Math can go two ways; at times, I can feel such great joy by solving questions, yet other times I find myself on the brink of tears, especially during exams. No matter where I go, it is everywhere, just like a desperate ex. Please…just let me eat my pizza in peace without imagining the radius and area.
My old math teacher used to always say, “It is not a scary monster,” but why do I always want to retreat to my phone when I begin to solve questions? There was a time when I loved math and looked forward to going to the classes and learning about many new ideas and ways of calculation. Well…that was at least 4 years ago, and my relationship with math doesn’t look like it will improve anytime soon.
It’s just like the honeymoon stage of actual relationships, your spark is at its highest, and you’re always seen together and having a fun time together, but once you get into your first argument, it’s only a matter of time before you see that your conversations start to get shorter. You could try to fix it by talking it out and getting to know their perspective, but if both sides don’t put in the same amount of effort, it’s futile.
When I saw my first B in math, my heart dropped. I had tried so hard to get it back to normal, but it only deteriorated from there as the subjects continued to become more difficult, just like people’s emotions. During this time, you feel the need to run away, avoid facing the problem completely, but you must keep in mind that this is just a small bump on the road that can lead you to the greatest scenery. Having one bad grade isn’t the end of the world, and does not mean that you can’t pursue your dream career or become an engineer or world-renowned mathematician. Take a look at Albert Einstein, for instance; he actually struggled with topics like algebra and geometry, yet he basically ended up becoming the face of physics.
If I were to be honest, I absolutely despise math. I'm not interested in the probability of me getting a blue marble on my 5th attempt, or what is the point of intersection between no curves? Yet, I continue to push through as it can give a big reward at the end of the road, which is finding a job. There will be many opportunities open to you, and you will be thanking yourself for all the time spent doing past papers.
So, study hard now, no matter how much you hate it, and force a relationship with math until it pays off. I wouldn’t recommend doing that in real life, though.