Step 1: In the Mole's Shoes
Written by: Erica Cuizon
Converting values to mole was one of the main concepts I very much remember with Chemistry as we have done conversion countless of times. We needed it with mole fraction, molality, molarity, and with colligative properties to help us solve for the answer. In fact, converting values to moles is one of the processes in commencing the solving. In our chemistry lecture, our teacher told us that in step 1, one must convert substances to moles to make it easier. Only then can we solve the problem. I guess in life, we pretty much need the step 1. Living in a world with different people and of different backgrounds and personalities, often times, we find ourselves judging them without paying attention to their reasons. We continuously judge and judge but it is crucial to understand, even in terms of chemistry concepts, that I may be a kilogram and she may be a mole. And in solving problems in our relationship with friends or strangers, we need to learn to set aside our differences and learn to see each other from each other’s perspective. Like how the old saying goes, "Put yourself in other people’s shoes. But to do that, you have to get out of your own." Put yourself in their shoes to allow one to see or experience something from someone else's point of view and to see how it feels. To understand a mole, I need to become one and possibly, understanding this can alleviate arguments that ruin relationships which also add negativity in this world. In the near future, as I enter the professional world with different types of people, I think it is great that I inculcated this concept and principle in my morality because it will help me interact and induce good workmanship with others. With unity and understanding as colleagues in the future, I believe beautiful outputs can blossom. For instance, as an engineer, I do not work solo in creating buildings. I think the building can only soar high if I learn how to understand my team mates and I figure out how to deal with arguments with candor and respect. Truly, this realization of mine will be of use to me today and in the future as I learn how to communicate with people and I am grateful that Chemistry, one of the subjects I least expect to teach me morally, influenced my philosophical thinking. In chemistry, our teacher told us that step 1: one must convert substances to moles to make it easier. Only then can we solve the problem. In life, the world told me that step 1: one must put oneself on others' shoes to make it easier. Only then can we solve the problem.
