Mathematical Relief and Chemical Poetry

Math was not a favorite subject of mine growing up. In fact my whole educational career is marred by "learning disability" classes and summer school. I wont bore you with the details and the trauma associated with it.

But what possible light I see at the end of the tunnel...

So far in my math class in college I've been able to grasp more than I anticipated. In fact I'm doing pretty well! What is going on?! Aside from the teacher explaining things so clearly, laying out various options to do a particular problem, I truly believe being "older" has helped.

As so many leading professionals in health, science, and psychology, state- the frontal lobe of the brain (that which is the CEO for reasoning and decision making) doesn't completely firm up till after you're 21 years old. It's no wonder why so many teenagers make poor choices or have trouble comprehending certain facts (You may not surive all that hill topping) . Never mind how emotional we are through all that puberty.

What if, all the concepts we struggled with through high school were more so a reflection of our lack of development than our incapability to learn?

I'd also have to say that a life lived with experience behind you also helps you relate more to the things you are absorbing. Personally, math is on a planet all it's own when it comes to finding answers. In other words the answers to a math problem are not contrived from some emotional response.

How refreshing it is to find something void of personal bias or prejudice. Math is a kind of "common sense" that is so rarely projected from humanity, it might as well be called a super power.

When it came time to study Chemistry in my Anatomy and Physiology class, I was prepared to do some weeping. Instead when we started talking about atoms, I saw "personalities". You see, all atoms are electrically balanced yet so many are longing, yearning for that "special someone" to make them complete.

Actually some atoms are pretty polyamourus! Other atoms are single, content on not looking for their "other half". In other words, by applying human characteristics to something that seems sterilised of soul... I'm able to understand it! I don't think I'd be able to do this at all had I not experienced life, growing an appreciation for poetic connections and good story telling. To have lived life outside my small town, to grow up under many challenges and influences.

Beautiful and poetic things occur in our body on a microscopic level. It's funny and humbling, as we are so unaware of whats going on because we cant see or feel the microscopic interactions.

And yet there it is, a sweet irony. We are often oblivious to this perfectly orchestrated dance -all this work that allows us the chance to take so much for granted.