I'd be willing to bet that most people don't know anyone who sits down and does Algebra just for fun. However, if you know me, you can say that you do. Now, let me give you some background. All my life, I've been very poor in my math skills. So poor, in fact, that in elementary school I was in the "special" classes because my test scores were so low. I failed Algebra I my sophomore year of high school (I did pass it the next year when I retook it). In college, I wasn't required to take an Algebra course, so I took a basic math course. It wasn't until 2003 when I was planning to go back to school to become a mortician that I was forced, once again, to confront my fears of Algebra. I enrolled in Intermediate College Algebra as a pre-requisite to enter the program. After the first class, I was nearly in tears because I didn't understand a thing that had just been said in the preceding 90 minutes. However, I stuck with it. I went to every class, studied and studied and studied and then studied a little bit more. I bombed almost every test and had a good, solid F going into the final. However, when I checked my grade the day after the final, much to my surprise, I had a "C" in the class. All I can figure is that I my professor had mercy on me. I had honestly learned more in the class than my grade had shown, but I was fully expecting to have to repeat the course the following semester. I ultimately decided that I didn't want go proceed with my plans (at least at this point) to become a mortician, but I still feel that semester I spent in Algebra was such an incredible investment for me.
Here's my confession: In my quest for self-improvement and thirst for knowledge, I have pulled out my algebra book and notes and am basically going through the course myself. Maybe I have too much time on my hands, maybe I have finally lost it, but I find the challenge it gives me to be stimulating. At any rate, I'm doing algebra just for the fun of it now. Maybe that makes me a nerd, and if so, I think I'm ok with that, because it's truly stimulating my brain and that can't be a bad thing, can it?
THE ORGAN
THE PIANO
THE CONFESSIONAL
BIOGRAPHY
- r. keller thomas
- Birmingham, AL
- was born and raised in a small East Tennessee town. I graduated from college with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music, with voice as my primary instrument. However, the piano has always been my first love. Most of my adult life has been spent a church pianist /keyboardist/ vocalist living in Alabama. Today, I'm in my 40s, on a Journey and currently residing in Nashville, TN. In addition to growing as a vocalist and keyboard musician, I have a fascination with language and grammar.
2 comments:
It's just never a bad thing to try and grow as an adult. As kids in school, our job was to go to school and learn. As adults,the misconception is that we go to work and never learn another thing. How DULL. How damned BORING. I love learning new things. I don't like change on other levels all that much, but I love a good challenge. I tend to chose the things that are hardest for me. Did it in school, too-if a class would be harder, I'd tend to take it. Call me crazy, but it's set me up to not go crazy when I have challenges in front of me. I'm used to it now. It's not as overwhelming. The overcoming of something that you had NO idea you could accomplish. Now, THAT'S cool. There's a high after the hill is conquered. absolutely...keep at those x's and y's...
First, I prefer the term "geek" not "nerd," but I don't discriminate - I have friends of both persuasions. Second - I love algebra. If you ever need to talk algebra, let me know - I'm so here for you.
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