Is it merely the embarrassment of admitting a lack of knowledge or a lack of the ability to grasp a simple elementary concept that makes us either push forward blindly or give up altogether that prevents us from accepting help from others? Or is it the stubbornly dogmatic mindset that insists we are better off doing things on our own than coughing up a little patience to learn a different (perhaps even better) way of doing something?

I typically am not one to ask for help. It is not because I think I know everything or how to do anything that needs to be done; it is just that I usually find it easier and less stressful to do it on my own. Asking for help means relying on someone else; it means being at the mercy of their generosity, and on their schedule. After all, one certainly cannot ask someone to help and then demand they help in a certain way at a certain time, can one?

From the first conversation I had with my academic counselor nearly two years ago about the prospect of having to take not one but two Algebra classes, I have been advised to check out the math support options offered by Axia College and the University of Phoenix. There is even a local campus within walking distance of my house. Yet I managed to make it through my first Algebra class without help and still passed with flying colors.

Algebra 1B, however (as I have already mentioned in earlier posts) has emphasized to me that there is no shame in asking for help. Week 4 was a nightmare. Even with the hard work and all of the studying, I crashed and burned on the quiz. Even with the little help I got (granted, it was not formal help but I was sure it was adequate—apparently I was mistaken), my grade more than fell short of acceptable. Week 5 was an easier time because there was no quiz (it seems that I do quite well on everything BUT the darned quizzes). Week 6 not only had a quiz but a checkpoint as well.

With the help of a fellow algebra student and her neighbor, who happens to be a retired math teacher and is offering tutoring support to both of us (he apparently taught college math to math instructors), I aced the quiz in Week 6. My instructor is a little delinquent in posting weekly grades and I just learned that although I failed week 4’s quiz miserably, I did well on the rest of the work. So I am very confident in my work done for Week 6…especially since I got 100% on the quiz—I just need to know how I did on the checkpoint. According to the tutor, I did well on that too.

If it were not for the help of my fellow student and her tutor, I am convinced that passing Algebra 1B would not be possible for me. Week 7 started today and with it the down-hill run toward the end of Block Ten, and the conclusion of my Associate Degree Program. In three short (hopefully) weeks, I will reach the half-way milestone in my pursuit of a Bachelor Degree. With help—I repeat: WITH HELP—I just may preserve my perfect GPA…at least for my 2-year degree.

Ask for help. It’s ok, really. On so many levels, you’ll be glad you did.