I find that having less "shame" while doing math also helps you come up with more creative, interesting ideas, since you stop judging ideas as 'good' or 'bad', but just explore them with an open mind.
During my whole education I was average at everything, especially math, just before high school I developed a liking for Science, as I didn't feel I had the potential to pursue univerisity studies, I did a Professional school in Chemistry, only to find how much mathematics plays a role in everything, I never considered to pursue a career in mathematics, I always learned to say "math is hard" but never tried to understand it, and now I'm finishing my Masters in theoretical physics. Even just before High-School I remember feeling shame when I needed my mom's help with a math problem, and the self doubt carried on, until I tried to understand. Motivation was the main ingredient, for getting rid of the shame, I meet a Professor in HS, which told me I could do it. The thing that was most beautiful to me was if a=b and b=c then a=c, this simple yet effective logical statement, told me math is not just a subject in school, but logic itself.
I think it is all about the labels that you put onto experiences right? I try to practice seeing struggle as enjoyable, and certainly there is truth to it since so many great things come from struggle. But of course there can be a downside to this practice especially if exaggerated, where one becomes so toxically positive that one does not realise when life tells you this is the wrong way to go and it possibly becomes unhealthy because maintaining positivity is so hard that it sucks out all the energy out of you. So as always it is all about balance and awareness. Thanks for what you do and the insights you give us into the math world. I am a (female) software engineer and I loved the math part of the studies, but since it was my second studies, I felt I had no time to further focus on the theory. Therefore I am even more grateful for getting some contact to the math world through your channel, especially the interviews! ❤
Thank you for sharing your thoughts despite your colleague‘s remark! Their comment sounds like„if you‘re not doing math, you are wasting your time, and if want to do something other than math, you are not a proper mathematician“ - unfortunately such views are very common. Great to see some advice, especially as it‘s backed by your department!
Actually I have to say, the department did not check my videos, these are my subjective opinions! But I'll only be sharing things I thought about a lot.
there’s another kind of shame that I’ve noticed among some of the students with better grades: often it seems that they’re ashamed of being good or too good at math. so a related question is how do we help the people who are “lonely at the top”, and how can they help themselves
that's bunk (that it's supposed to be difficult). I cakewalked through algebra, spring semester. -Was enjoyable. Then aced pre-calc trig and analysis during the following summer semester. But alas, I did not study from a conventional algebra textbook. -Such textbooks are, in my opinion, 'engineered' to be difficult.
Your worth is not equal to your grades or academic achievements. You are valuable because you are a person. As to working through Rudin, it is an exercise in mathematics. A good study group, access to a mathematical library, and lots of time making mistakes and correcting them are beneficial. You need experience and practice to increase your skill in mathematics. Cheerful calculations 🧮.
I find that having less "shame" while doing math also helps you come up with more creative, interesting ideas, since you stop judging ideas as 'good' or 'bad', but just explore them with an open mind.
So true! You start to question the entire notion, what motivated its inception
During my whole education I was average at everything, especially math, just before high school I developed a liking for Science, as I didn't feel I had the potential to pursue univerisity studies, I did a Professional school in Chemistry, only to find how much mathematics plays a role in everything, I never considered to pursue a career in mathematics, I always learned to say "math is hard" but never tried to understand it, and now I'm finishing my Masters in theoretical physics.
Even just before High-School I remember feeling shame when I needed my mom's help with a math problem, and the self doubt carried on, until I tried to understand. Motivation was the main ingredient, for getting rid of the shame, I meet a Professor in HS, which told me I could do it.
The thing that was most beautiful to me was if a=b and b=c then a=c, this simple yet effective logical statement, told me math is not just a subject in school, but logic itself.
thank you i needed this
Very wholesome video, thank you!
Respectful Maam thankyou so much :)... Your words are very encouraging :)...
I think it is all about the labels that you put onto experiences right? I try to practice seeing struggle as enjoyable, and certainly there is truth to it since so many great things come from struggle.
But of course there can be a downside to this practice especially if exaggerated, where one becomes so toxically positive that one does not realise when life tells you this is the wrong way to go and it possibly becomes unhealthy because maintaining positivity is so hard that it sucks out all the energy out of you.
So as always it is all about balance and awareness.
Thanks for what you do and the insights you give us into the math world. I am a (female) software engineer and I loved the math part of the studies, but since it was my second studies, I felt I had no time to further focus on the theory. Therefore I am even more grateful for getting some contact to the math world through your channel, especially the interviews! ❤
Timely advice, thank you!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts despite your colleague‘s remark! Their comment sounds like„if you‘re not doing math, you are wasting your time, and if want to do something other than math, you are not a proper mathematician“ - unfortunately such views are very common. Great to see some advice, especially as it‘s backed by your department!
Actually I have to say, the department did not check my videos, these are my subjective opinions! But I'll only be sharing things I thought about a lot.
there’s another kind of shame that I’ve noticed among some of the students with better grades: often it seems that they’re ashamed of being good or too good at math. so a related question is how do we help the people who are “lonely at the top”, and how can they help themselves
btw im glad the channel is back :)
Why are they ashamed though? I get the loneliness part from being on either end of math ability
Even the Great John Horton Conway felt the same shame
that's bunk (that it's supposed to be difficult). I cakewalked through algebra, spring semester. -Was enjoyable. Then aced pre-calc trig and analysis during the following summer semester. But alas, I did not study from a conventional algebra textbook. -Such textbooks are, in my opinion, 'engineered' to be difficult.
Thank you so much
Exciting!
When i m not able to solve a question from exercise i feel worthless
many such cases!
@math-life-balance so what to do. I am doing rudin
Your worth is not equal to your grades or academic achievements. You are valuable because you are a person. As to working through Rudin, it is an exercise in mathematics. A good study group, access to a mathematical library, and lots of time making mistakes and correcting them are beneficial. You need experience and practice to increase your skill in mathematics. Cheerful calculations 🧮.
one trick that helps me sometimes is going "wait, maybe this is easy" and it actually becomes easier
There are solution manuals to rudin out there. Look at them one line at a time to see if you can make any progress@RiteshArora-s9x