I have lived and thrived in humanities fields my entire life - theater, video production, English... I am a humanities double major (English and creative writing.) I do not, on a daily basis, deal with sciences and I've never really had to, unless it was for school. This theme has continued into college. I had to take one science. I enrolled. I pushed through. Now I'm at the end.

It has taught me a lot more than I ever expected it to.

I went in, ready for a generic science class. Study, do the work, take the tests, get the grade. That's how all of my past classes have been, anyway. I know, I know, college is different, but I just had that mindset. I was proven wrong and I'm a better person for it.

I have learned more in my college biology class than I have in all other science classes combined. My professor makes it interesting and relatable and has finally answered the ever-standing question: "When will I ever use this in my life?"

She pulls the real world into the classroom and makes us not only think about it, but applies it to us as individuals. She takes the topics and edits them to us, a diverse population of students from all kinds of backgrounds and past educations. She recognizes that most of us are only taking her class because we have to, and she is okay with that.

But the best thing that she's done?

She has not once, this entire semester, made me feel stupid. She encourages questions and wrong answers, because if you fail, it means there is an opportunity to learn. If you ask a question it means that you are engaged. If you are doing your best to understand, even if it is not your field, it means that you are doing your best, and to her? That's a success.

I did not go into biology with expectations, but I'm leaving with a new outlook on not only education, but on myself. I'm more open. I'm more engaged. I am now an active listener. I am a better student.

So, thank you, biology. Even if you were hard at times and stressful at most, you helped me more than I ever thought you would.