Unless you are a chemistry student, the likelihood you know Dr. Mei Wang is fairly low. While she focuses on her AP Chemistry classes the most, she is a woman of many talents and interesting stories, which she brings to life at the beginning of every new chapter in the curriculum. And while you may never have her as a teacher, she is someone worth getting to know.
Dr. Wang has been a teacher for almost 30 years. While it wasn’t always her plan to become a teacher, when she first started teaching, she knew it was what she wanted to do with her life. “Originally, I did not think about becoming a teacher. I wanted to be a scientist doing research, but after I relocated to Maryland, I could only find a teaching job. After I taught for a couple of years, I really liked it and I didn’t want to change my job,” Dr. Wang said.
Dr. Wang also had an exciting college experience. She played basketball at Temple University and also had the chance to study under Professor Seaborg, whom the element seaborgium was named after. Those kinds of facts are what her students remember the most. “I find her lore very interesting, in the sense that the random little facts she gives about herself are sometimes so unexpected and it’s just amazing,” junior Reva Gargi said.
Despite the rigorousness of the courses she teaches, Dr. Wang has touched her students and made them enjoy not only her class but the subject of chemistry as well. “For me, it was definitely how Dr. Wang taught the class. She taught chemistry with passion and made the class very enjoyable. I especially loved when she would demonstrate examples by including students in her demonstrations,” senior Angela Wang said.
Not only does Dr. Wang bring chemistry to life for her students, but she also creates an environment for all to enjoy. “Both semesters of chemistry for me were really enjoyable. She made the material really interesting and engaging. I loved how everyone became so close, especially after the AP exam. We were always doing fun activities and everyone was always participating and doing things together,” Gargi said.
While she may not teach any subject but chemistry, Dr. Wang has capabilities that wow her students. “The other thing is just how intelligent she is. Problems that take us five minutes will be computed in her head in 15 seconds. For tests, she has to triple the time she would take,” Gargi said.
Even though time is never on your side in an AP class, Dr. Wang still enjoys teaching her students and helping them understand the material. “I enjoy being with my students. I love seeing their faces when they understand the material, watching them light up,” Dr. Wang said.
A good teacher can make learning something difficult worth learning, and Dr. Wang is a prime example of that. Her students find her funny and her class enjoyable and that has made all the difference. “AP Chemistry is one of the best classes I’ve taken and I think Dr. Wang is the reason I have such a strong love for chemistry,” Gargi said.
