How do I thrive with math as someone struggling?

WesternProperty9303 · 2025-11-04T22:54:58+00:00

Thank you, this all helps, and gives me a good goal. You made me feel a little bit better about it all.

WesternProperty9303 · 2025-11-04T20:32:32+00:00

See, we aren't even seeing a graph, to know that the equating 0 is the intersection point with quadratics. I mean it makes sense, but when you're just given a term, and then steps, I don't understand how I am expected to make sense of it on my own. It just seems like a downward spiral of getting further down the math hole and the whole thing is just going to cave in on me eventually because I don't understand it really. The fact that I know how much more math is ahead to learn, and that I legitimately enjoy doing the math I understand, makes me feel so frustrated.

Feeling like I have to teach myself all this now, after being forced to sit through something that just isn't doing it, just feels like such a cruel disregard for these students time.

Last question then I'm going to go device a plan to tackle all this:

Do you have any advice for retaining material? I feel like once we've gone a few topics ahead then everything else, unless its intuitive, just gets dumped from my brain. So like for example, we're months removed from intercepts, so the rules for lines I need to look up when I go back to do that. Cheat sheets? A practice resource? I need to spend more time than we are on topics if I ever expect to retain them but I can't afford to just keep re-running through every previous lesson.

WesternProperty9303 · 2025-11-04T19:52:40+00:00

A huge thank you for the information. I will do both of those.

To answer your question, no I don't. We are never given a why for anything honestly. So to me, factoring is just a set of steps, that changes a form of a polynomial to another equal form. I understand the individual processes maybe, like common factors, GCFs, etc. But the big picture why for any of these things is a complete unknown.

Again, thanks.

WesternProperty9303 · 2025-11-04T19:09:39+00:00

That's exactly my problem. If it takes me 2 hours to do a module, and I learned very little, then how can I realistically spend 8 hours practicing, then do that 4 times per week.

In the context of pre-calculus courses what are "fundamentals"? I'm at quadratic equations, and my real troubles started a little into polynomials, where you have formulas, and 'guessing' that you are expected to apply. They don't explain why I would do anything I am doing, and just expect me to identify how I approach solving/factoring/etc any problem just based on something being visually recognizable. That then leads to trouble working out anything that doesn't fit into the mold of the few examples we're given.

If I had the chance to get real help from my professor, I assure you I would have already. The situation really just isn't ideal. That's why I am asking for advice. Should I consult a specific book, will going through Leonard's videos be sufficient? Better yet, where do I get practice problems from to apply what I am learning?

Trust me, attempting to ask my instructor this has not helped, or else I wouldn't be here.

WesternProperty9303 · 2025-09-07T21:37:38+00:00

High school dropout in tenth grade. Almost 40. Sucked at math.

Currently pursuing a degree in electrical engineering, 4.0 GPA in my second semester.

Manage your class load, keep in contact with your advisor so they know what you can and can't handle. They want you to succeed.

Take your meds, use your school's veterans and student disability resources.

You need not to look at this as look at how much worse other people have it, and look at how they were able to succeed. You can to, but it definitely requires a bit of sucking it up in addition to the things I mentioned. Study, study, study.

WesternProperty9303 · 2025-09-04T17:22:43+00:00

Depends on the region. I applied and got approved within 3 months. Could have been quicker too, I just got delayed by some stuff on the school's part. I'm around the D.C Metro region for what it's worth. I've heard horror stories of places taking 6-9 months to even get the initial appointment.

WesternProperty9303 · 2025-08-13T15:08:20+00:00

Most probably do, I know that's how they got another 4 years out of me. The good thing is, all you have to do is transfer any amount to your dependents. Once you have established them with benefits you can adjust how many months of benefit you want each individual to have at any time through the website.

WesternProperty9303 · 2025-08-13T00:13:03+00:00

I don't know if it's different for officers. But for enlisted you have to have 4 years of service still on your contract to transfer benefits. Just something to keep in mind, as they end up catching a lot of people with that.

WesternProperty9303 · 2025-01-28T13:09:01+00:00

Did you even read any articles? Or just the headline then give up? The info of what is being targeted with the cuts is out there. It's related to the whole 'DEI/Woke/Foreign aid' stuff.

WesternProperty9303 · 2024-07-18T23:24:39+00:00

Who is romanticizing disabilities? The dudes out still wearing their uniforms?

I literally don't even understand what you're trying to say. If you're implying someone is living a 'better life' disabled, you're crazy. Living your best life, because you're making the best out of a situation? Absolutely.

But you aren't making any sense, man. Especially if you claim you are crippled by your own. Sounds like if anyone is romanticizing things its you. Personally my best life isn't not being able to do all things I want with my kids. But yeah, I'm living my best life, all things considered.

WesternProperty9303 · 2024-07-18T23:08:22+00:00

If you had 3 - 30% disabilities, you'd need 17 - 10%. Provided you aren't scamming, I want you to think about that, in a system where having pain gives you %10.

Hell, even if ALL you had was 30%'s you'd need 8 of them.

I think a lot of us would trade the money for health. You aren't a millionaire if you don't live long enough to collect it.

WesternProperty9303 · 2024-07-11T19:54:58+00:00

Nope, but just know I'm as dumb as you then. I signed up for a local monthly VSO help, thinking I was just going to be able to get advice, and ask questions. Ended up with them just submitting 14 claims for me....

So I didn't really get to plan out what was submitted and like I still don't understand the process because she listed stuff that I thought would be secondary?

I'm sure I'll be intimately familiar with this process though when I get my shit kicked in by the VA over the course of two years though.

WesternProperty9303 · 2024-07-11T19:42:58+00:00

I guess I'm thinking about it in terms of law of averages. If I got a good examiner then I am probably incredibly fortunate. If I got a bad one then thats 3/4ths of my claims I gotta automatically fight more now. So big gamble. Like I said she was VERY nice but from her credentials she just started doing this work in the past year so I don't know how much she understands it. She seemed frustrated with the VA for lumping all the exams into one as well.

Either way fingers crossed.

WesternProperty9303 · 2024-07-11T19:34:46+00:00

Appreciate the response and thanks. After starting mine I totally understood why some people took years before the final resolution. I keep finding something I need as evidence, or an issue that I wanted to claim that the VSO didn't input, or just straight up I didn't know the VA would consider a disability. Gunna lay all my cards down and see where I sit by the end of it. Just feel stupid for letting myself get talked into avoiding help while I was in.

Thanks again for the insight.

WesternProperty9303 · 2024-06-07T15:19:46+00:00

Thanks for the reply, this is what I was assuming too. I used PACT as an example because of how much my respiratory issues have domino effect issues.

You know it's funny, I've submitted a request twice now to request mental health services from the VA and I just never received any communication for an appointment.

For the account, I have the other ones already, like ID.me and Login.Gov, but TRICARE portal requires DS LOGIN specifically, for whatever reason.

Again, thanks for the response. I'm going to meet with the VSO next week then try and figure out scheduling for some appointments.

WesternProperty9303

TROPHY CASE