Being a subject of knowledge

In class on Monday, we were faced with the question of whether we are objects or subjects of knowledge in our life as college students. In my experience, while it is possible to get by as an object of knowledge, it is beneficial to make the effort to be a subject of knowledge in order to excel. I have experienced this myself in my physics classes. Last year, I self-studied for the calculus-based AP Physics Electricity & Magnetism Exam. I did not start studying early enough and, having run out of time to learn the material, figured I would be okay because they give us a substantial formula sheet on the exam. I planned to be an object of the knowledge on the formula sheet, and did not bring enough of my own knowledge to the table. This did not work well for me. The knowledge given, the formula sheet, was a helpful starting point, but that was all it was. I was not able to figure out most of the problems on the exam. I managed to get a passing grade, but only barely. This year, in Analytical Physics II, we are covering the same material that was on that exam. We had an exam on much of that material before break that went significantly better than the AP exam last year. A large part of that is because I am not trying to learn the material from a review book and have a good instructor (thanks, Dr. Freeman!), but it is also because this year, I am making the effort to make sure I understand the concepts involved and making sure I learn things well enough that I can bring sufficient knowledge of my own to the exam and not just rely on the knowledge that is provided on the formula sheet. Making this leap between being an object of knowledge to being a subject of knowledge has helped me not just pass my physics classes, but excel in them.