avatarDhruv Kapadia

Summary

The author, once struggling with math, shares their journey of overcoming their fear and dislike for the subject, ultimately developing a love for it.

Abstract

The author begins by empathizing with those who struggle with math, sharing their own past experiences of dreading math classes and consistently performing poorly. They reveal that a turning point came when they read a book about physicist Richard Feynman, which inspired them to view math and science as fascinating subjects. This new perspective motivated the author to take their studies more seriously, seek help when needed, and gradually improve their grades. The author concludes by encouraging others who struggle with math not to give up, emphasizing that if they could learn to love math, anyone can.

Opinions

  • The author believes that math can be enjoyable and interesting, not just a boring subject.
  • The author expresses that hard work and dedication can lead to significant improvements in math skills, even for those who initially struggle.
  • The author suggests that seeking help and not viewing oneself as inferior for needing assistance can contribute to academic progress.
  • The author implies that inspiration from others, such as Richard Feynman, can motivate one to change their perspective on a subject.
  • The author emphasizes that one's starting point or initial abilities do not determine their potential for growth and improvement.
  • The author uses their personal experience to encourage others who struggle with math, conveying a message of hope and perseverance.
  • The author suggests that confidence in one's abilities can be built through consistent effort and progress.

I Forced Myself to Learn Math So I Wouldn’t Feel Stupid Anymore

Every day was a nightmare

Photo by Lily Banse on Unsplash

To all the people who hate math… I know what it feels like.

I used to be one of you…

I dreaded going to class every day. You might know the feeling, being confused on every topic. Avoiding any homework that consists of math equations.

Classmates used to make fun of me. All the time. I studied, but never ended up getting more than a 60%. I failed tests that were based on the homework I did the night before. I thought that there was no point. That I’ll always end up being bad at math.

But later, I started to love math. Like really, really enjoy it. In fact, I decided that any career I choose should be based in math.

How was this switch in mindset possible? What caused me to turn my hate for math into something I later loved?

What changed me

I read a book. I read the book “Surely you’re joking Mr. Feynman”. It was about a bongo-playing, safe-cracking physicist who was an absolute character. His name was Richard Feynman, and he taught me science and math were not boring subjects. That science and math could be endlessly fun and interesting.

This changed me. I started to take my studies more seriously. I started to spend more time studying and reading about different concepts. I went to the teacher for help more often and didn’t view myself as stupid or inferior because of it. As I spent more time studying, my grades slowly progressed. I even helped classmates who had the some of the highest grades in the class with concepts they didn’t understand. The same people who made fun of me before for not understanding math as easily as they did. To show the progress, in grade 9 I ended up with a 65% in math. In grade 10, I got a 50% on the dot. I should have failed, since I had a 47 before the exam and got a 37 on the exam, but I suppose the teacher pitied me. In grade 11, my highest updated mark was a 84%, and in grade 12 my midterm mark ended at a 88%. Not bad for someone who couldn’t figure out how to use a protractor.

These changes gave me confidence. It showed me that hard work beats talent in the long run. That it doesn’t matter where you start, you can still finish strong. I love likening it to poker, where you might not start with the best hand, but you can still win the pot.

Conclusion

So to all the people terrible at math out there, don’t give up. Don’t lose hope. This is coming from a person like you. Someone who, for majority of their life, was awful at math and avoided it. If I can learn math, trust me, so can you.

Self Improvement
Personal Development
Life Lessons
Personal Growth
Education
Recommended from ReadMedium