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warning this will be very long :) but i really need your help :)
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| amirah |
Posted on August 03 2012 07:14 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 19
Joined: 2012-08-03
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hye i'm new here and i need some help.as usual i have dyscalculia and in 3 months i will be facing my national exam.the problem is..well of course mathematics and in my case additional mathematics also =.= i don't have problems with other subjects only these two.when my friend asked me ' what's your ambition ?' i did not answer her.
i don't know.i'm a science stream student and my teachers and family did like..what to say..proposing to me to be a doctor and i say "we'll see".they don't know about my dyscalculia..well more of don't want to know or care about it.even if i said so many times i have dyscalculia and i can't solve nor understand mathematics they would ask me to do more exercises.i take 10 subjects for this national exam.i only target 8 A's and 2..i don't know C for math and add math.
last night i googled for how to prepare yourself for medic school and all that because i think doctor is like my dream career with me being science student and i don't see anything that can suit me. googling and yahooing (?) i bumped into one of the thread that says " you HAVE to do math in order to become a doctor" and words like "2 courses of math" i was like what ?! i thought you only need to operate and play with human bodies not play with freaking numbers.
i'm not an american or british.i live in a country that have really horrible education system.if you get 20A+ for all subjects then you're smart.if you get 5A's out of 9 or 10 subjects you're in the middle.if you get 0 A's then you...whatever.it's like you don't have your own choice.like me i got a not bad result for my second national exam in 2010 and zupp ! the school threw me in science class without asking me what i wanted.conclusion it is horrible.then i said okay,why don't we search for another career where math is not needed  and stupidly i googled for vet.the result still the same,of course math is important..everywhere !
i tried to think of another job where math is not needed as usual but i can't.i didn't know.i didn't find anything.
for me my parents is my first priority and i know they really want me to be a doctor and believe me as a daughter of course i want to fulfill their dreams.seeing them smiling and happy is my everyday sweets.but this is my life we talking right now.in fact deep down..what i really want is far more better and i don't need math at all.
voice acting.yes.i wanted to voice acting since i don't know..5 years maybe ? i would always look myself in front of the mirror and talk and talk and talk and act cute then giggling like an idiot.i did this until i was 13.this hapened because one day my teacher told my monitor to jot down everyone's ambition.i told him i wanted to be voice actor and he was like "what is that ? choose another ambition please.doctor,lawyer or engineer" i told him doctor.
last night,20 hour before i write this thread or forum or anything that i realized..i did have an ambition but for career ? i don't know if voice acting is considered as a job in my country.aiyooh ! what to do ? i don't want to be around math ever ! call me lazy whatever i still don't want math to be near me ever again.
math made me suffer in my primary,middle and high school.
my homeroom teacher ( is that what you call in US ? ) told me that i have really great potential in history,geography and literature in my native language and in english consider i got A+ for these subjects.she said "why don't you apply for the ivies ?
what is that ?
yeah sad i know.i only recognized 'it' as Harvard.have no idea about the other 7 ( is that right ? )
she said "because of the ed system here sucks maybe you can go to US and pursue in literature or arts but i really like the idea of you being the student of ancient eight" what the heck is she talking about ? i googled and HAHAHA ! please...the ivies and no ! i don't think i have what they want. ? are you kidding ? only mathematicians and physicians went there ? right ? but i like the literature idea instead of biochemistry,physics or mathematics.then i decided i will do literature even if i am a science stream student 
my question is ( what ?! your story are too long ! ) :
-i want to know about education in US.about the universities.
-do i need to just suck up and accept math as part of my life (corny) meaning medic school ?
or....
rob a bank and run far far away....
or
you guys can give me advice
thank you so much for reading..well if there are people reading this instead of me
p/s:sorry for my bad english and the long story. |
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| justfoundout |
Posted on August 03 2012 08:45 PM
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Member
Location: Texas USA
Posts: 6101
Joined: 2008-05-25
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8/3/12
Hi amirah,
I'm glad that you've found our forum. Welcome. No, I don't think that you are lazy at all. You just like to 'get back' something somewhere near what you've 'invested'. And with math, for dyscalculics, this isn't what happens. We work and work, study and study, and the result?... part of it we remember and the rest,... well, maybe we'll remember that too,... someday,... but not when we need it to pass a test. Yes, vets have to do math just like doctors. Lots of us have mulled this over here, too. Here in the US, we can't even get through the classes for being a psychologist, because that needs the normal 6 credits plus more.
I've gone into a BA in Spanish, and maybe later a Masters in Education, Linguistics, Spanish, or Social Worker. For me, those are the options. Congratulations on your good grades in 'all that is not math'. There are many, many foreign-born students at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). But it's more an 'engineering' college. Not everyone, of course. Hope you enjoy the forum. - jus' |
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| amirah |
Posted on August 03 2012 09:44 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 19
Joined: 2012-08-03
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thank you for your reply and thank you for not calling me lazy :}
that is why i hate math.i dare to say i work harder than my friends yet i still got E or D.i forget everything when it comes to formula and numbers.that is why i give up math.i will never ever give a glance on math.oh and good luck for your Masters (education ? are you on your way to become a teacher ?)
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| justfoundout |
Posted on August 03 2012 10:58 PM
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Member
Location: Texas USA
Posts: 6101
Joined: 2008-05-25
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8/3/12
Yes, probably a teacher. I have an AAS Paralegal degree, and I'm fluent in Spanish. You'd think that should be a winning combination, especially in Texas. Trouble is that, with or without the paralegal degree, I make too many mistakes to be a paralegal. Can't remember clients names. Can't remember who was suing whom. Can't multitask. On research and writing legal briefs, I got all A's in college, so apparently I would be good at that if I could ever get that far in a job. But they want to start you out doing the little, crumby, multitasking job, and then let you work your way up to the nice, prestigious researching jobs. Well, I can never 'work my way up'. It seems like being a teacher will be something that gets respect and a salary for knowing your content area, having the credentials, and caring about the students. Getting my credentials and a job as a teacher will seem like a 'big success' for me.
amirah, were you actually diagnosed with Mathematics Disorder, or do you just know that you are dyscalculic from your symptoms? Have you had 'accommodations' in your math classes? - jus' |
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| amirah |
Posted on August 04 2012 08:27 AM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 19
Joined: 2012-08-03
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i discovered about dyscalculia early this year when i read a book online and one of the characters talking about how she cannot solve a simple mathematic problem and i said "hey me too " so i googled as usual and tadaa ! i learn and read and i took..i don't know i think it was an online test and the result is i am dyscalculic.but i never done a professional diagnosed or went to a doctor because i don't think they even know what dyscalculia is.i learned to accept my lack of mathematic skill.
when i took math test i always cried myself on my desk alone (hehe so pathetic) because i don't know what to do.i left my paper blank without any calculation.for 2 hours and a half i cried and asked myself "what is wrong with you ? you can't even solve a simple one." i didn't sleep because i keep doing exercises and practise in my math work book to make sure the work stick in my brain for tomorrow test.the result ? i always get under 10 over 100.
saddest thing is..i need to face this problem by myself.none of them understand about my problem.not even my family.the teachers..they just think i'm lazy or always try to skip doing math work.they wanted to say i'm stupid but they can't because they knew my performance in other subjects.i mean what kind of 17 year old student don't know how to factorize numbers and got 10 for math in every math test for almost 5 years.my bestfriend..when she teach me she would look at my work and would correct me if i'm wrong.it would take me almost 25 minutes for every 1 question.i don't have enough time to solve all the question.oh and my hand will start to get sweat and my heart will beat faster when i saw my math teacher ( and no she or he is NOT good looking at all ! ) and when the teachers told me to show my calculation in front of class,i wish there was an earthquake or fire so that i don't need to do the work 
so yeah i never done any diagnosed or diagnosis or professional test but i do hate math with passion.math make me look stupid and my result to be ugly as hell !
sorry but what do you mean accomodations in math classes ? i don't understand . |
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| justfoundout |
Posted on August 04 2012 08:12 PM
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Member
Location: Texas USA
Posts: 6101
Joined: 2008-05-25
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8/4/12
Yes,amirah, I was talking about accommodations in math class, but there's a lot more to it than that. Now that I know more about you, I can tell you some things that might help you. When we talk about 'accommodations' in the US, we are using that word in a little different way than what's usual. Once a person gets tested by a psychologist and is given the diagnosis of 'Mathematics Dsiorder', that person is given paperwork, documentation, that can be filed in the school or college's office. Colleges have an office for Disability Services where they keep that documentation. When a student registers for a class, the Disability Services office sends the teacher a letter, telling him/her that 'this student' must receive 'accommodations'. Then it lists what your particular accommodations are. For example, extra time in taking tests and doing in-class assignments, a note taker, seating close to the blackboard, and the right to tape record the teacher's lecture. These would be the type of thing that the psychologist who tests you will write in the Report that accompanies your test scores.
Although others with a Learning Disability might not want the 'label' of having a disability, almost every one of us dyscalculics were happy when we got our diagnosis, because we knew that finally we had proof of what had always been 'wrong' with us.
And there's one more reason to get tested. Often there will be a way to get to substitute a class in Logic for the College Algebra requirement when you have a diagnosis. I did this, and now I'll soon get to graduate with a college degree. Does this start to clear some things up for you? I hope so. - jus'
Edited by justfoundout on August 04 2012 11:26 PM |
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| amirah |
Posted on August 04 2012 08:45 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 19
Joined: 2012-08-03
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huhh..as i said before,my country..how to describe ? ah no dyscalculia consciousness so i don't think we have accomodations here.in fact if i told them about my problem they would straight away send me to special ed class.that is the reality here.but accomodation in math class sounds really good ahh..US edsystem is great ! i hope i can go there and continue my study.i guess i just need to bear with math 3 months more and finally i'll be free ! thank you at least i know that i'm not alone even if you and others that have dyscalculia are thousand miles far away from me. and congratulations to you ! |
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| justfoundout |
Posted on August 04 2012 11:32 PM
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Member
Location: Texas USA
Posts: 6101
Joined: 2008-05-25
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8/4/12
Oh, yes, the problem being that your country won't have these accommodations, and perhaps wouldn't even respect the diagnosis of a psychologist. But tell me, do you know if there is IQ testing in your country? Most countries do have that, even if they aren't considerate about people's LD's. And, does a psycholgist administer the IQ testing? Whatever the answer is to these questions, I agree that just knowing that 'somewhere' there are people who understand the problem is reassuring to a person in your situation. Yes, if there is no recognition of dyscalculia in your country and in your educational system, then 'sure'! why not plan to come here (or somewhere closer) to finish your education. And, I think that there are even better countries than the US as regards dyscalculics getting into some professions. For example, there is a dyscalculic psychologist in Canada. It turns out that Canada doesn't have such high math requirements for that profession as the US. Put up with the math for those last 3 months,... with the hope that you can kiss it goodbye after that. :-) - jus' |
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| amirah |
Posted on August 05 2012 01:34 AM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 19
Joined: 2012-08-03
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i think there is psychologist but i have to pay them and no.i don't have money.the fees for 1 session is too high.i'm a student so there's no way i can go there.for IQ testing i need to pay almost 200.huhh..so depressing but yeah one day i'm sure i will go to US or Canada.don't worry i can go to Canada by cycling from US
thank you |
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| RottieWoman |
Posted on August 07 2012 03:43 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 3037
Joined: 2008-12-31
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hello Amirah, I just want to welcome you, I missed you earlier!
I'm glad 'jus was here to discuss with you!
I'm in the U.S. too and was tested because of the recommendation of my university's Disabled Student Services department. In the U.S most if not all states have some version of what's called Vocational Rehabilitation which is an agency designed to get people ready for work. The people helped by this agency generally have no or very little employment background because they're students and/or they have barriers to employment because of economics or disability. So part of getting employed may mean helping people enrolled in colleges and universities, which was how it happened with me - and I had almost no employment history either - just a recent Summer counseling-type job at that time.
So I was diagnosed with math learning disability and then the Vocational Rehab agency helped pay for some of school and books and also helped purchase interview items - clothes, supplies. My diagnosis also allowed me the accommodations 'jus has mentioned.
Yes, please do remember you're not alone and time will pass - we're here for you!
Edited by RottieWoman on August 07 2012 03:44 PM |
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| amirah |
Posted on August 14 2012 10:03 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 19
Joined: 2012-08-03
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hye ! like i said US is great ! i just wanted to tell you that yesterday i had a session with my school counselor because i took a test with doctors and my anxiety was veeeryyy high ! they asked me if i had problems with family or friends and i told them about dyscalculia.as usual they was like 'huh ?' thankfully they promise they will help me with my problem and will talk with my math teacher |
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| RottieWoman |
Posted on August 15 2012 01:45 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 3037
Joined: 2008-12-31
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amirah, good luck for you in the discussion with your math teacher - I think it's great that you were able to tell them about dyscalculia! |
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| justfoundout |
Posted on August 22 2012 04:48 PM
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Member
Location: Texas USA
Posts: 6101
Joined: 2008-05-25
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8/15/12
Yes, good that you could tell them about it. Back when I needed to be tested, I had to first bring a 'doctor's prescription' to the government agency that would pay for the testing. I was in a similar situation to yours, since,... which comes first, the chicken or the egg? How could I get a medical doctor to give me a prescription to get tested for dyscalculia when the medical doctors had never heard of it? Well, I gave a short lecture on dyscalculia to the office manager and then to the MD, at a charity clinic. They listened with interest and the MD gave me the prescription that I needed! - jus' |
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| amirah |
Posted on August 23 2012 10:34 AM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 19
Joined: 2012-08-03
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huhh..i just don't want to deal with math in Uni.is that a big thing to ask ? ={ oh and i don't think my math teacher want to do anything with my 'so call math disease'.she said 'work hard'.just that. |
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| justfoundout |
Posted on August 23 2012 05:47 PM
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Member
Location: Texas USA
Posts: 6101
Joined: 2008-05-25
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8/23/12
You made me smile, amirah, with calling it your 'so called math disease'. Too bad we can't keep the math police away with a sign that says, "Warning. Math disease. Highly contagious." - jus' |
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| amirah |
Posted on August 24 2012 02:09 AM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 19
Joined: 2012-08-03
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hehe i'm glad i found this forum.oh and if there any changes with my school life i will tell you here.right now i just need to focus my upcoming national exam |
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| justfoundout |
Posted on August 24 2012 08:46 PM
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Member
Location: Texas USA
Posts: 6101
Joined: 2008-05-25
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8/24/12
Same here, amirah. I'm in three classes this semester and it's crucial that I pass all three. National exam for you, again? Will you get 'asked' what you want to do this time? - jus' |
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| amirah |
Posted on August 25 2012 04:49 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 19
Joined: 2012-08-03
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luckily this exam will..hopefully be my last.and if it is then i can start my search on foundations or education loan from government and all that to study abroad.but most of them..no i think all of them search for students who will continue studies in sciences like physics,chemistry or engineering =.= i never heard students in my country getting foundations for courses like history or literature or courses that have nothing to do with math and science.heh so picky am i but i can't do anything.i think my name should be 'miserable' instead of amirah |
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| justfoundout |
Posted on August 25 2012 08:16 PM
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Member
Location: Texas USA
Posts: 6101
Joined: 2008-05-25
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8/25/12
'getting foundations' is a new concept to me. Please elaborate? That's a funny emoticon you used. =.= Is it a 'wince'? Does 'amirah' have a meaning? I hope you'll get the education loan from your government. It's too hard to study and work. Part time might be all right, but most jobs don't want to bother accommodating a class schedule. - jus'
Edited by justfoundout on August 26 2012 12:46 AM |
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| amirah |
Posted on August 26 2012 06:09 AM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 19
Joined: 2012-08-03
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hehe 'amirah' in arab means queen,princess and general.huhh..if i am a true queen in my country i will banish math from school ! my mom really loved the idea of me being jasmine from Disney i don't know what =.= means.maybe a wince like you said or boring.foundations is just the same as getting loan from the government but instead they are billionaires,millionaires,rich businessman,different ambassadors from different countries or any companies and i think if the students do great in their studies they don't need to pay the money at all !! my sister she work part time while study because our family didn't have enough money.it was really hard and sometimes she just didn't have the time to complete her assignment and ended up with me being her typist sad but true.now she's a producer |
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