Why is this happening? (losing confidence in my math and science skills)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a middle school student's concerns about their math and science skills, particularly in relation to participating in competitions like Math Counts and Science Olympiad. The student expresses feelings of confusion and a lack of confidence after comparing their performance to peers who have qualified for higher levels in competitions. The conversation explores various perspectives on competition, learning methods, and the emotional aspects of academic challenges.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that being skilled in math and being successful in competitions may require different qualifications and approaches.
  • One participant emphasizes the importance of practice and suggests utilizing available resources to improve skills.
  • Another participant advises waiting for formal instruction before entering competitions to better gauge one's understanding of the material.
  • A participant shares their personal experience of failure in a physics competition, highlighting that confusion and mistakes are part of the learning process.
  • Some participants argue that competitions should be enjoyable and not detrimental to self-esteem, suggesting that exploring a variety of subjects may be more beneficial at this stage.
  • There is a viewpoint that self-study may not be the most effective learning method for everyone, and that guidance from a teacher can be valuable.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions on the value of competition and the best methods for learning. There is no clear consensus on whether the student should participate in competitions or how best to build confidence and skills.

Contextual Notes

Some limitations in the discussion include the lack of specific examples of the student's struggles, the dependence on personal experiences, and the varying definitions of success in competitions.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for middle school students facing similar challenges in math and science, educators looking for insights on student confidence, and parents seeking to understand the pressures of academic competitions.

QuantamMaster
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Hello, I am a middle schooler who likes doing math, physics, and other forms of science. This year, when school starts, I will be attending clubs such as the science olympiad and Math Counts.

In a previous thread, I have asked how to study for math counts, but when I started studying I noticed that I am very bad at the content and I lack the skills and confidence. I am going into 8th grade but am already doing algebra II/advanced geometry at home and at school, I should be doing honors geometry.

I am really confused and questioning whether I should compete because all my friends who are of the same intelligence or less are doing better than me because they qualified for the top 10 in the school district, went to state, and almost went to nationals.

I am losing confidence, so any advice helps! Thank you!
 
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Being good in Math and being good in competitions are to some extent different qualifications. It is hard to tell without specific examples where you could improve, especially as I am unfamiliar with Math Counts. Practice is generally a key to improving in certain tasks. That said you could solve the many problems in
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/solution-manuals-for-the-math-challenges.977057/
(search the pdf for "HS") that gives you many problems on all levels and provides solutions.
 
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QuantamMaster said:
Hello, I am a middle schooler who likes doing math, physics, and other forms of science. This year, when school starts, I will be attending clubs such as the science olympiad and Math Counts.

In a previous thread, I have asked how to study for math counts, but when I started studying I noticed that I am very bad at the content and I lack the skills and confidence. I am going into 8th grade but am already doing algebra II/advanced geometry at home and at school, I should be doing honors geometry.

I am really confused and questioning whether I should compete because all my friends who are of the same intelligence or less are doing better than me because they qualified for the top 10 in the school district, went to state, and almost went to nationals.

I am losing confidence, so any advice helps! Thank you!
Like your enthusiasm, however similar to any athletic competition, I would not jump into any competition without first having a grip on the material. I would wait until instruction by your teacher so that you have a better idea of where you are at with algebra II/geometry.
 
I once participated in a physics olympiad and failed miserably when I was 15. Later I studied physics and got myself a PhD in a string theory related subject. Admittedly, to some critics again a miserable failure :P

Confusion and making mistakes is an important and inherent part of learning. Some people also admit their confusion more easily than others. I met some 'fakers' during my PhD; people who pretended to understand stuff by throwing with jargon.
 
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QuantamMaster said:
Hello, I am a middle schooler who likes doing math, physics, and other forms of science. This year, when school starts, I will be attending clubs such as the science olympiad and Math Counts.

In a previous thread, I have asked how to study for math counts, but when I started studying I noticed that I am very bad at the content and I lack the skills and confidence. I am going into 8th grade but am already doing algebra II/advanced geometry at home and at school, I should be doing honors geometry.

I am really confused and questioning whether I should compete because all my friends who are of the same intelligence or less are doing better than me because they qualified for the top 10 in the school district, went to state, and almost went to nationals.

I am losing confidence, so any advice helps! Thank you!
Competitions can be great ... if you enjoy them. But if they are starting to make you feel bad about yourself, skip them.

At this point in your life, you should be exploring a variety of subjects and discovering activities that you enjoy (e.g., science fair projects and clubs not narrowly focussed on competitions).
 
It may simply be that self-study on your own is not among the best ways for you to learn. When taking a class you have a content expert to explain things and to guide your self-study. No shame in that. Just don't give up on self-study. With practice you'll get better at it, and without it you can never hope to succeed.
 
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