As a new teacher at Bayside Christian College, I have been so impressed by how our teachers care for students. I have seen so many people here willing to walk the extra mile. It is clear that Jesus Christ is at the centre of our college life.
This is my first time teaching in Australia. As a maths teacher, I often hear something from students and even parents: “I am not maths material,” or “We are not a maths family.”
I understand this feeling. But I have learned that this fixed mindset is often the biggest obstacle to learning.
Let me share a personal story.
I was born in a special part of China, right on the border of China, Korea, and Russia. There, people often learn Korean or Russian as a second language. I left China in my late twenties with almost zero practical experience in English. To make it harder, I also have a mild reading disorder similar to dyslexia.
At first, I told myself, “I am not a language person.” I had a fixed mindset.
But I had to change. I decided to adopt a growth mindset—the belief that I can grow and learn, even when it is hard. Step by step, I started to learn English. Today, I use English every day in my life. Am I perfect? No. But I did not let my weakness stop me.
There is a saying I love:
“If you believe that you can, you are right, you can; if you believe that you can’t, you are right, you can’t.”
This is true for maths, too. You are not born “a maths person.” You become one by trying, making mistakes, and trying again.
The Bible reminds us that our strength does not come from ourselves. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, God says:
“My grace is all you need. My power is greatest when you are weak.”
When we feel weak in a subject—whether maths, English, or anything else—God’s power is there to help us grow.
So next time you feel like saying, “I’m not maths material,” remember with a growth mindset, and with God’s strength, you can learn far more than you think.
Eric Wang