You Are Not Stupid...

You Just Need a Different Input...

As I have been feeling doubt in myself, I have noticed much the same in others. I don't like seeing people call themselves stupid or anything of the sort. I know we could get into me gaining my own self confidence but that can be for another day.

As I was sitting in my math class, a student (whom was much older than I) finally admitted to the teacher that she didn't understand a single thing up into what we were doing as of now. She immediately got red and I can tell she was stressed. The teacher told her that he was glad that she finally admitted this instead of holding it all in. She replied with, "Why cause I am stupid?"

My mind started to flood with an idea; a sudden concept that I could have said to make her feel better. I know the instructor said otherwise and was wise when he spoke to cheer her up, but I still got this explanation my head.

I have this same issue. I keep thinking that I am stupid and even pathetic. I pictured a scenario of me sitting on a desk with a calculator in my hand. I would be facing her in the front corner of the set of desks.

"We did a problem on the calculator that I know most people got wrong while some got it right... right?"

She would nod.

"That problem was 25 over 2 times the quantity .02. Now I got the same exact answer myself that was wrong. Does this process make the calculator stupid?"

I can't picture her exact response but I would continue either way.

"No of course not. You take a problem that consists of a fraction with a decimal in the denominator that is multiplied by something. For example, 25 over 2 times the quantity of .02. You might get the answer of .25. That is most definitely wrong. But lets try this problem differently. Lets give it a different input. Type in 2 times .02. That gives you .04. Now take 25 divided by .04 and you will find a completely different answer... 625. *Shows Calculator with result* This does not show that the computer is merely stupid. This simply shows that the computer required a different input in order to process the information correctly."

I then allowed a small pause for thought.

"We are all calculators. We calculate whether you realize it or not. Do not ever have anyone tell you that you are stupid. Not even yourself. You just simply need a different input in order for you to understand the information given. If you can't process information no matter the input and technique and you gave up trying and you didn't tell anyone you were having said issue; then I would then argue that one or something is stupid. You are not stupid. You just need someone else to explain it."

I just wish that I told her right then and there. I felt kind of proud of myself to think in that manner.

Moral of the story, You Are Not Stupid! Remember that Future Me... You Are Not Stupid. You Just Need A Different Input.


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