Q&A: Your View on Studying Mathematics
Your View on Studying Mathematics
Question
Hello Michi. When it comes to reasoning, common sense, and philosophy, I am considered—and consider myself—to be significantly above average in talent. By contrast, in mathematics studies (after the first month of study) I feel a lack of clarity and only average understanding. In your opinion, is it reasonable to distinguish between these two fields, such that it could simply be that I am not talented in mathematics? Or is it not so likely to distinguish between them, and the difference in difficulty stems from lack of skill or something like that?
Thank you in advance.
Answer
I don’t know how to answer that. It’s obvious that there are different talents, and one does not depend on the others. But the fact that it’s hard for you doesn’t mean anything. It’s hard for everyone at the beginning, and not only at the beginning. You have to grit your teeth and not give up, and with time it will become clear to you whether you have talent in mathematics or not.
One of the best pieces of advice I got from a friend before I went to study engineering was not to panic because everyone seems to understand and only I don’t. He told me that over time it would even out. I came after quite a few years out of high school, where I also hadn’t really studied. And in the class there were lots of academic reserve students who had just finished high school, and there were also strong students. And indeed, at the beginning of my studies I felt exactly like I was the only idiot who understood nothing. After about a month, one of the big talkers and “geniuses” from the academic reserve students dropped out because he couldn’t keep up. That advice really saved me, and I offer it to anyone willing to listen.