I seriously need you guys to help me! Please!?

Question

Ok, I'm in eighth grade.
All my older sisters and brothers are super smart. They ALWAYS get 3.8 or higher. It doesn't even seem like they struggle in any subject.
Unfortunetly, I'm not the same way. I always recieve 1 C on my report card from one subject and I get a 3.0-3.2 for my G.P.A.
My problem is I struggle for every subject. MOSTLY MATH!
I had a math test and the day before my sister helped me study for it, and we studied together for over an 1 and a half. I nailed everything. I was so excited to go to school the next day, because I wanted to show my teacher how I WILL get EXCELLENT grades from now on. I thought I did great on the test.
When I recieved it back I got a 70%. I was so dissapointed I started crying real bad. Why is this so hard for me. For everyone in my family and all my friends its soooo easy for them.
What do I do?
I CAN NOT DO THIS NEXT YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL! PLEASE HELP ME! PLEASE!

Answer 1

You've gotten some good answers already, but I wanted to add/clear up a couple of things.

First, as more than one person noticed, you identify your problem (explain it) fairly well - so kudos for working hard at being 'articulate.' ("Good job!" at making your point.)

Second, someone pointed out - not everyone is cut out to excel in academics. TRUE, but DON'T give up and DON'T use that idea as a crutch or excuse. You have years ahead of yourself to define the many talents unique to you, and - for better or for worse - schooling (a lot of it very traditional) is probably going to have a big impact on your potential to survive in the world, whether you end up at Harvard or whether you end up as a plumber's apprentice. So, don't beat yourself up for not being a 'natural' (more people struggle than you might think), but DO look for solutions to help you cope and succeed.

Third, there are several ways to improve the way you study. The first thing to do is to realize that different people learn best in different ways. So instead of just having different talents (like a brother good in math, a sister good in chemistry, and you good at cooking, for example) or having different challenges (like a sister who needs help with music lessons, a brother with dyslexia, and you having trouble with math), there's more. Your brother might learn best by listening to someone talk; your sister might learn best by taking notes and seeing what's on the board or computer. You might learn better a different way - and you might not pick up much from the ways other people around you learn best. Do a computer search on learning styles. Some common ways of learning are visual (seeing things), auditory (hearing things, like someone who tapes a lecture and listens to it over and over), and kinesthetic (doing, touching, 'playing' with things - this is where people pick things up and start finding out how parts and pieces move and work, like a chef who's a taster and a person with mechanical ability picks up a 3D puzzle), but there are other styles/variations (some people learn best by having conversations with give and take, so they 'work through' questions and it helps things sink in, where others may take visual cues and make notes from them). For some people, just figuring out how they learn best helps them figure out how best to study (an auditory learner might take his notes and read them into a cassette recorder, then play the tape several times to help connect with the material, whereas a visual learner might keep one set of notes and use it to make flash cards with symbols to help them remember things).

Look into your learning style, then discuss with your teacher(s) that you're interested in trying new things because you think you could learn better with ______-type options; ask for help. Some may be very helpful; others may not (some teachers strongly learn or communicate one way, so they may be sooooooo used to one way that it's difficult for them to stretch their thinking to something different).

People learn different ways; people have different strengths; people 'think' different ways and need to look at things different ways. Be a strong YOU!

If it helps, look into more ways you can learn about how strong you are and about how you think. There are tons of personality tests, and one of the best ways to line one up with school and career is the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator). People test to find they are one of "16 basic types," and each type has certain strengths and weaknesses. I put a link for this too; there are tons more (both links for MBTI and for other personality tests, like enneagrams and temperaments). For ways that people approach thinking (and this is linked to learning, so some people call this 'learning style' stuff also), there's a tool called the Gregorc Style Delineator. With it, you test one of four ways (abstract random, abstract sequential, concrete random, or concrete sequential), and it tells a lot about what you need to know and do to process information (learn).

You are capable of great things in your own right. To improve in the ways you want, you may need to really figure out what tools are best to help you retain infomration for tests and so on. But don't give up: YOU are motivated. YOU can do it.

In "The Pursuit of Happyness," Will Smith's character tells his son not to let anyone tell him he can't do something - that if he really wants it, to go and get it. The good news is --- there are people who can help, and you're asking for help before people have started thinking you don't try.

Best wishes! from a graduate student.

Answer 2

I might suggest that you stop comparing yourself to your siblings.
get a full night's sleep and eat breakfast every day! Your body and mind need fuel.
Some of us are not as academic as others and are better at sport or drama or science or languages.
Just do your best! Do try to study and if you don't understand there is no shame in asking for help.
Do your homework and study every night!
A lot of people think high school is about hanging out but those people either have no problems with schoolwork or just don't apply themsleves.
Just think of the 70% you did get. Wasn't it an improvement? The more you study and apply yourself the more you will improve but it takes time and knowledge. You made a good start. It is obvious how important it is to you so you just have to work hard.
(by the way, some people make it look easy but you may not see how much they have to study or the comprehensive notes they take in class)
It is called school WORK and not schoolfun.
good luck!

Answer 3

Dont let things get to you. Maths is a subject that is the easiest to pick up if you are struggling, its all tricks. For example if you multiply anything by ten, simply add a zero to the end. If you want to find out what 7% of 2520 is. Firstly you find out what 1% is. Move the decimal place two places to the left. which is 25.2. Then multiply by 7 which is 176.4. So as you can see its all tricks, learn the tricks, master the maths. Secondly, education is not the be all and end all. Its a foundation that your life can be built on, there are artists, property tycoons, and tradesmen that have not done exceptionally well at school. There are other ways to excel other than education. Chin up

Answer 4

That sounds so frustrating - no wonder you're upset!

When you're ready to look at things calmly, look for a pattern in the questions you answered incorrectly on this test and on other tests. Is it the principles that you don't understand? Are you transposing numbers or is your reading comprehension a little off (potentially dyslexia)? If you can find a pattern - then great. If one isn't immediately obvious, talk to your teacher.

Your question was written very well, so you are obviously an intelligent, articulate young woman. Talk to the people who can help you and don't let the frustration you're feeling bring you down. Good luck!

Answer 5

I would suggest that you ask your teacher what they think you may be missing...see if over the summer you can get a tutor, you may not feel it's worth it to be studying hard all summer while others are partying or whatever they are doing...but if you want to improve at something your not good at you have to invest the time into it...practice makes perfect...find out what math you'll be taking next year and get one of those "for dummies books" in that math, for example if you will be in Algebra next year, get an Algebra for Dummies book, that might help to break things down for you so that you understand...I brought one for Physics and it helped me...Like do you remember Beyonce's song...Baby Boy, and remember she was on the MTV Diary show...remember when she was preparing to record the video for that song, and she had to learn the dance routine that she performed in the dirt...remember the part where she had to flip in the dirt...when she first saw the dance instructor show her the dance she would be doing, she was like "you want me to do that"...she didn't even think she could do it but after practicing over and over and over again she nailed it...and the next day when she did the dance on the video shoot she nailed it the 1st time she tried!...so your never too young to learn that anything you want in life you have to work at...I'm sure there's something you can do that your siblings can't...just set your mind to it and watch yourself do it!

Answer 6

hey G&G, instead of worrying about your waterloo, which in this case, math, just focus on your strengths. Don't let your siblings pressure your feelings because i think that there's really no pressure from them!!Here's what I can do for you..i used to be really a bad math student in high school, so when i was in college, i chose a major, which i believe is my strength and interest me. and guess what, i really did great and even became one of the top students...don't worry dear, your chance will come. All you have to do is wait and find your best thing...

Answer 7

Dont be worried !!
Actually your way of adopting question is not the right way and the procedure you follws to solve may be confusing and bring the invigilator / checker to the other way, so in this way you have to suffer.
Discuss the easiest exercise and questions from your elder brother and sister then try to get their point wha tey think about hte specific exercise or question and what is the difference between your thinking and their thinking.
then generalize your wAY of thoughts by keeping your elders thoughts and views in your mind. you may be the best.


The other reason may be the Your braim structure is not suitable for these specific subjects so try to discover your interesting subject and extract the result.

I hope my suggesion will help You Kep smiling and dont cry when you get bad numbers its good to be bad from to get nothing.

You can contact on my email for more help...

M.Haseeb Khan

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Answer 8

dont lose heart.
first of all u should concentrate on what u do,while studying switch off any t.v,stereo.then start with difficult sums first and then move to easier sums,learn the formulas properly and then dont jump steps.
study the subs which u dont like ,concenterate and use dictionary to understand the stuffs,u can use the internet too,www.wikipedia.com,it would make your study easier and fun.while doing maths u could hear light music it really works for me.
hope that helps.good luck.

Answer 9

i think the solution of this problem is that when the chapter is explained in the you do not pay attention. you should everyday atleast make sometime for maths because maths has to be practised daily

Answer 10

Get a tutor, or look at all your old tests and see where your problem areas are and practice doing those.