By Natalya Engelsen/reporter
Because of the struggles and mental hardships she had to endure, one NE academic advisor has long sought to help students overcome their anxieties and obstacles involved with learning.
Carolina Saleh will share her advice for conquering one’s mental mathematical fears in Subtract Fear, Overcome Confidence 12:30-1:30 p.m. Oct. 11 in Center Corner (NCAB 1111) on NE Campus.
“I had a really negative outlook on math,” she said. “And when you have that, it really puts a mental block on your learning.”
Through grade school, high school and even college, Saleh struggled with math — despised it, really, she said. When she failed her first business calculus class, she had an extremely hard time accepting it and wanted to give up school, but Saleh said a shift in consciousness allowed her to push through that rough patch.
“I’m not going to change my major because of this one course,” Saleh told herself.
As Saleh says she is not a “math wiz,” she will be joined by math instructional associates Tai Vo and Kristen Krayer, who work in the NE math lab. Vo and Krayer said they hope to have students get comfortable with them and to not be afraid to ask for guidance.
During the session, attendees will recognize how to manage their time with studying, be motivated to keep on top of all their work and learn how to dig inside themselves and change their attitude once negative schemes are acknowledged, Saleh said.
Math is especially difficult if a few years have passed, but TCC has people willing to guide students who understand their confusion, Saleh said. Once the dislike of math has vanished, student minds will open up and the learning process can begin.
“It’s like a foreign language,” she said. “If you don’t keep up with it, you’ll forget it.”
