The Discipline of Scientists Who Failed in School

Several scientists who failed in school have gone on to become aces in their respective fields. Thomas Edison, who was once considered the smartest boy in the class, got himself into trouble in the school system and ended up registering more than 1000 patents. His failure in school prompted him to try his hand at other things. Some of those other things were the invention of liquid-fueled rockets, which kicked off the space program.

In fact, one of the most important dispositions for a scientist to possess is the ability to successfully cope with failure. This might mean overcoming a hiccup in your study or work schedule, or it might mean being able to persevere through a tough period in your life. The best way to deal with failure is to be proactive and to do it in a way that is motivating.

This is not to say that it is easy to succeed in science. Rather, it takes a lot of imagination, hard work, and discipline. In fact, success in any field is a combination of imagination, work ethic, and luck. However, there are other important factors that may affect how a scientist succeeds.

The biggest problem facing STEM students is their inability to recognize failure as a learning experience. This may be because they were not provided with sufficient exposure to the concept, or it may be because they have the predisposition to view failures as negative experiences.

The best way to encourage STEM students to view failure as a learning experience is to make sure that the classroom is filled with challenge-engaging individuals. For example, teachers might consider showing students how to use science tools such as a microscope or a computer or allowing them to perform a hands-on demonstration. The textbook demonstrations that usually feature prototypical "cookbook" demonstrations may not adequately capture the process, and may not have the same effect.

Another good way to get students to view failure as a learning experience would be to remind them that it is OK to make a mistake. This might seem like a small point, but many students believe that it is impossible to make mistakes in school. This belief can cause them to become discouraged, and to lose their motivation to learn.

While there are many scientists who failed in school, the one who got away with the sexiest of achievements is arguably Sir Isaac Newton, who made several mistakes while he was learning his trade. While he did not make a very good person, he went on to become one of the most influential scientists of all time. His failures at farming and at school may have hindered his studies, but he eventually earned a master's degree in physics and became a founding father of modern science.

One other important thing to note is that a good scientist will not only have the ability to cope with failure, but he will have the requisite skills to succeed. This includes the ability to recognize that failure is an important learning experience, and to be able to overcome the pitfalls of failure.