- Campus:
- IU East
Focus of the story: Brief synopsis of your struggle
I had trouble focusing and envisioning a future for myself.
Describe your learning story and how you developed, grew and/or overcame the problem.
The first time I tried to go to college I felt unfocused and had difficulty managing my time for homework and studying. I felt like there was no clear end goal because I could not envision where my education might lead me. I decided against getting a degree in mathematics because I had been told that I would have to be able to add something 'new' to the field if I was going to succeed and that felt like an impossible task.
My next time through college, things changed for the better. I was a little more mature, and my professors were better at communicating deadlines which helped me to manage my time. One thing that really helped me to succeed was my relationships with my professors. I could connect with them in a way I had been unable to before. Through our time working together on research projects and in class, they helped me to bring my future into focus. I can now envision a career in mathematics, which is highly motivating. Once I realized this future was possible, it gave me the drive to keep going and studying to achieve my goal.
Describe the impact that this experience had on you.
During the degree program, I learned a lot about mathematics and the breadth of the field. I learned how to rigorously approach a problem, and how to be patient with myself. I learned to accept that I am going to make mistakes and won't be able to perfect a new set of knowledge right from the start. The two most important things that I have taken away from my time at IU are the skills to apply my knowledge to future career opportunities that I did not know existed and the confidence I feel in my ability to succeed in a field in which I previously thought out of reach.