Mathematics is an arrow when I get lost in real life

  Created by: Wirmandi Pamungkas

“Mathematics is the most difficult subject in school”. That was the first statement about mathematics that I have heard. Many people around me also said that people should remember so many formulas if they want to solve mathematics problems easily. When I was in elementary school, I did not realize whether I have liked mathematics or not. At that time, I had no passion at all to learn mathematics deeply, but I also did not think that I hate mathematics. I just did all of problems without any serious difficulties.

In the seventh grade, the statement of “Mathematics is the most difficult subject in school” really affected my perception about mathematics. My teacher made me more confusing in understanding the concept. She did not care all of her students. She just cared to smart students. She always asked smart students to answer all of questions and did not give a chance for other students. I did not mean to blame her, but I realize that I started to hate mathematics at this time. I always got bad score in every test of mathematics. I did not understand about supplement and complement angle. Even I should do remedial until three times for one test about measuring angles.

I remember that I started to love mathematics when I was in the eighth grade. I was taught by humorous teacher, Miss Wiwik. She gave us games of mathematics. She made mathematics more interesting for me. She really changed my perception about mathematics. She really cared to all of her students. She always gave a chance to all of student to answer the questions in front of class. I remember that I cannot answer the problems of function, and then she guided me to understand it slowly. She motivated me that I can understand mathematics easily if I want. Then, I tried to get the highest score in the first test. Finally, I got a hundred for it. My teacher told it to every class. Suddenly, I became famous because of it. It motivated me to get good score in every test of mathematics.

The next thing is I always did my best in every test of mathematics. I was chosen as representative of my school to join the competition of mathematics in junior and senior high school. I became confidence because I have remembered all of formulas for it, but it seemed so difficult because I was asked to solve real life problems, but after the competition has ended, my teacher explained me the answer. It was not that difficult if we know the pattern. Then, I realized that mathematics is not only about how you good in remembering formulas or how you good in calculating the complex numbers, it tells me anything to be applied into the real life.

My teacher also asked me to be tutor of my friends for facing National Exam of High School.  It was really kind of great appreciation. At that time, national exam is not the only one that I should focus on. I should focus to university life, what university or major that I should choose. When I became a tutor, I find something confidence in explaining mathematics. It made me more confidence when my friends can understand about what I explained. I started to think mathematics as a major that I should choose in university. Then, I registered myself to join test of addition students like UMB and Sampoerna School of Education (SSE). I took mathematics, I failed in UMB, but I got scholarship in SSE. It was like a dream that I do not dreamed before.

In SSE, I learned so many things, especially mathematics. The first difficulty was English language in Mathematics. I cannot understand the problems as clear as Indonesian language. Time by time, this difficulties was not difficulties anymore for me. I can understand it easier that before. In SSE, I also taught mathematics to real students in Santa Fransiskus Asisi High School. I was nervous at that time, but it really great when my student said that he started to love mathematics because of me. He wanted me to be his teacher someday. It was really great experience that made me more love mathematics.

In conclusion, I learned not to judge something because everyone judges it. I have ever judged that mathematics is really difficult and not important in my life because everyone judges it. But, when I have experiences about it, I became more love it. Mathematics is not like a ghost or wild animal that may hurt you. For me, Mathematics is like an arrow when I get lost in this real life. I mean that I become confidence in facing real life because I love mathematics. Mathematics is a part of life. Everything in this life is all about mathematics.