Today we have done the
Maths exam, it was three hours. We have had a break of 10 minutes in the
middle.
There were 14 exercises. They were not the kind of exercises that I was
used to do last years. I liked Maths some years ago because it was easy for me.
We learned some rules in class and I was used to do as many exercises as
possible. Then, the exam was actually very similar to these exercises. For me,
the exams were a formal way to show to the teacher that I was able to do the
exercises. My Maths qualifications were an important motivation for me. I
remember a concrete exam because in an exercise I confused a 6 and I wrote 9,
so the final solution was wrong. At the end I had a 9 instead of a 10. For this
reason I felt failed in that moment.
Today is quite different. I have had to reflect and use my abilities on
the exam!! I also have learned during it. I was conscious of my feelings; I was
feeling myself useful during the exam because the activities were not just
Maths operations that a calculator of a computer can compute them. They were
problems that needed a brain to be solved; my brain was working. We also have
had to explain our reasoning, not just put the process and the final solution.
It made me think further.
I really have had enjoy it because the activities were my motivation to
continue. They were little challenges. I was not conscious at all of the time.
I was actually immersed on the activities. They filled me. This is an example
of one of the activities.
It is a completely different way of thinking. For me it is difficult,
but this makes it more interesting. I do not mind my mark. It means nothing for
me now. I might have done mistakes, it is normal and necessary. Maybe I also
have confused numbers, but who cares?
As the song says: “Que me quiten lo bailao”
Laura Sanz
