Let's talk Math. 

Oh Math, where to begin? Let's start off with those multiplication table sheets we had to do in 2nd grade. When you were timed and you had to fill in all the facts. Those stressed me out so much. And my biggest obstacle in math is still how much time we get during a test. Anything else happen in 2nd grade? Oh yeah, I was called to sort some math flash cards one time and had A LOT of trouble. Of course my teacher decided to send up the smartest kid in class to "help me" but that didn't really work out too well...

Middle school? Algebra wasn't my friend... I TRIED so much. Sometimes TRYING doesn't always cut it though.. 

High school? Let's see, algebra, geometry, algebra 2, Pre calc... 

I think I actually did well in algebra and geometry. Then algebra 2 came around... My first C in high school. I thought the world was ending... now I pray for C's in my classes. HA. 

There's a special story that goes with Pre Calc though :) 

Senior year I had Babcock for Pre Calc. Let's be real, it was hard. But I was in his classroom EVERYDAY after school before cross country practice, practicing practicing practicing. Dominique use to help me A LOT. And I would understand it, or so I thought. I can't remember how many tests we had throughout the semester, but we had quite a few tests and quizzes. Each time I would aim for that A. And each time I would be close, but not quite there! Flash forward to second semester, last test of the year (final? maybe) and I still had not gotten an A yet. Babcock had finished all of our pre cal stuff and wanted to do some CALCULUS stuff the last couple of weeks. So, this test was on CALCULUS math. It was my last chance. I knew I had to do it.

One day after school, I came to Babcock's room and he was correcting tests... my test. the suspense was killing me. Do you know what I got on that CALCULUS test? 

A 92 percent! 

Oh my gosh, I was SO happy. I took the hardest test of the year in that class and got my BEST score. I got my A! I was ecstatic. And do you know what I got in that class. A STRONG B. And I was so proud of it :)

Because you see guys, this is why my perseverance is so important to me. This is why. I had a teacher who cared, a heart to succeed, and a positive attitude that I try to keep with  me always.

Two years later, Cal Poly MATH. 

Elementary Math for Elementary School Teachers. 

Sounds simple, right? 

Not quite. 

Teaching students HOW to teach math to elementary school kids is not an easy task. The type of thinking in this series is VERY different than most classes at Cal Poly. Not only are we challenged in teaching and learning differently, but also still be challenged on quizzes and tests that are college level. It's been a struggle.

Math 227 - C- 

Math 328 - D- 

Math 328- D+

Math 329 - F

Math 329 - C

Math 330 - TBD 

Okay, your first thought, why Whit? Why put your math grades online for all to see? 

Because it's OKAY. 

It's okay. 

Why is it okay? Because college is hard. It doesn't come easy to a lot of us. And for some reason I tend to be vulnerable on this blog. And yes, I repeated two of these classes, I still didn't get FABULOUS grades. But it's okay. My math professors often say that the way Math or science is perceived by teachers is the way students will perceive these subjects. Very true. I have often questioned myself in that if I didn't tell myself so much when I was younger that I was bad in math that maybe I would be better at it now. But you know, I don't know.

We all have different gift areas. And are all good at different subjects. Even though most of the time I feel like I am bad in all of them, but that's not the point. No one said when I was born, "Whitney needs to be so GREAT in math." No one said that. Maybe they said that when Mandi was born, but again, not the point.

Where are you going with this Whit (Paige says in the background, as I talk out loud). My mom always says, "Think with the end in mind." Meaning, what are you going to do in this great big world? I'll tell ya one thing, I'm not going to teach math. But really. Look up at my grades again. Are you looking? Look at them hard. What do they mean? What do they represent. I'll tell ya.

They represent COUNTLESS hours of office hours with Elsa, Todd, Carole, and Violet. 

They represent HOURS of studying at the library and writing out math problems on the big white boards. 

They represent study groups and class time. 

They represent giggles and tears. 

And they represent perseverance. 

I'm writing this post because I am in my LAST math class at Poly and maybe in LIFE, and I'm nervous about passing. I am. But I got to say, even though those grades don't look like I learned much. I'll tell ya I learned SO MUCH.

This series usually takes someone a year and one quarter to complete. Right now I am at two years and one quarter. One year longer than usual. Has that been a pain? Oh yeah. Has it been frustrating? You bet. But am I proud of myself? More than you could imagine.

It's funny, when Paige and I talk about it, we laugh, because it is kind of funny. But I WILL be SO proud when I finish.

Perseverance. It's one of my favorite words. 

Because I don't know why this series has taken me so long to finish and I don't know why school is such a challenge. But it's what I know, so might as well make the most out of it and giggle while I can. 

And by the way, I got an 85 percent on my psych 405 midterm. :)

WhitNuggets <3