Math and mothers
I'm failing math. I'm a sophomore in a combined math class of algebra two and trig, and I'm failing miserably. The teacher scares me, he has a way of slightly berating student when they ask questions and doesn't explain very well. My parents keep yelling at and fighting with and punishing me for failing. I don't want to be failing, I just am. I'm not doj g enough to help myself, they say, my study habits and bad, they say. It's all true, but I don't sit around, actively trying to disappoint them. They keep telling me I'm going to be an adult in two years and need to start acting it. I'm scared.
@littleStrawberries1840
I hear you. I really do. And I need you to know that failing a class does not mean you’re a failure. You’re struggling, and that’s different. Struggling means you care, it means you’re trying, even if it doesn’t feel like enough right now.
It sounds like you’re under a lot of pressure from your teacher, your parents, and yourself. And that’s a heavy load to carry, especially when you feel like you’re already drowning. The way your teacher handles questions isn’t fair no one learns well in an environment where they feel judged or afraid to ask for help. And your parents? I know they probably think they’re pushing you to do better, but their way of handling this is making things harder, not easier.
You’re not lazy, and you’re not intentionally disappointing anyone. You’re a person who is struggling with something hard, and instead of getting the support you need, you’re getting yelled at. No wonder you’re scared. That’s a really lonely and overwhelming place to be.
But listen to me this is not the end. This one class, this one moment in time, does not define you. You are still growing, still learning, and you deserve patience, guidance, and a chance to figure this out without feeling like a failure. Maybe your study habits need improvement but that’s something that can be worked on. You don’t have to fix everything overnight.
For now, take a breath. You’re not alone in this, and you’re not doomed. Maybe there’s a classmate you can study with, maybe a different teacher or tutor who can explain things in a way that actually makes sense. Maybe it’s about finding small ways to rebuild your confidence, one problem at a time.
Most importantly, please don’t let this one class make you forget how much you’re worth. You are so much more than a grade. You’re a person, and you deserve kindness especially from yourself.
@littleStrawberries1840 I’ve found that when a teacher shuts down questions or makes students feel small, it creates a mental block. You stop asking, you fall behind, and then it snowballs. In that situation, I would try to look for alternative support—like online lessons, YouTube explanations, or even a classmate who gets it, especially when trying to understand concepts like slope. Sometimes hearing the same concept explained in a different way makes a huge difference. I think it’s important to be honest with yourself—but not harsh. You mentioned your study habits aren’t great, and recognizing that is actually a strong first step. I would start small: even 20–30 minutes of focused practice a day can build momentum. Don’t try to fix everything at once. Most importantly, I don’t see this as a sign that you’re incapable or not “adult enough.” You’re dealing with a difficult subject, a stressful environment, and a lot of expectations all at once. That’s a lot for anyone. In my opinion, this is something you can improve step by step—with the right approach and support.
@littleStrawberries1840
sounds like you’re carrying a huge amount of pressure right now, and I want you to know that it is completely valid to feel scared when you're facing such intense criticism from both your teacher and your parents. Balancing Algebra II and Trig is a daunting challenge on its own, (i would know 'cause i'm not the brightest in math too) also having parents who use punishment rather than support creates a cycle where it’s nearly impossible to feel motivated.
I know it must be really fustrating and kind of hopeless to hear that you feel like you’re being labeled as not doing enough when in reality the emotional exhaustion of being yelled at and berated is likely draining the very energy you need to study.
I want you too know that you aren't failing at being an adult just because you're struggling with a complex math class at sixteen, you’ve shown so much dedication to your goals already, so you can try to be as kind to yourself as you are hard-working, no matter what anyone else says. deep breaths and small steps, I know that you can make it work out.
@littleStrawberries1840It sounds like you’re under a lot of pressure from both school and home, and that can make it even harder to focus and improve. Struggling in math doesn’t mean you’re not capable—it usually means you need a different way of learning or more support than you’re currently getting.
Try breaking things into very small steps and practicing a little every day instead of cramming. If your teacher is hard to approach, maybe a tutor, classmate, or online videos could explain things in a calmer way.
And honestly, the fear you’re feeling is understandable, but it doesn’t define your future. You still have time to improve things one step at a time.
Using браш, even rewriting problems neatly and slowly can help reduce mistakes and make things clearer when you practice.