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After years away from the classroom, the decision to return to education and pursue a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is both exhilarating and daunting. At 35, I find myself at a crucial juncture, standing at the threshold of an opportunity that feels both like a second chance and a formidable challenge. The excitement of embarking on this journey is tempered by a familiar foe from my past: math.
Mathematics, with its precise formulas and rigid logic, was never my ally. As a child, I viewed math as a torturous exercise, a subject that seemed to revel in my frustrations and failures. The memories of struggling over homework, the sense of defeat at yet another poor grade, have lingered long into adulthood. Now, as I prepare to dive into computer science — a field where math is not just present but foundational — those old anxieties resurface, whispering doubts about my capabilities and worth.
Confronting Self-Doubt and the Fear of Not Being Good Enough
The fear of not being good enough, of being somehow fundamentally lacking, is a specter that haunts many of us who dare to step outside our comfort zones. It’s a fear that’s both personal and universal, touching on deep-seated insecurities and the all-too-human dread of failure. For me, this fear is encapsulated in the prospect of facing math again, of having to grapple with concepts that…
