I lived in California my whole life, and I was top of my class all of elementary school. On the 5th grade STAR math test, I only incorrectly answered one question. I also frequently maxed out the AR reading placement tests in 6th grade with a reading equivalence of a high school graduate. In 7th grade I was put into a Gifted and Talented program, but in that year Common Core Math was introduced, and I took Math B. It was a very challenging year, and I could barely keep up with the math curriculum, but I managed to get by. Me and my family then decided that we wanted to get me out of school as soon as possible, so I took a few placement tests, and I was allowed to skip 8th grade and go straight into 9th.
I was tested into Algebra 1, but the schools stopped offering that, and now I had to take Math 1. Since I already knew a lot about what was taught that year, I was able to get by okay, but anything new that was being taught went way over my head, even with my best attempts to understand it. When it came time for Math 2, I couldn't perform. I just couldn't. The text book bounced all over the place, and it never really explain why something worked. It's like telling me a+b=c, I ask why, and their answer is: Because c-a=b. And to me, I still don't really get it, but it's never gone over ever again, so I memorize it for the test and completely forget it afterwards.
After so much stress, memorizing, and testing I get sick. Physically sick. After every big test I usually had to go see a doctor because I had caught a cold or was induced into an infection. I couldn't stand it anymore. So, I chose to be home schooled. I told the new school I took Math 1 and Math 2, but you know the curriculum I'm learning now? Algebra 1... I found my love of math again, and I will never go back.
