Have you ever had a time when you just felt like you were in over your head? It doesn’t happen to me too often, but just recently I had a bad dream that took me right back to one of these times.
400 level math class
When I was in college, I majored in Secondary Education Mathematics. I have always loved math, and it has always come easily to me. In high school, I helped a few classmates study for tests and was told that I was really great at explaining how to approach a problem. It was then that I decided to be a math teacher.
In college I breezed through most of my math courses and when I was challenged, I could always figure a way to work through it. That is until I took a 400 level (highest level) class. To be honest, I have blocked out the name of the course and even the exact subject matter covered. All I remember is how I felt sitting in that class. I would look around and see my classmates nodding their heads and writing things down. Meanwhile, I was feverishly scribbling in my notebook with no clue what anything meant. I was definitely in over my head!
Nightmare reminders
As I mentioned before, I recently had a bad dream that brought back the memories of this course. There I was sitting in that class writing notes as fast as I could. Then, I looked down and noticed that I wasn’t even writing in English. I started to panic and rip pages out of the notebook. My husband woke me from the dream because I was moaning and squirming around. He thought I was having a much nicer dream than I was 
No such luck.
It is times like these that I am reminded of how lucky I am to have my husband. He was able to quickly calm me down and make me laugh as I was telling him about the dream. I had no trouble falling back to sleep!
As for teaching, that lasted 8 years before I drastically switched careers, but, I will save that story for another time.
Oh, and by the way, I ended up passing the course, but that was with a major curve and a bit of butt-kissing!
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I am here to tell you that I am in no way good in math. 2+2=22 right?
Anyway, I admire that you worked through it, kissed some booty and managed it.
Good job!
~Naila Moon
Naila Moon recently posted..Blogathon Challenge-Drop and write 250
Aww I hated my 400 level math class as well. It was some class for business majors that was about finding formulas and equations. Now that I think about it, I think they wanted us to solve the stuff Newton didn’t – LOL. Hubbys are the best that way, even though mines gets on my nerves I wouldn’t want anyone else getting on my nerves but him because he is a wonderful husband. Thanks for sharing.
Nickida recently posted..Fairy Tale Remakes
Ooh math is so not my thing.. so I can relate to how you must have felt during that time. So cool that you passed too and lol at the butt kissing! Great to hear that you have a supportive hubby there to bring you back down when you need it
Never hurts to get a little brown-nosing in!
I know that exact class, haha! I took honors classes and “college-level” math classes in high school, but when I got to college, they were speaking Greek! I wish my husband could tell when I was dreaming so he could wake me…I have the most exhausting dreams sometimes. :-/
janet recently posted..If I blog it, they will come…won’t they?
I think they actually were speaking Greek in some of the classes
Dreams and nightmares are such crazy things. Glad you have a sweet hubby.
Brooke B. recently posted..Winter 2013 Biannual Blogathon Bash
I loved math until I got to college and then yeah…
I hate having bad dreams but luckily I don’t get them often.
Clarinda recently posted..My journey to natural health
It’s so nice to hear a more personal story from you! I love math although I have issues with concentration the past few years so I can’t remember the higher level stuff I learned and I never went to college so…. Thanks for sharing and I’m glad you have such a great hubby.
Kathleen recently posted..Blogathon Update Three – Still Plugging Along
Thank you, Kathleen! I am going to try to post more personal things. I think I want to go to less guest posts and more posts from me…this will probably mean less posts/week, but I hope it will make for a more consistent voice on the blog.
Oh goodness! I used to doze off in class and panic afterward because my notes basically were in a different language lol
Darcy recently posted..Get 101 Free Prints from Shutterfly!
Ah the memories of school, huh?
Math gives me nightmares in general and now I have to help my kids. I almost feel I need a refresher course but you sort of remind me that I probably won’t be able to handle it! Can’t wait to hear about your career change!
mryjhnsn recently posted..The Great Big Home & Garden Expo is returning to the @IXCenter! Tickets for the @GreatBigShow can be yours!
Thanks! I keep trying to write the post but stop…I’m not sure why, but I will keep at it!
That sounds intense. I remember that feeling in high school in Geometry. Not like 400 level I’m sure, but it was such a huge change from the Algebra (I loved) and I couldn’t get it, but everyone else seemed to have no issue. Luckily I had a very smart friend, who could explain it to me better than the teacher!
laura recently posted..Revisiting Harper’s Island
Having taught high school math, I can tell you that the transition from Algebra to Geometry is quite a difficult adjustment for many students. Much more visual! Thanks for stopping by Laura.
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