Should I pay someone else to do my math homework? This question was constantly on my mind as I studied the math text. Math was a language that I could not understand because of the complex equations and obscure concepts. I was surprised by my experience working as a “Math Homework Provider” and it grew to be a love for math, read more?
Remember being in a maze? It was like doing math homework. Each problem was hopeless. In despair, I decided to outsource my project. Although it was my fault, I felt overwhelmed with deadlines and confusion. It was meant to be temporary but it became much more.
The first time I got a professional assignment, it was eye-opening. What I got was a road map. I understood the solutions and explanations in a step-by-step manner. The translation was similar to a second language. Slowly, the algebra and calculus symbols became sentences.
My perspective has changed. At first, math was a monster that should be avoided before bedtime. It was as if you were turning on a light by outsourcing your homework. The monster became less terrifying. In the darkness, a mound of clothes looked ominous. The ‘why’ of the what’ was revealed to me. Why does the quadratic equation work? Why use letters in algebra? Instead of using numbers, I now use math puzzles to help me solve problems.
This trip included both math and the learning of how to learn. Every outsourced task taught me something. The professionals I copied their approaches. Then I began to ask why certain methods were used by people in order to get answers. I felt as if I was being taught to fish rather than given fish. I learned new strategies and gained more knowledge.
As with any journey, there was a certain amount of difficulty. The aid was not enough. It is easy to lose faith in one’s abilities when you receive support. It was important to remind myself constantly that the goal of learning, and not just doing homework, was my main focus. Like learning how to ride a bicycle without training wheels, it required balance.