As I wrap up my time at Concordia, I find myself reflecting on just how much this experience brought together the skills and knowledge I’ve developed over time. Majoring in Chemistry with an ACS certification and minoring in Biology and Mathematics, I have spent the last few years diving deep into the world of science, but this class pushed me to connect all of that in new ways. It challenged me to think differently, apply information creatively, and communicate complex ideas in ways that make sense beyond a lab setting.
This course reminded me why the liberal arts education model matters. It gave me the tools to see beyond just facts and equations and to ask deeper questions about how science fits into the broader world and how I can use that knowledge responsibly and meaningfully moving forward.
Expanding My Knowledge: Learning in New Ways
Throughout the semester, I gained a deeper understanding of key signaling pathways in the brain, such as MAPK, PI3K, and cAMP. These pathways are vital not just for understanding basic brain function but also for grasping how diseases like glioblastoma, anxiety, and obesity develop. I had learned about chemical signaling before, but this class pushed me to think about it on a systems level and to consider how disruptions ripple outward and cause real-world disease.
One of the most valuable things I took away from this class was improving my ability to read and process scientific articles. Academic research papers can be intimidating, even for students deep into their majors. However, this course pushed me to work through dense information, pull out key ideas, and translate them into my own words. Especially through writing weekly blogs aimed at a general audience.
Another important area of growth for me was learning to form hypotheses based on given data and to interpret new information critically. The signal interpretation tasks were some of my favorite assignments because they required me to predict outcomes based on pathways we had studied by not just memorizing but truly applying what I knew. This kind of thinking will be crucial as I move forward toward my future goals in graduate school and research.
Building Skills for the Future
The skills I developed this semester directly relate to the career I hope to pursue. After graduation, I plan to attend graduate school for chemistry, focusing on research. In that world, critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to communicate scientific ideas clearly are absolutely essential.
Through this class, I have become better at not just analyzing scientific data, but also connecting concepts across fields such as chemistry, biology, neuroscience, and even broader societal issues. Being able to see those connections will help me think more creatively and innovatively as a researcher.
If I were to highlight one major skill I’ve strengthened this semester on my resume, it would be critical thinking and problem-solving. Whether through analyzing a faulty signaling pathway, understanding a complicated article, or explaining a disease mechanism in simple language, this course constantly pushed me to solve problems from multiple angles and with multiple tools.
Liberal Arts Learning: Why It Matters
Studying at a liberal arts college like Concordia has been a huge part of shaping the way I think. Instead of focusing only on one narrow specialty, I have been exposed to a variety of disciplines ranging from science and math to history, philosophy, and the arts.
That exposure helped me understand that real-world problems are complex and interconnected. Diseases like glioblastoma or conditions like anxiety are not just chemical issues; they involve psychology, sociology, ethics, healthcare policy, and more. Liberal arts learning has taught me how to bridge those gaps, to ask better questions, and to think critically about the world around me.
In many ways, this class embodied the spirit of Concordia’s liberal learning goals. It reinforced a love for learning by encouraging curiosity about brain function and disease. It built on my foundational skills of analysis and communication. It gave me new interdisciplinary insights by combining neuroscience, psychology, chemistry, and even public health ideas. It asked me to think about the cultural and ethical implications of diseases and treatments. And most importantly, it prepared me to engage responsibly with the world as a future scientist.
Solving Problems Across Disciplines
One specific example of using several disciplinary perspectives came when we discussed treatments for diseases like obesity. Understanding obesity is not just a question of biology, it also involves chemistry (how molecules interact in the body), neuroscience (how the brain regulates hunger and reward), psychology (how behaviors and emotions influence eating), and sociology (how social environments shape habits).
By looking at the issue from all those angles, we could better understand why obesity is so difficult to treat and why a one-size-fits-all solution won’t work. This kind of interdisciplinary thinking will be critical in any future research I do, especially if I want my work to have real-world impact.
Looking Ahead
As I move forward toward graduate school and a future career in chemistry, I know the skills and experiences I gained in this course will stay with me. Being able to critically analyze information, synthesize ideas across disciplines, communicate clearly, and solve problems creatively are skills that matter in every field but especially in science, where the challenges we face are rarely simple.
This class helped remind me that the ultimate goal of education isn’t just to learn facts. It’s to become someone who can take knowledge and use it to make a difference. Whether through research, communication, or collaboration, I hope to keep building on what I’ve learned here at Concordia and to always keep growing as a learner, a thinker, and a responsible global citizen.
I also want to take a moment to express my gratitude for the dedicated professors here at Concordia. Throughout my time as a student, and especially in this course, I have been consistently supported and challenged by faculty who truly care about their students’ success. Their passion for teaching and commitment to helping us grow not just academically, but also personally, has made a lasting impact on me. I am incredibly thankful for their guidance, encouragement, and the countless ways they have helped me become a more thoughtful learner and a more prepared future scientist.
