Hey guys! In my introduceyourself post, I mentioned my academic involvement in S.T.E.M and in science in general. One of the most immediate comments that I usually receive from strangers and acquaintances is "Oh wow physics is super tough, you must be really good at math." Well, little do they know that I am actually not a talented mathematician; in fact, I was never naturally good in anything involving math. I even graduated high school without having to take trigonometry! (can you believe it? the educational system sucks.) In general, my love for physics was great, and I knew that mathematics was just a natural part of the package. I started college taking elementary algebra, and within four semesters I found myself in differential equations. (with B+ as my lowest grade!) The reason for my speedy progression was the way I approached my math fear: I realized that mathematics is the one thing you can actually learn; the rules are stable but the approaches vary. It is the fear of how to approach and progress through a problem that keeps individuals from trying in the first place. For my personal journey, I found that reading about math helped me to quickly overcome the hurdles of not wanting to even begin. In particular, a book that I would really recommend is "A Mind for Numbers" by Barbara Oakley.
This book was a godsend.
The author herself did not really learn mathematics until her late 20's which then lead her to her career path as an engineer. The book also talks about how the brain stores scientific and mathematical data, and how to better optimize your time while learning the subjects. Overall, reading this book time and time again has motivated me to approach problems that bring me both physical and mental agony. It's one of those really easy inspirational reads about mathematics that helps you realize that you're not alone in this fight, and its ultimately going to be alright.
If any of you have read this title or have alternative reads that have aided you in conquering your mathematical fears, I would definitely love to know!
~**Till next time!
