Preparing students for the 21st century: Physics is the perfect playground

One of the most influential experiences of my career happened early, when the author was an undergraduate tutoring engineers and pre-medicine majors. These programs attract top talent, but some hardworking, intelligent, and capable students saw physics as an almost insurmountable barrier. Trying to find a systematic, research-based way to communicate this difficult material more effectively ultimately led me to pursue a doctorate in Physics Education Research (PER). Empowering students who had been close to quitting allowed me to support them in understanding concepts they thought they could never master. Ultimately, it helped them to acquire confidence and develop a mindset that applies beyond academics. For the author, teaching physics transcends physics concepts and laws. Physics is a vehicle to train students in thinking critically, solving complex problems, modelling real world situations, and communicating technical information. I believe that these goals are synergistic with developing a deep theoretical and applied understanding of the discipline.