reading to get up to where I wanted to be. However, once a sufficient background was present from out of class and in class review, it became easier to draw connections both within the field of neurochemistry and between previous fields of study. My neurochemistry course not only improved my understanding of neuroscience; it improved my understanding of cellular biology, biochemistry, and even psychology. Neurochemistry is the epitome of intellectual integration; the issues it presents can be approached from a plethora of angles, something that certainly wasn’t lost on someone who hadn’t taken the suggested coursework as a foundation.
Not only has my Neurochemistry course provided me with a greater understanding of the brain and the possible problems that can arise due to dysfunctory signaling pathways, it provided a potential research path I may want to pursue in graduate school. The articles we were provided with approached many different neurological diseases and disorders, each article containing new pathways while reiterating common themes we had discovered throughout the semester. The beautiful complexity of the brain, and the applications chemistry has in understanding it, drew me in, and it is certainly a field you wouldn’t be hard pressed to find the meaning of your research in. It has had a sizable effect on how I have approached my other chemistry courses this semester, lending extra meaning to some of their techniques and topics. This class was not only a “culmination” of my undergraduate career, but also may serve as a potent link to my future.
In conclusion, this course has been a fulfilling, encompassing experience that enabled me to draw knowledge from several fields to delve further into the subjects at hand. In this way, this course was a good simulation of a liberal arts education; a multi-faceted background can really propel your understanding of an area beyond what a narrow focus could provide.
Neurochemistry: Integrating Many Scientific Fields
