Just Another Statistic?

In order to graduate as part of the required curriculum, I have to take a Statistics course and actually pass it. (What how was I going to manage that?!) Well, human nature dictated that I procrastinate forever and save this delicious course for last.

The Monday before Labor Day was my first day of the dreaded Statistics class...and boy did I feel stupid! By the way, just so that you know, the only prerequisite for this class was to have taken Algebra I and II in high school...well I did take them...but I took Algebra II 29 years ago!!!!! Just how much recall do you think I had? Try nunzio!

This instructor dryly droned on and on with a multitude of statistical definitions, without a break. Then he gave us algebra problems that we were supposed to be able to do with a snap of the finger! Ha! By this time, my brain was frying, sizzling and emitting smoke. But he did not even try to see the students with the blank-deer-in-the-headlight stares. He just forged on ahead like a bullet on a mission. Too bad my name was not on the bullet. I missed the lesson even though I was there.

Not wanting to bring the class to a grinding halt, I waited and asked the instructor for assistance after class, but he torpedoed through that so fast that it was not any help at all. Totally useless. SIGH! I left class feeling quite dumb and helpless. Was I going to be another statistic? How on earth was I ever going to pass this class? I needed at least a "C" in order to graduate.

I knew I was headed for trouble in this class, but I did not know what to do. A guy in my class evidently saw my distress, and offered to tutor me, but I declined...his face betrayed his words. I was able to read him like a book....he had my figure on his mind rather than the numerical kind.

The only good thing that came out of this class experience for me was that the instructor mentioned a special session of tutoring at the ARC (Academic Resource Center) that would help with learning the SPSS software that is also necessary to use in this class. I meant to call the ARC all week to sign up for this class...but somehow I kept forgetting to take care of it during the day. Finally, the Thursday after Labor Day when I was down at the school taking care of some business, I finally remembered that I needed to go to the ARC to sign up for this class.

Talk about perfect timing! They were open! I went in to sign up and one of the tutors overheard me signing up. He came over and told me about this Statistics class offered on Saturday right after the SPSS tutoring. He explained that this class would be full of people like me without extensive math backgounds, and were kind of rusty on the procedures. He also sang the praises of this particular instructor. The only thing was that I had to drop my Monday night class and swap it for the Saturday class. It sounded too good to be true. With a little trepidation I did drop and add the classes. I'll have to admit that I was more than a little worried that I was jumping from the pot into the fire in terms of the instructor and his teaching method.

Well, today was the first class of my Saturday class....and guess what?! My new instructor is a dream come true! He is more patient, thorough, helpful and sincere than I ever thought an instructor could ever be. In one class session I actually learned the algebraic formulas that I had forgotten or maybe never learned! This more-than-patient man did review during the class using everyday examples to explain his points, and taught us new stuff and then stayed an hour and a half after class with me and several of my classmates (in the same boat as me - having taken algebra eons ago) doing review to bring us up to speed.

I can't believe it! I am actually excited about a Statistics class! Wow! And I am excited when I think about how it came about that I found out about this class...I kept forgetting to sign up for the SPSS tutoring over the phone...I dropped the Monday class and signed up for the Saturday Statistics class upon the advice of an unknown ARC tutor (unknown to me) who just happened to overhear me signing up for the SPSS class.

This Statistics class is da bomb! Boy am I glad I was advised to take this class! This instructor meets my instructional needs by teaching in a style that I actually learn from...by showing examples and reviewing them...not just talking and droning abstractedly into the air.

And just think...I was very nervous and scared walking into that classroom today....it now seems that I will not be a statistic...a Statistics class dropout...

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:1-3

"I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34:3-5

\0/ Halleluyah!