Growing up, I dread the sound of the word ‘mathematics’. It was like the green-eyed monster we hear about, seen pictures of but never met, yet always hunting kids in their dreams. I see it as the worst nightmare every child have to face. It was a huge fear and I literally dread any exams that involves calculations of any kind.
But becoming an adult, it became a part of my life, only in its simple terms until I had to face it again, fully.
One thing I have come to realize in life is that when we don’t get to really put our heart into something, we’d never know the extent to wish we can succeed at it.
High School Experience
As a Junior Secondary student, I loved Business Studies and English Language. So I always told myself I was going to either be a journalist or a business manager.
And then I started hating Mathematics because nothing I was taught in Maths stick in my head. It was a struggle, I was always cramming the formulas to pass any examination. Despite this, I’d always pass with a narrow escape. I never understood what I was learning.
My love for business still persist, and I joined Commercial Class(not sure what it is called now) in Senior class. I had a best friend who was good with calculations, I understood the theory part and we made a good team. However, the practical part always came to bite me.
Making a Decision
When I had to make a decision of what I was going to spend 4 years of my life studying, I thought of a course that has less mathematics drama. And English Language came up. Before I made this choice, I had already started writing and keeping a journal. So, I felt this was enough to guard my decision plus I looked up to my English Language instructor and wished to be better than him.
I realized I wasn’t going to do well as an entrepreneur or business oriented person because my knowledge of mathematics is poor. Hence, there was no point deceiving myself.
Rubik Cube
The Present
Today, I have learnt the basics I needed to excel as a grammarian but I thirst for more. Considering the fact that my present job requires more of accounting knowledge and more, I felt bad for allowing myself choose the easy way out.
However, I decided to pursue a course in personnel management instead. Only to find myself dealing with this mathematics life again.
Dealing with the Fear
The first diet was easy-peasy as I just needed to read and understand some theories. And then the second diet began.
At first, when the classes started. I just told myself I was going to need 2 diets to pass one of the courses- Operation Research. Meaning, I’d attempt it the first time and fail and then by the second class, I’d have picked up and successfully pass.
It was so bad I do not even know how to multiply the + and – signs. I find it really difficult to convert percentage into monetary values. It was really messy. Everything felt strange and I was really terrified. I will always tell anyone that cared to listen how scared I was.
And then I asked myself why I’d want to associate myself with failure at all? Why wouldn’t I want to learn and understand it? A friend who has successfully passed the exams told me it was quite easy and that if he could do it, I could do.
And that was the motivation I needed. I put all of my energy into that one course more than others. I started practicing and trying to understand why there’s an ‘x’ and ‘y’. Why some figures will never add up and how to handle projects using figures.
Before I knew it, it became part of my life and something I enjoyed learning. It became so much fun and I wonder if I wouldn’t have excelled as an engineer, doctor or accountant.
Lessons I Learnt From Mathematics
1. Whatever proved more difficult to you, put more energy into excelling at it.
2. Mathematics is fun. Albert Einstein said it is the ‘poetry of logical ideas’.
3. It makes you more mentally active and make good judgement out of the worst situations.
4. Always be confident about yourself in every situation. It may sucks at first but with continuous practice, it would become a huge part of you, you’d come to appreciate.
Overall, nothing in life is hard if you believe it is not. If others can, then you can too. Believe in yourself and find the easiest way around it.
As a child, were you scared of Mathematics like me? Have you managed to conquer it? What would you wish you had known differently before now?
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Hmmmmmmmm nice one thanks @debs more strength u have saved a life loosing hope.thanks thanks thanks
Author
Thanks dear for the continuous support. I’m glad you did learn from it. All the best 💙
I’m a big Maths fan, I love love mathematics, this is the major reason I’m doing engineering. It was English that gave me headache in junior school, the day I got angry and determined to be very good in English was the day my English teacher refused to check my note for what we studied last in class, he said I was not up to standard.
I took it very serious and I put it in a lot of conscious efforts, I read a lot of books, I collected awards for best student in Maths and English the same year in school.
Nothing is really hard, we just need to put in conscious and consistent efforts. Sorry for the long reply 😉😉😉 , your post does the magic.
Specsdiaries.com
Author
Wow, ‘Not up to standard’, that’s all shade of wrong though but it’s a good thing when we learn from criticism.
Please I love long comments 😁 Thanks Susan. I just learn from your comment too.
Ah Mathematics. I can’t even begin to enumerate the different ways I struggled with that subject. It was really bad because I was always the best student in other courses but Maths? No ma. It was like that little devil that just wanted to mess everything up. I have run from it ever since.
However, If I find any opportunity to learn it again, I just might be like you and give it better attention and determination. Nice writing, as usual! Weldone
Author
I can definitely relate, Tolani. It was one of the biggest life struggle 😅 but here we are today.
Thanks for stopping by, dear
Ningún buen lector toma en serio ciertas hipérboles de la crítica. “The argument can be criticized in many ways, and it is unlikely that anybody takes it seriously, including the reviewer. Timothy Gowers. Mathematics”. NY. 1992
My favorite favorite subject of all times will stay being Mathematics! All hail! You’re right, nothing is really hard. When someone says they don’t understand maths, my first inclination is to leave all I’m doing, pick a maths textbook, travel down to where they are, and then ask them to open the page they find difficult.
In a different universe, I’m sure I’ll be a maths facial.
Author
Someone finally loves Mathematics. This is good to know, Oluchi. To think there was a time I used to think it’s a man’s subject 😁
What??? I never thought that one bit. Everyone was clamoring for me to study an engineering course while I was in primary school because I did well at maths. So it never occurred to me to think it wasn’t a subject I (a female) was supposed to do
Author
Please tell me you are an engineer now. All those knowledge must be put to use 👌
Haha yes bae. Chemical engineer at your service! Wii tarnk tha Lord. Lol
Well, I never did excellently in math while in school. I mean, especially when I was asked to find X . I never found the damned X.
Now, As an adult I only wish I paid more attention to mathematics. I go for interviews I need math, everything involves math in real life. I wish I did better.
Author
That’s exactly what I have come to find out. Plus the fact that Maths even make you more mentally active. It’s not too late either ways, we can take up courses innit to help us put a permanent end to the fear.
Thanks for stopping by, dear
Back then in secondary school maths was a nightmare but when I went to high institution I realised that maths was as easy as taking tea and bread. Only then was it done on me that I could have done better if I had put in more interest and practice bcoz I ended up studying Business mgt. instead of English language.
Now, I so much fell in love with calculation courses. All through my days in high institution calculation courses was a straight A’s
Author
Wow, that’s so amazing. I never loved Mathematics until much more recently. And I totally agree that with continuous practice, it’s much simpler than any other subject.