Childhood Struggles: Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic

As a child, navigating the world of reading, writing, and arithmetic was a complex journey filled with both challenges and passions. Reflecting on those early years, which aspect was the most daunting?

Arithmetic: A Puzzling World

Arithmetic stood out as the most challenging part of my early education. While I didn’t struggle with it, the subject often felt like a puzzle that was too complex to unravel. The number system, with its unique naming conventions, seemed to defy logic and understanding.

For example, the same digit ‘2’ could signify ‘twenty’ in one number and ‘two hundred’ in another, which was perplexing. This inconsistency made it difficult to grasp the underlying patterns and rules that governed the math world.

Reading: A Passional Pursuit

Compared to arithmetic, reading was a much more enjoyable activity. By the age of four, I could read not just a few three-letter words but whole sentences and stories. This passion for reading extended into my early school years, despite my less-than-perfect grasp of mental arithmetic. My love for reading was evident even as a young child, evidenced by my completion of my first novel when I was just nine.

The enjoyment of reading was so profound that I chose to continue with arithmetic in college and university, not out of necessity but out of a deep appreciation for the language and its profound impact on my understanding of the world.

Writing: A Personal Battle

Writing, on the other hand, presented the most significant challenges. This was, in part, due to the school curriculum, which often felt nonsensical to me. Additionally, my personal rebellion against traditional assignments further complicated things. I preferred to write what I wanted, which often clashed with the prescribed curriculum and teacher-directed tasks.

Moreover, my left-handedness made writing particularly difficult. It wasn’t until I was in the sixth grade that I received a left-handed desk, which significantly improved my handwriting. The lack of proper support had caused my writing to hang in the air, making it illegible. It’s no wonder many find it surprising that I am a left-handed person, given my unique and unorthodox approach to writing.

Interestingly, while writing cursive was something I despised, I found my love for composition and typing overwhelming. I learned to type as quickly as I could and even got a typewriter. When attending courses to become an elementary school teacher, I was required to take remedial handwriting, but this was because they recognized that teaching it was difficult when you couldn’t do it yourself.

In conclusion, while I didn’t struggle directly with arithmetic and found reading to be a passionate and enjoyable activity, writing was the aspect of early education that I found the most challenging. These struggles shaped my approach to learning and continue to influence my academic and professional pursuits.