Math: It has been my foe for about four years now, basically ever since I was introduced to the soul-sucking beast that is algebra. It has been the cause of nearly every bad grade I've gotten. But now, I have conquered math. I have beaten it, and I no longer let it cast a shadow on my otherwise enjoyable educational career. I want to reach out to you, all my fellow downtrodden students. Here is a plan to help vanquish the albatross that is math!
Release the anger
If you're anything like me, you have accumulated such a vehement hate of mathematics over the years that it is impossible for you to take any steps toward conquering it. You need to get the anger out before you go any further. Write math (or if you want to be more specific, algebra, geometry, calculus, etc.) on a piece of paper in thick marker. Pin it up to a dart board if you have one or to a durable fence outside. PELT it with darts or stones. Get out all of your pent up frustration toward it. Beat the crap out of it and take revenge for every bad grade, every problem that stumped you, every time a teacher has put a big ugly red X through your hard work. Beat math into submission. Who's the boss? You are. Feel better? Good. Now take a deep breath.
Have a support system
If you feel like you are drowning in numbers and symbols, don't just give up. There is someone out there that can help you. Find one of your friends that is willing to give up a little bit of their time to help you out. You might offer to buy them a coffee at Starbucks after school if they'll help you work through your homework problems. You aren't alone. If none of your friends are willing or able to help out, talk to your teacher. He or she will have options for you to get extra help. Also, your school might have a volunteer or BETA club that offers after school tutoring. Ask around.
Don't procrastinate
It might be oh so tempting when you get home from school to keep that math book hidden away in your bookbag and completely skip your homework assignment for the night, but this will come back to haunt you. Remember that Dr. Seuss poem called “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out” and how since she put off taking the trash out, she got buried in a mound of ick? That, metaphorically, is what happens when you put off homework. Homework is given for a reason, and there's no worse feeling than sitting there on test day unable to do a single problem. Trust me - I've been there. Even if you can't complete your homework assignment that night, at least try to struggle through as much as you can. Write down the problems you have the most trouble with and show up a little bit early to class the next day. Your teacher might have time to give you a bit of help.
Know what's on the test
Now I realize that heading is a bit misleading. Of course, it's always good to know how to work the problems on the test, but what I mean is that it helps to know what kind of problems are going to be on the test. If the chapter you are currently working on has eight sections, ask your teacher which sections will be on the test and about how much of each section. For example, your teacher might tell you that half of the test will be on sections seven and eight. That way, although you do need to study the whole chapter, you know that you need to be absolutely secure in your knowledge of those two sections. This way, you optimize your study time.
Yes, you can
The people who plan each school's curriculum wouldn't be making every student sit through those core math classes if students weren't capable of getting through them. Don't tell yourself you can't. If you find your thoughts trash talking yourself, give yourself a mental slap in the face. You have the ability to conquer math. Good luck, and godspeed.
