Feeling a little down and really stupid..

[catnapper]

Math and I are so NOt friends. I learned to forgive myself for my pathetic math skills long ago. I make fun of myself and tell my coworkers to always check my math. Do you know how many times I made a bank deposit for work and included the wrong amount? I can either kick myself or tell myself, "Hey, you made a mistake... everybody knows you stink at math"

Embrace your shortcomings and figure out how to compensate. What happens is your accentuate your strengths in order to make up for you weaknesses.


As for kicking yourself and getting mad? I understand and relate. The more worked up you get to proove to yourself and others that you can apply yourself and "get it" the worse you'll be because each failure will take on bigger proprtions than they really are. Like now, you're freaking out over a quiz that will likely be forgiven. Why fret? (yeah, easier said than done!) Focus on the positive - that you're acing the class so far! and focus on your goal -- that awesome job after college! and forgive a bad test, quiz, etc. We all have weaknesses. Math is ours.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Don't beat yourself up over one test, and also don't give up on what you want to do! Just remember, right now you are learning the basics of these concepts, not expected to be a math whiz. When you actually get into your profession, chances are you won't ever have to calculate another thing by hand - that's what computers are for! It's much more important that you know some reasons why you run certain tests, etc. If you ever needed to run an experiment that called for a test of significance, you would never do it without a computer (and you also would have access to everything you needed to make decisions about what to do). It sounds like you are doing great overall!

[Roxyluvsme13]

In college, you have to learn that you're going to make bad grades. That might be a bad outlook, but it's going to happen. You'll take an awful exam and you'll know you did bad on it, but you just have to get back up and keep trying. I've thought about changing my major SO many times. But if you want to follow your dreams, and I know you do, you have to realize you can do better next time. One bad grade is not going to ruin your chance of making an A or a B in the class. A lot of teachers drop lowest quiz grades/test scores, and there's always the opportunity to do better next time.

Just keep going, Alyssa! I know it's hard sometimes, but you can do this!

[Alysser]

Thank you so so much guys for the encouragement and also the stories I know I am not the only person who struggles with math, but it's just annoying that I can pass everything else with flying colors and math I struggle to get a B in. I've never failed a class in my life, and have always passed math with C's, which is what I need to pass to get on to the next math...so hopefully if anything I can do that.

I am pretty much over this, thanks to you guys and a little bit of shopping therapy afterwards Also, thanks for any suggestions, although I've had tutors and they've never helped me. I am really not just saying that. I've had tutors in 2nd/3rd grade, 8th grade and again as a Junior in high school. My grades never really improved with them. Junior year I had one to help me improve my SAT score and wound up getting the EXACT same grade on them!! Karen, I might take you up on that offer, if your sister doesn't mind of course!

Last night, my dad basically said, as mean as it seems "If you quit this you'll be a quitter for the rest of your life." He's always told us that growing up and it seems to be true. He never let us quit things when they seemed to hard for us. I guess that's a good lesson. I also realized that after this math class I only have 3 more...and they will all be at my Community College, so at the four year university I will have NO math. Just science, after science, after science Sounds fantastic to me! Also, bri, yeah I guess you can't always pass something no matter how hard you try you won't pass EVERYTHING in college, but it doesn't mean its a lost cause.

[Karen]

I am sure my sister wouldn't mind, but I'll give her a head's up! We come from a long line of teachers, and are all pretty good at explaining stuff, but she's the math whiz amongst us all. The rest of us do math fine, but she thinks it is actually fun!

[Cataholic]

Last night, my dad basically said, as mean as it seems "If you quit this you'll be a quitter for the rest of your life." He's always told us that growing up and it seems to be true. He never let us quit things when they seemed to hard for us. I guess that's a good lesson. I also realized that after this math class I only have 3 more...and they will all be at my Community College, so at the four year university I will have NO math. Just science, after science, after science Sounds fantastic to me! Also, bri, yeah I guess you can't always pass something no matter how hard you try you won't pass EVERYTHING in college, but it doesn't mean its a lost cause.

Your dad gives some good advice. It is really easy to do well at things, and keep chuggin' along. Its when faced with adversity (can we call math issues adversity?), and how you react, and plug forward that means something.
I struggle with math. Today, looking back, I think it was more of a "I can't do this, so I won't work at it" vs. "I can't do this". I encourage you to work through the math issues, with assistance, a tutor, more than 1.5 hours studying the night before the exam, to make this work.

And, just an FYI, it is totally possible to pass EVERYTHING in college. Many people do. Don't let that become your attitude.

[Alysser]

Your dad gives some good advice. It is really easy to do well at things, and keep chuggin' along. Its when faced with adversity (can we call math issues adversity?), and how you react, and plug forward that means something.
I struggle with math. Today, looking back, I think it was more of a "I can't do this, so I won't work at it" vs. "I can't do this". I encourage you to work through the math issues, with assistance, a tutor, more than 1.5 hours studying the night before the exam, to make this work.

And, just an FYI, it is totally possible to pass EVERYTHING in college. Many people do. Don't let that become your attitude.

I don't know if I'd call math issues adversity either, but it is a challenge and either way a very good point.

I think that is my way of thinking to, and I WILL keep working at it.

As for the quiz, well.. yeah I got it back today and I did really bad. I will be going to office hours Monday morning to finish my lab and I plan on talking to my teacher then. But you know the weird thing? Yesterday I looked at my grade, and it said my overall grade was a B, and this was BEFORE all the grades she gave back today were put in. I went to look at it today 'cause all the new grades were in...and I have an A? AN A?? After getting a horrible grade on a quiz. I got a good grade on the labs and HW's though, which were worth 10% of our grades just like the quizzes. I e-mailed my professor just to make sure it wasn't some sort of mistake. My only guess is that the labs some how balanced it out.