“It’s okay that you don’t understand.”

This comment came after I was frustrated with myself for not being born a genius at math.

Usually, when you don’t know a subject or you don’t understand it enough, subject matter experts (i.e. your teachers/professors/mentors/etc) put you down for it. But this time was different because I had a real subject matter expert who cared about the end goal: students educated in math. And because of that, this moment proved to be life-changing.

“We haven’t really communicated math in a way that allows others to understand how it fits into their lives and why it’s so important,” my professor said gently. “You weren’t taught it correctly and shown how to practically apply it and see its beauty.”

He had just taken time out to sit with me and a few other students after class because he saw that we just weren’t getting it.

“Oh. Thank you, that makes me feel better,” I said taking a second to step out of my frustrations.

I was relieved to finally find someone who was speaking human.

My professor went on to kindly explain the why’s behind the numbers and mathematical concepts. He showed us how we can practically use some (not all) of what you learn in school. Because of this, he made it fun and inclusive.

Instead of getting wrapped up in his passion for math and how it solves all the problems in the world, he showed us the meanings behind each number. He drew out the why’s and how’s of problem-solving.

He gave a few funny and engaging stories on how he used math in his life unexpectedly.

When I interrupted him with a question because I wasn’t understanding something he had said before, he paused and took a moment (Read more...)