Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Fractal


In high school, I took Geometry, as most students do. Up till then, every math course I had taken was not too difficult for me to master. But Geometry was a whole new set of rules, a different brand of logic. Postulates, theorems- nothing could be assumed. Nothing. I had to back up every assumption with proof, show how I had arrived at that proof and make sure all was logical. It was a tall order for a creative thinker. No matter how hard I tried, I simply could not get a better grade in that class than a 'B'. Well, I wanted an 'A'. Badly. I decided that, no matter what, geometry was not going to get the better of me. Not this girl. I worked HARD, harder than I ever had before and, finally, in the last semester of the school year, I got my 'A'. Well, technically, it was an 'A-', just barely. But it was good enough for me.

I got so much out of that class, so much more than I expected to. I have absolutely no recollection of how to solve a geometry problem, but I did retain valuable life lessons: 1) Never, ever assume anything. 2) If something is important to you, the work to achieve it is worthwhile. These lessons have remained with me through out my life. I try to live by them and pass these values on to my own child. Was all that work really worth it? You do the math. I'm done with geometry, no more sweating through tests. However, I, like everyone else on this planet, must daily face conundrums and struggles of various sorts. What to do? Never, ever assume anything. Make sure of the facts and use those facts as your guide to answers. And don't be lazy. Work your little hiney off to achieve your goals. Once reached, those achievements may not be exactly what you hoped for in the end, but they will be adequate to satisfy you if you did your best.
"When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt."- Henry J. Kaiser

(The one thing I still remember from geometry is the beauty of geometrical fractal patterns. They are mind-boggling. They take my breath away.)

(The bead pictured in this post is for sale in my Etsy shop.)

6 comments:

  1. ...why this is pretty & anything but...square...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful bead! I (weirdly) enjoyed geometry...I felt like it was useful in logical thinking in general. I struggled more with Algebra...the only class I ever got a C in.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jenn, I was just the opposite! I had absolutely no difficulties in Algebra. I took Algebra before Geometry, which set me up for a fall, I think! I got a little cocky about math after Algebra and thought I'd ace Geometry. Humility is a bitter pill.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Interesting concept, this fractal topic are just so amazing, I got my room full of posters and paintings of it, it help me relax.

    ReplyDelete