Growing up, as a young lad I hated numbers and any stress that has to do with tasking my brain for a sort of numerical analysis or calculation of any sort. I kept developing into adolescence with such a mindset and to have enforced it stronger; was my Dad’s approach to helping his wards learn especially mathematics better. My Dad believed in spanking a pupil to learn and he will always encourage my teachers to beat his child into learning, little did he know that it made me hate numbers much more.
In the west world, education is somehow different from Africa, and in Nigeria it is entirely a different ball game. We learn sometimes with a sort of coercion such that, teachers are encouraged to use the rod at the times that it is necessary, to call in some spanking or if you like; call it flogging, to call a pupil or student into learning, but that also means that it is done for fear of the rod.
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Countless times during my primary education I will be punished because I had failed simple arithmetic’s, precisely an experience I will never forget is crawling on my knees and doing a frog jump simply because I failed mathematics exams. I took scarce home hoping that my parent will agitate that the teacher had molested me for such a treatment; however was surprise that my Dad applauded the teacher in question for such a brutal treatment.
All that made me hate much more any form of numerical analysis till my junior High school, I only began to have interest in numerical analysis when I met a gentleman that took some time to encourage and give me counsel to pay attention to mathematics and I will discover that mathematics is not as I feared. He did a good job in arming me with the necessary skills and secrets to be better in mathematics. From that point I returned to Senior High School a changed man. At that point I experienced a total change of my grades because as I swiftly became more interested in problem solving subjects, the Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics became even more interesting to me.
However, I struggled to build a fresh foundation as I missed many preliminary understanding on the fundamentals of arithmetic operation, however that didn’t discourage me, I worked from behind to catch up with my colleagues, and I still did well at the long run. I ended up in the University, studied mechanical engineering which is adorned with calculative courses, and today am a mathematics instructor in a High School enjoying the passion of having to motivate and teach young adults that had similar poor foundation as I did, to also be and become better in mathematics and numerical problem solving skills.
I want to give a few tips and secrets to anyone who finds this article helpful;
- Maths is not as difficult as it seems, bury the phobia of “mathematics is difficult” that you have enthroned in your mind.
- Face your fears, “what does not kill you; will make you stronger”, or” the stuff you are afraid of today, will always confront you at a bridge of your life”.
- Start by attending class with keen interest to overcome the problem in the 1st place. Pay total attention; if you don’t understand please ask.
- After lessons interact and ask many questions, then also find someone to teach what you just learnt.
- Solve problems related over and over, at least every day.
- Develop your passion by telling more people how easy you find arithmetic and numerical analysis.
I want to say, that for someone who is a father, if you are passed this stage then I encourage you to read through the trend of how my upbringing was and how it affected me. Also see the influence a total stranger had on me when he gave similar advice I have just share with you. Encourage your word and see the improvement he/she will make.
In conclusion, you have enormous potential locked up in you to tap from, never think or conclude that you can’t excel on any given field if your heart is set at it. Push yourself over huddles and press in; you discover a You, you never knew existed. Today am a practical testimony of someone who can start by hating mathematics to becoming a teacher of numerical analysis.
Please leave your comments, re-steem and vote this article if you find it interesting, you can share your experiences, I will appreciate…