When you walk into your science classes, you may begin to wonder what is the importance of learning Avogadro’s number. Or even the importance of knowing how many moles are in your classroom setting. 

And while this may be the case for some of you, science teacher, Mark Herkenhoff, who has taught chemistry for more than a decade now, not only emphasizes the importance of learning science within the classroom, but he also stresses on how important the involvement of science can contribute to our daily lives. 

While talking to Herkenhoff, he expressed a lot of key things that can sometimes go over students’ heads when they are in the classroom.

Overall in Chemistry and other science classes, there is a bunch of information you can take away, not only academically, but also in your everyday lives as well. 

Herkenhoff expresses how, an important lesson he’s learned while teaching Chemistry and being in the class is.

“It’s important for students to gain hands on experience and apply the concepts they’re learning to the real world,” Herkenhoff said.

Herkenhoff shared three key components that his students can take away from being in his classroom, and any other science class. He expressed how, not only can science stimulated classes, open up doors for

students, and create opportunities for career paths. But he also explained how overall by being in these science classes, that are offered to you now you can gain a great skill of problem solving.

“Chemistry, like many other subjects, introduces students to a variety of problem-solving situations,” Herkenhoff said. “Many students may claim that they won’t need the skills acquired in chemistry in real life.”

But Herkenhoff continues to express how chemistry works.

“We exercise because it’s good for our health. Do I need to do 50 push-ups in everyday life? Do I need to run 5 miles daily? Not necessarily. But we exercise to strengthen our muscles and develop healthy habits. Similarly, we exercise our minds to enhance our problem-solving abilities,” Herkenhoff said.

Overall, Herkenhoff emphasizes that while we might not feel like doing all the class experiments, or listening to long lectures on how to do formulas. It is only helping us train for everyday life.

Along with this, Chemistry offers a great opportunity for those who want to go into the fields of science. and also provide great opportunities to those who are maybe unsure about what they want to do, or need better help understanding basic assignments in class.

Student, Trinity Ramsbottom (10) expressed how fun the labs are.

“Mr. Herkenhoff’s, labs are not only fun and creative. But they also help us to really understand what we are doing in class,” Herkenhoff said.

So, the next time you walk into your science class, think about how you can utilize what’s provided to you, to problem solve, to build, to grow, and to develop.

Even if you may not love the idea of science it is a great opportunity to learn more and prepare for daily activities but also a way to grow academically.