Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes that it undergoes. In essence, chemistry is the study of all of the material world around us; what makes it up, how it is put together, how we can take it apart. All of the world is made up of chemicals, and we are but players in the game. To play the game well, we need to know the rules, which makes Chemistry an important course for the well-rounded student.
Chemistry is a lab course, and does require a fair amount of study. During the course, a student becomes very familiar with the world of the very very small, as well as the intracacises of the periodic table and elements contained within. This is similar to learning a new culture or language, and requires dedication and studying inside of class as well as outside of class.