Mum, I Want to Pass My Maths Exams…
Each year with the arrival of spring and a new cosmic year the end of the academic year is in sight again. Having been through the education system, even at my age I still get a stirring in the guts, sensing the coming of exam times and then a long warm summer holiday and with it comes apprehension, excitement and happiness all at the same time.
I remember I welcomed the exams, as I knew what was coming after - the seaside for a whole month. So, I welcomed the exams with open arms except when I was not good at a subject and found it hard to learn…
I was never forced to learn anything. As a matter of fact, I would ask my Mum for a tutor for certain subjects I needed help with. That is the ideal scenario of course – for the student to know they are doing poorly in a subject and want to change it. A student confessing to having difficulty in a subject for whatever reason is the very first step in improvement. Then to know that extra help is available if she/he would want it. The key here is that they have to want the extra lessons and ask for it
And so, now, whenever I meet a new pupil, I start by asking them ‘did you ask for these lessons or were you told you to have them?’ Helping them to set their intentions and own their lessons and giving us both student and tutor, a clear starting point and a better impetus.
Over the years I have found that nothing can be achieved without inspiration first and then a firm decision that sets the mind in gear and helps create a vision. A vision that the student sees in the mind’s eye daily and the tutor helps them to follow it through until it manifests.