Tackling Math

I have decided to pursue my PhD. It is a goal that I set for myself when I was still working on my Bachelor's degree many years ago. I have found plenty of excuses to put off obtaining my doctorate, but I am done making excuses---it is time. I have applied to Texas A&M university. The application process was fairly easy to navigate--fill out the application, send your transcripts, write an essay, get a few references, take the GRE---wait, take the GRE????? That was the one requirement that caused a sudden rush of panic and my stomach to turn.
I remember taking the GRE for my Master's degree, but I don't remember the test. So, when I registered for the test, I downloaded the practice test and sample questions to refresh my memory. The GRE has been revised since I last took it, and the ELA section was manageable. I was an English major, and I still continue to read and write, so I thought, I can do this.
I then looked at the math. I had flashbacks to college Algebra where I sat in a classroom of 200 students and had no idea of what the professor was teaching. I panicked! I immediately found one of my 8th grade teachers (thank you Mr. Teal) to tutor me. I think he was surprised at how little I knew! The great thing about working with Mr. Teal is that he models the problem for me, then I practice it, and then he corrects me. He also gives me practice problems to work at home. After about a week, I took my first practice test. I only got 4 out of 20 problems correct! It was pretty dismal, and I finally understood how some of my students feel when they take a test! This past weekend, I bought a practice book---more explanations and more problems to solve. I promised myself that I would practice the book every day for at least one hour (most nights, it has been 2 hours.) It helps to have the practice book because once Mr. Teal explained the madness behind the math problem, I was able to refresh my memory with the explanations in the book as I practiced. So, after 3 days of studying and practicing, I took another practice test. This time I got 13/20 correct! I am seeing progress. It dawned on me that math is hard for me. I have to work at it to remember it---it isn't simple, clear, and logical the way my Algebra teacher in high school told me. Because I am challenged by math, I have to practice it everyday! I can't skip a day because then I forget some thing. This is the lesson I want our students to understand: math is challenging, but to get good at it, you have to pay attention to the teacher, take notes, practice it at home, and keep trying. I take the GRE in 2 weeks, and I know that no matter what my score is, I will be as ready as I possibly can be for the math portion. Afterall, education is a lesson in perseverance, and I will persevere through this crazy hard math test! :o)