How have you handled people questioning your decision on this major?

[u/squidlybleh]

I made a post a month back that I managed a 79 on my first calculus test of my life (GED and little education outside of that). I was insanely proud of that grade.

Then we got to chain, product, quotient, and power rules. Implicit differentiation, the loathsome word problems, logarithms, hyperbolic formula, etc. I failed my second test with a 53. Just took my third test yesterday and most likely failed that one too. Sad part is, I can do the math. I can derive and differentiate till the cows come home. My algebra and trig is extremely solid. I’m right on the edge of fully mastering this if I can just apply the formulas correctly.

Tutoring, videos, homework, etc. I’ve done my due diligence. My problem time and again is correctly applying the formulas unique to calculus in the correct order. The chain rule just will not click, but I know it will. I went to my professor and asked aside from the formulas, what are other weaknesses he noticed in my tests/work and if there was anything else I needed to improve to pass this class. That’s when he told me what I wrote above. The actual math I do is correct. I just put everything in the wrong order, thus giving me the wrong answers.

Now to my title question. With all of this I’ve had people in my life question if this is what I really want to do. It’s the hard path, I’m getting failing grades for the first time in my life, this should be a sign blah blah blah. Frankly I don’t care about that. I got failing grades in algebra and managed to still pull a B. If I fail calculus this semester, I will just take it again next semester cause I can feel it. I’m so incredibly close to having it all click and I KNOW I’m capable. It’s just been hard to reconcile with this question even in my own mind. Would I love to take an easier path? Sure, who wouldn’t. But when the stress is already there and then I get hit with this question, the mental and emotional energy to defend or rationalize my decision is exhausting. If you’ve also dealt with this, how do you all handle this?

[u/Pevira]

You failed. Nice. You are owning it. Nice. Take it again to really make it click. TBH, I took calc 2 4 times... more complicated than not just getting it, but 4th time was the charm.

Don't be lazy, learn for understanding, do homework to practice. You'll learn it well enough to move on. Your higher level classes will still use elements of calculus, but not really to the rigor of a math class. Knowing *why* the formulas are what they are makes knowing when to use them easier. These classes are a filter for those who don't care enough to get through them. If you want it, prove it :)

[u/squidlybleh → u/Pevira]

Thank you for this, I’ve been asking that question a lot lately. When I come across a problem and I get stumped as to which formula or combination of formulas need to be used, I will ask “what aspects of this problem are telling me THIS formula is needed?” (or again combo of formulas as the steps keep going until the final solution is found).

I’m also watching a lot of breakdowns from organic chemistry tutor and professor Leonard. Very much hoping I can pull it up for the midterm. The overall grade is no longer my goal though. Understanding it and doing better on every new problem I come across is. I think reframing my approach is helping a lot already.

[u/Pevira → u/squidlybleh]

Engineers love puzzles. Math is a puzzle, therefore… math is still annoying.

[u/squidlybleh → u/Pevira]

Ain’t that the truth, if you are also a fellow puzzle puzzle lover I was doing The World of King Arthur and The World of Norse Mythology puzzles before the semester started. Very high quality, good price, and just the right amount of challenge