Mathochism: Back in the ’80s

One woman’s attempt to revisit the math that plagued her in school. But can determination make up for 25 years of math neglect?

My best friend and I had just come out of Urban Outfitters Wednesday afternoon when it hit me.

I’m back in the 1980s.

Normally, a trip to the Land of the Overpriced Hipster just evokes a mild bemusement — why would anyone pay $96 for a ragged t-shirt with some cheesy possibly fake food logo on it? But on this particular visit, my friend and I were increasingly horrified as we walked past the merchandise.

There were stacks of acid-washed skinny jeans with zippers up the calves. Fluorescent t-shirts glowed on the hangers. Then, there was the plaid. Oh, the plaid.

“At least there aren’t any headbands,” my best friend said.
“Just wait,” I answered.

We decided to leave before the headbands suddenly made a sneak attack, and as we stood outside the store, it hit me. I clutched my best friend’s arm for strength.

“Oh god. I’m unemployed. I’m taking pre-algebra. They’re selling the clothes I wore when I was in middle school. I’m back in 1983!”

Mathochism: It begins

One woman’s attempt to revisit the math that plagued her in high school. But can determination make up for 25 years of math neglect?

It was not a great beginning.

For one thing, traffic was snagged on the way to campus, so I couldn’t get into the left lane to turn into the parking garage. Once I finally disentangled myself, I only got a spot in the far garage, so I had less than five minutes to hoof it all the way across campus to class.

This was, by the way, with a sore hoof and about 30 pounds of books. And 15 pounds of the books, it turns out, I don’t even need and may not be able to return to the Shylockian campus bookstore!

Mathochism: The introduction

One woman’s attempt to revisit the math that plagued her in high school. But can determination make up for 25 years of math neglect?

I’ve never been good at math.

No, let me amend that. I’ve never tried to be good at math.
I’ve never tried to be good at math because I’ve always been good at languages, and with words, and I always knew I wanted to be a writer.

Those things all came easily.

Math didn’t. Math was hard.