I used to… like maths
I used to like Maths, for as long as I can remember. Mental Maths in Junior school, every Monday morning. Most children cringe at the thought but I actually didn’t mind it. When it came to SATs (English, Science & Maths exams) I excelled more in the Maths than the other two. When it came to lessons in High School, it used to be my favourite lesson.
My first maths teacher was also an English teacher, he was a bit nuts. We only had him for half a year because he then moved to New Zealand to teach there. He said he’d return – just like my form tutor said when she moved away – but he never (nor did she).
In replacement we had a little Irish chick. She’d make me smile with her accent and the way she said ‘three’ was so cute. She was an awesome teacher but not only that, someone who I got on with outside of lessons. She’d give me lifts home if I was caught in horrible weather, was a huge support when my step-mum died too – she was my math teacher right through high school, into sixth form.
So yes, up until 16, I loved maths. It tested my brain, exercised it, actually made me think and learn at the same time. Strengthens the cells and tests your memory. Algebra was my hottest subject, when all the other kids would sigh and moan when the word ‘Algebra’ was untidily scribbled onto the Whiteboard, I actually found it a relief – better than percentages and fractions any day!
At GCSE I got an A for maths, only 3 marks from an A* which was a tad frustrating but was happy with the grade anyway. I opted to study for AS Level maths and got accepted onto the course. Surprisingly – not that many people on the maths course and as the months went by the students were dropping like flies. It was hard. The jump from GCSE to AS Level was extreme and I could not keep up with the demand. My maths teacher (the Irish one) was a large support and offered to help me outside of class – an offer which I accepted, but it all got too much and ended up dropping out. It made me unhappy, more unhappy than I already was. The strain of sixth form was enough without the added pressure of catching up on my maths and Biology wasn’t going too great either, but I can’t say I got on great with my biology teachers – they just had students who they gave up on, and I was one of them. There were 5 of us in Biology, other 4 were grade A students, I was a grade C, so struggled a lot in areas they found easy, and that can kind of deflate you.
Anyway, I dropped out of maths and since then my maths skills have gone down hill. Give me an equation and I would struggle how to even start it, and it makes me sad, considering how much I used to enjoy it. Maybe one day I’ll get back into it.. but I don’t feel I have enough brain power.