Perhaps, you might have done better giving specific recommendations instead of wasting paragraph 1 on applauding yourself and the path you chose because you were very likely adept at mathematics and logic to begin with - not everyone learns in the same ways. The A+ student in math who becomes a high school math instructor is a nightmare - his/her approach when dealing with a student who simply isn't getting "it" is to say (scream) something along the lines of "it is as plain as the nose on your face - I don't understand why you find it so difficult!" And, of course, they are right... they cannot understand how much of a challenge it is for someone who is not gifted in that manner. By the way, I don't believe anyone demeaned the linear approach - they simply voiced an opinion indicating that it doesn't work for everyone and that might have been the case with the young man who asks for advice.
Paragraph 2 is a bit better - at least you give some useful advice ("For the basic mathematics that the original post is inquiring about, the concepts are reasonably simple and straightforward. What they require, however, is what often appears to be mind-numbing repetition.") Advice, of course, is what was being solicited - not a personal attack on someone for maturing at a different rate. Then you went on to castigate him for a past event - that is not changeable, and further you make it sound like his quest is almost futile and why even bother. However, what he is doing now is most laudable and if, he is willing to follow through; he will accomplish what he wants because it is never too late.
We are in agreement with respect to the community college (along with some ancillary materials as have been suggested by others) and with respect to the Space Program - I am still in awe at what was accomplished by dedicated professionals with nothing more than a slide rule and their enthusiasm. I have often wondered if the present generation would be able to accomplish as much with scientific calculators and personal computers but lacking the body of knowledge that was accumulated by those pioneers and passed on to them.
Oh, by the way, my credentials? Nothing as awe-inspiring as yours... I am a cyber-crime investigator who home-schooled his son (all the way through calculus, physics and chemistry.) My son attended a top tier engineering university on a full scholarship and recently graduated cum laude. Peace be to you sir (or madam as the case may be)... much luck to you in all your future endeavors but please don't consider a second career as a student counselor.
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Perhaps, you might have done better giving specific recommendations instead of wasting paragraph 1 on applauding yourself and the path you chose because you were very likely adept at mathematics and logic to begin with - not everyone learns in the same ways. The A+ student in math who becomes a high school math instructor is a nightmare - his/her approach when dealing with a student who simply isn't getting "it" is to say (scream) something along the lines of "it is as plain as the nose on your face - I don't understand why you find it so difficult!" And, of course, they are right... they cannot understand how much of a challenge it is for someone who is not gifted in that manner. By the way, I don't believe anyone demeaned the linear approach - they simply voiced an opinion indicating that it doesn't work for everyone and that might have been the case with the young man who asks for advice.
Paragraph 2 is a bit better - at least you give some useful advice ("For the basic mathematics that the original post is inquiring about, the concepts are reasonably simple and straightforward. What they require, however, is what often appears to be mind-numbing repetition.") Advice, of course, is what was being solicited - not a personal attack on someone for maturing at a different rate. Then you went on to castigate him for a past event - that is not changeable, and further you make it sound like his quest is almost futile and why even bother. However, what he is doing now is most laudable and if, he is willing to follow through; he will accomplish what he wants because it is never too late.
We are in agreement with respect to the community college (along with some ancillary materials as have been suggested by others) and with respect to the Space Program - I am still in awe at what was accomplished by dedicated professionals with nothing more than a slide rule and their enthusiasm. I have often wondered if the present generation would be able to accomplish as much with scientific calculators and personal computers but lacking the body of knowledge that was accumulated by those pioneers and passed on to them.
Oh, by the way, my credentials? Nothing as awe-inspiring as yours... I am a cyber-crime investigator who home-schooled his son (all the way through calculus, physics and chemistry.) My son attended a top tier engineering university on a full scholarship and recently graduated cum laude. Peace be to you sir (or madam as the case may be)... much luck to you in all your future endeavors but please don't consider a second career as a student counselor.