Why I Don't Like Being Out Of Touch With Mathematics

I've harbored a love for Mathematics since I was a young boy. When my classmates would complain about algebra and geometry, I'd be confused as to why they didn't find the beauty and harmony that shapes, graphs, and numbers gave me. My love and passion for Maths grew further from thereon.

In my higher secondary studies, I discovered new topics like calculus and probability that just blew my mind. Rather than being mere calculations, I started seeing the world through these lenses. Mathematics became the lens through which I saw the world, lived in, and relished in its beauty. From this point forth, Mathematics has become a part and parcel of my life, without which I wouldn't be half the man I am right now.

 Looking back to my childhood, I realize many things that were not clear back then. I realized how deep an impact my dad and to a lesser extent, my mom had on my love for Mathematics. My father taught Maths as a professor at college and used to give a mathematical angle to everything in life. If someone were to ask me how I am, I reply humorously that I'm mathematically 7 on 10 with a probability of 30%. 

I owe a huge part of my life, of my being to the love and passion with which my father taught me Mathematics. This has made me realize the need to pass this baton on to my future generations so that they'll be equipped with the same love for Mathematics. Also, with huge structural changes in the economy bound to happen, a sound mathematical foundation is only bound to help them immeasurably.

A sound mathematical foundation has helped me immensely in transactions from returning change to calculating currency conversions. I still make it a point to inculcate in my loved ones and myself a rigorous understanding of Mathematics. Even though it's been decades since I graduated and stopped learning Mathematics, I still make it a point to read my children's CBSE Mathematics textbooks and just get a good idea of what they're studying at present.

 The idea of their brains receiving this knowledge exhilarates me and gives me the strength to keep moving forward. This brings me to my time during my school Mathematics exams, I used to attempt even the optional questions. I was and still am the type to give my 100% in everything that I do. This characteristic, combined with my love for Mathematics, has made me want to do very well in Maths exams. So, I always try to get either 0 or 100 in Maths, nothing in between. 

I also regularly make it a point to watch all the new educational videos posted on YouTube. It's a very remarkable and jaw-dropping visual experience, seeing all those images and graphs coming to life. It somewhat saddens me that I wasn't a child when these new videos became the new normal. However, I'm extremely glad that these changes have greatly improved education and children's engagement with these interesting and life-changing ideas.

 This lifelong passion for a much-hated subject like Mathematics has invited a lot of misunderstanding and confusion from people. They probably wonder as to how I used to love Mathematics and still do. In fact, they become all the more confused when I tell them that I still make it a point to update my knowledge of Mathematics and frequently read Mathematics-related journals.

However, little do they know Mathematics has added layers of depth to my life. My love for Mathematics has opened up new ways of perceiving and interacting with the world. That's what makes me thank my father silently inside my heart whenever I marvel at the wonder that Mathematics is.