Studying Basic Calculus: Reflection
Basic Calculus is important to all of the students that are taking STEM strand for it is a necessary course for you to understand the concepts at an early age and to avoid difficulty when taking the program you want. This is the main problem I encountered while taking this course. I did not take it seriously, for I know that I will not have that much mathematics when I go to college. I would take BA Fine Arts major in Advertising Arts. And whenever I think about it, I really don’t get myself why I chose STEM in the first place.
This reflection "Studying Basic Calculus: Reflection Essay" will point out what and where I went wrong, and how can I overcome it in the near future. To make a long story short, I am bad at math. When I first started Pre-calculus, I know I was going to get single digits for every test. I remember the first time our professor announced that we will have a quiz, I brushed it off thinking I could do it without studying. But when I saw the results I felt sad and disappointed of myself. From then on, I asked one of my classmates to teach me every week or before every quiz. Thinking that I’m doing good, I felt confident and at ease when my classmate taught me. I was so sure that I will get a high grade. Unfortunately, I didn’t. No matter how my friend taught me, or memorize the step by step process, I still can’t solve problems by myself. Though I understand the concept, I just can’t do it by myself. As time goes by, my scores on quizzes, PETAs, and exam were incredibly low. I tried helping myself, but maybe it’s not enough.
When I learned that I failed Pre-calculus, I was shocked because I thought we did well on the PETA. But then again my scores on quizzes and exam were low. Intervention classes thought me that in mathematics, reviewing your old quiz and memorizing the step by step process isn’t the ideal method to get better. It is by practicing. Our professor in IC gave us homework every day to be passed the next day and a quiz before reviewing another topic. Glady, I passed the IC. And I promised myself that I would do better this semester, but things got harder. I tried focusing and comprehend whenever there is a lesson. But as usual, I understand the concept itself not the solving part. Seeing my low scores on quizzes and exam made me demotivated. Thankfully, there is one classmate who consistently pushed me on going further. She helped with my studies and gave samples to solve. Though I don’t get high scores on quizzes, I am grateful for her. Beyond the academic and intellectual value, this course taught me real values. Challenged me in every possible way, made me feel unworthy and stupid. But I am still grateful, for I know I can overcome challenges like this then I can overcome bigger challenges life’s going to give me.
