Maths and Me - Peeping Into My Mind

When I was in school I used to hate maths like anything. I guess Maths used to be the last exam in a series. If my memory is correct, during 2nd standard maths exam, mom had taught me every kind of addition and subtraction. The toughest part was to comprehend the question and split the different numerals given in it into different variables, or as steps, which I used to hate [These type of problems were called step problem :-)]. And I had reached the last question of the paper, which carries lots of marks and is indeed a step problem. I was getting afraid or rather lazy to read that one. The girl sitting next to me was a 1st standard girl who already had completed her paper and submitted to the teacher and was waiting for the time period to get over. I guess she had completed her paper long time back and was getting frustrated to get out. She might have seen me, the senior, solving a tough paper :-P. She might have thought that I’ve done enough to score good marks. Hence she told me:”Chechi.. enough of writing. Submit the paper and we’ll play.” Me was so relieved to hear that. I dint want to solve the problem and someone has asked me not to :-D. I happily submitted the paper and started playing :-). Well the later part is that myself got more than enough scolding from mom :-(. Mom has never allowed me to forget this incident. Otherwise I wouldnt have been able to narrate it so well even now.

I grew older as a Mathphobic. I remember once in 6th standard or so myself scoring almost ‘Failed’ mark in a maths paper. That was too much for me to withstand. The worst fact was that my bro used to be very strong in Math. I found myself to be total loser. One who cant score even pass mark in math is inferior to everyone. Those thoughts began to fume up in my mind. Hence decided to change my take on math. Started working hard and next time scored decently :-). Was happy then, found that math is not that big a monster.

Still I never developed an affection towards math. I used to tell very confidently that I’m never going to be an engineer. But destiny had something else for me. When I was in 10th standard, I felt that I had written maths papers very badly. Still I could find that I have scored more than decent marks for maths. And Biology paper had made me loss trust in it. It was the time for me to take a vital decision in my life. Whether to take up math, the subject which I used to hate a lot, as main stream or take up bio, which is not trustworthy.

Finally the decision was to start loving math and hate bio. While taking up that decision I was not sure if I’m right or not. Till now that decision has done only good for me. God always places me in such a dilemma. The outcome of that state may seem to be not at all favorable for the present environment. But later when I look back I’ll feel my decision was 100% right.

BTW now I love Maths and Logics :-).