Going back to school and I feel DUMB!

OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN · Jan 7, 2007

I feel your pain! I'm 30 and have a 6 year old and 3 year old. I'm taking high school biology as a pre req and having a tough time with some of it! I also got tutored for a math equivilancy test since my high school math score was not high enough.

It's hard to get back into learning mode after being out of it for so long! Try not to be so discouraged. My biology is by correspondence and I know that when I'm in my actual course, in a classroom, with an instructor, it will make a world of difference.

Keep going!! :)

stpauligirl · Jan 7, 2007

I'm 25, am happily married and have 3 children, ages 5, 3, and 1. In high school I did really well and graduated in the top 10% of my class. I was usually in honors classes. Well, I just took a look at an example of what a math placement test might look like to get into my local community college and it was stuff that used to be really easy for me, but now.....I don't know ANY of it! I was so confused!!!! This is basic algebra that I could do in my sleep back in the day...but now....I feel like an idiot. I guess the pregnancies+countless sleepless nights+being a mommy 24/7 has really taken it's toll on the old noggin. I'm really discouraged.
~Mommy who feels like her brain is mush

Could you go to your college a few times a week and get help with refreshing your math. We have a student center that offers help with things like that. It would be good for you to get away from the kids for a little while so that you could focus without interruptions. It will get better, the kids will soon be in school which will give you more time to do things. Not getting enough sleep will zap your ability to concentrate, I felt like a zombie when my kids were that little. Don't give up. Pace yourself and keep doing things for yourself, a little at a time. Good luck and hug your babies, they grow up fast. My oldest will get married in May

Hope2Be · Jan 7, 2007

Bethany....You can try using the site Math.com - World of Math Online, I studied basic math and alegebra there for a few weeks, refreshed my mind on all that stuff, I also was out of the loop for over 13yrs so I practiced before I took the compass test (college entrance exam) and I PASSED! There are alot of good resources online... it will all come back to you once you begin..good luck

Pixiesmom, BSN, RN · Jan 7, 2007

Oh Bethany don't feel dumb. I graduated at the top of my class many, many moons ago and I didn't ace my placement test in math. I was told that I could either re-take the math placement test or sign up for a basic algebra class. I chose the basic algebra class just to make sure all of my bases were covered.

The math will come back to you. I promise!

2bNursewith7kids · Jan 7, 2007

Don't feel bad! You are not alone because I have young kids as well. Just as you can see in my user ID, I have 7 kids. The good news is that the youngest just entered 1st grade so all are now in school! I quit the post office after 11 yrs. of service to pursue a nursing career. I know how you feel because I start full-time next week and I am very nervous and anxious about the whole thing. I have been excited at times, then I swing back to anxiety about whether I made the right career choice. I am sure you will do fine. I do agree that, when it is years since you have done something that was taught in high school, you forget all the skills over time. I have no idea what I learned earlier on when I went to college the first time around. I am so worried sick about going to college full-time. I finally got into nursing school after waiting almost a year! I had to start in the Spring because people dropped out/failed and I managed to sneak in.

Annaiya, NP · Jan 7, 2007

When you have been out of school for a while it takes the brain some time to adjust to learning school work again. The longer you've been out, the longer it takes to get back into it again. I was out of school for 5 years when I went back and it took me a good two months of the semester before it started coming easy again. So don't be too hard on yourself, just start slow. Maybe take a math refresher course? It will get easier for you!

*Bethany* · Jan 7, 2007

Thanks for all the replies! It makes me feel much better to know that I'm not the only one who didn't retain everything that I learned in high school. I'm going to check out that website and try to re-learn the basics before I take my placement test.

lisabeth · Jan 7, 2007

Oops. Replied to the wrong post.

beck_79 · Jan 7, 2007

I was in the same boat as you last summer. :) Hadn't taken a math course in years and couldn't remember most of the math I had learned. It's very much a "use it or lose it" skill. What I did was start from scratch and got the Cliff's Basic Math and PreAlgebra review book. I plugged my way through that book all summer, and it was a huge help. I'm really glad I did it b/c it helped me get through college chemistry. There are alot of math review books out there- you should check out Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

stpauligirl · Jan 7, 2007

I was in the same boat as you last summer. :) Hadn't taken a math course in years and couldn't remember most of the math I had learned. It's very much a "use it or lose it" skill. What I did was start from scratch and got the Cliff's Basic Math and PreAlgebra review book. I plugged my way through that book all summer, and it was a huge help. I'm really glad I did it b/c it helped me get through college chemistry. There are alot of math review books out there- you should check out Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

That's my plan for this coming summer....refresh on math so that I will be able to do well on the various nursing entrance exams in our area, it's been 12 years since I took College Algebra and my skills are rusty

CRIMSON · Jan 7, 2007

I know your pain....I am 34 yrs old and I have a 15yr old and a 6yr old.

I have been out for 13-14yrs. I have to repeat my apI/II, and micro as they are all way over the 7 yrs.

Hang in, I keep hoping it gets better.