Math was never my strong point. Algebra, geometry, calculus, you name it. Though I could solve the problems, it would take me a long time and I would be infuriated by the end of it. So I never did homework, never did well on tests, and of course, my teachers all hated me.

Math was difficult because it was logic. It was pulling formulas from the deepest and darkest areas of your mind and applying it to some metaphorical situation. I was not good at this. I am a good memorizer: I remember what I need to and remove what I don’t. Remembering formulas and concepts and later applying them to situations doesn’t work for me. It’s hard.

I never did my homework either. It just didn’t suit me to use up two hours of my time struggling over finding the right answers when I could just not do it. Though previously doing my homework may have helped me get better at math, hindsight is 20/20 and I was just a teenager.

Knowing that math is principal in everyday life today whether it’s paying tip and tax on an expensive receipt, calculating the discounted sales retail shops offer, or simply keeping up with your monthly expenses, it’s imperative to be good at math. I’m struggling now because of my lack of effort in my childhood. It’s not good to be average, it’s good to try your best.

A lot of subjects in life are hard. Learning math is one of the easier ones. It’s a basic foundation used in everyday life. Compared to learning about commitment or retirement plans, it’s pretty simple. It’s something we have to endure through our rite of passage and utilize it to help us. Many people aren’t good at math, but everyone should try their best to do the homework, do the work, and come out above average. I believe that life is about learning, and this is one thing we should all learn.

I say this because I wish I had put more effort as a child. I say this because I now struggle in my three mathematics classes in college. I say this because life is short. Before you know it, you’ll be hitting your 20s and wishing you could have that time back. You’ll want to learn math before it gets hard. You’ll want to try your best so you won’t endure hardships later. Hindsight is forever 20/20, so do yourself a favor and do it right now.