The hardest thing I have ever had to learn was mathematics. I know the majority of us had that difficulty too. The struggle started from my JSS1 , while some of my students understood the subject easily, I was always feeling like a lost sheep during the classes.
Anything to find the equation, use these formulas and multiplication tables among others were all like scrabble to me. My second term in JSS1, our mathematics teacher was teaching us multiplication of numbers.
Everyone was reciting the multiplication table offhand like they were born with it. I was ashamed because those beside me knew I was biting my tongue including the teacher. That was the first challenge I had, I went home and sat for hours rehearsing the multiplication table but nothing seems to stick. The frustration led me to drop the book and rest.
How I passed that term was on God, the next term got worse. The topics kept getting harder. Mathematics class turned into a nightmare. Sometimes I will feel sick just to miss mathematics classes and when it's time for the test, I will only have my paper to stare at. My report card was always with a red pen on mathematics.
My parents went behind my back to speak with my mathematics teacher about my poor grades on mathematics and he assured them it would get better. One day after school, he called me and offered to help me with mathematics.
I was nervous but my inner mind wanted it. He was very friendly with me, started with the basic ones and used the simplest explanation ever. Mathematics was looking different to me unlike what it seemed like. He advised me to mingle with someone who could willingly teach me and that was my mind when I was Joy.
Joy was one of the most quiet people in our class. A bookworm who was ready to impact anyone ready to learn. She was always there for me, explaining all the formulas in the best way I could understand. We started learning together, practicing ahead and that was how I started catching up.
My result started getting better, my mathematics teacher was proud of me and I was grateful to him and Joy. I was no longer scared of the subject but it wasn't my favorite subject either. I jumped like I won a lottery the day I had 60% as my overall score in my result sheet. That motivated me to keep working hard.
Even when Joy left in SS1 to another school. I didn't have anyone to learn with,I started solving on my own and I never failed to always ask questions. I gradually became proud of myself. My parents were happy and when I told them how our mathematics teacher was the reason behind my improvement and they informed me what they did behind my back.
In my SS3, I did not rely on anyone to solve mathematics even though some topics weren't friendly. All I did was run to my mathematics teacher for help. This subject was the hardest thing I have ever learnt in school but it was actually a milestone to my getting better.