Assignment 5 - Pamela Linares

Like many others who have written, when I tell someone that I have recently met that I am a math major, I am always hit with the "do you want to be a teacher?", "wow, you must be smart", "oh me and and math just don't go together" response. At first, it did get me down when people say the don't like math, or that they are bad at it. However, as the years have gone by, I have found betters ways to respond to them. For example, on of the few things i say is that math isn't something most people are naturally good at, it something that you have to learn to understand and to love. and I think a lot of that can come from teachers. I was very fortunate to have wonderful math teacher in high school and especially college that led me to love math, however not everyone has that opportunity.

I think that in order to have a successful conversation and have an impact on them about a math related subject is to stay simple yet interesting. talk about thins that might be a bit more related to them yet somehow used math one way or another. I don't know if these small conversation will have a national impact, however, every small conversation counts. One never knows when they will meet someone who one days becomes a person with a high position.

Honestly I wouldn't know what would be the best way to influence someone like a politician, however i think influencing as many people as we currently can is a huge help. Like I said, math isn't something that everyone is  naturally good at. It takes a lot of patience from both the learner and the one who is teaching. That's why is politician could help provide better education in middle and high school i think that would be a huge step towards showing people just how amazing math can be. If we can start convincing those around those about the benefits of math, then i think eventually the higher-ups will realize that maybe spending a bit more on mathematical research will be of benefit.