Monday, December 14, 2009

Accidental Erasures

(originally posted on myspace 05/03/2005)

In second grade, I took a math test consisting of 20 simple multiplication questions. I always loved and excelled at math, so of course I was done first. While the other students (aka losers) toiled over these complex questions, I spent the remainder of time making sure my paper was tidy - erasing any stray pencil marks or smudges so my paper would be perfect.

I handed in the test.

I get it back and have a 95. Ninety-five!!! What the hell?!?! I knew I had 100% of them right! How could I have a lousy and imperfect ninety five??

I looked over the test paper and immediately zoomed in on the one I got 'wrong'. It was 8 times 5. My answer was "4" but if you looked a little more closely, you could see I had accidentally erased the "0" from the "40" while cleaning my paper with my eraser.

Even at the tender age of 7, I remember being so mad and upset. I knew I deserved that hundred. But I was painfully shy and didn't try to show the teacher why I felt I deserved a hundred. Instead, I accepted my stupid 95.

And I'm sure I cried all night...

5 comments:

Jennifer said...

For the longest time I felt math was the equivalent of learning a dead language, meaning I was pretty much incapable of learning it.

I just finished my first semester back in college and received the highest A (in all of my classes) in math. It was a surreal realization, to say the least.

I won't be switching from my beloved history to major in math, but I certainly feel much more capable of handling the subject.

*Bitch Cakes* said...

Jennifer, we're opposites in that regard. I would hate to take history. It's just not my thing, so I give you a ton of credit for being successful in math. You go, girl :)

Numbers are the only thing that make sense to me. I love formulas and absolute answers. Math is consistent, dependable and beautiful. I <3 math!

Sarah said...

BitchCakes I love you and have lurked on your blog for awhile. However, the fact that you love math just puts me over the top. Nice to see another fellow girl mathlover.

*Bitch Cakes* said...

Thank you Sarah. I assume that means you're a numbers gal too. Yay!

Sarah said...

Yes, a numbers gal through and through. Engineering professor.