Not Everyone Needs to Be Good at Math

Written by Reo-Blü Caré

“If a child is poor in math but good at tennis, most people would hire a math tutor. I would rather hire a tennis coach.” – Deepak Chopra

I remember being in Year 5, dreading Wednesdays. Every week, my teacher gave us a math test, and after we finished, he’d call us up one by one to his desk. The first time it was my turn, he took my book, looked at my work, and yelled, “Are you serious? This is not good enough!” Then he shook his head, handed it back, and told me to do better next time.

I could feel the weight of every eye in the classroom staring at me. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to disappear.

Week after week, my anxiety grew. I wasn’t just nervous about the test itself, but also about standing in front of my teacher, waiting for another harsh remark. Despite the pressure, my math didn’t improve. Maybe it was the yelling. Maybe it was the anxiety. Or maybe math just wasn’t my strength.

I’ve always been a creative person, but growing up, school didn’t seem to have much space for kids like me. I wasn’t encouraged to explore what I was naturally good at—instead, I was made to feel like I needed to fix what I struggled with.

More recently, I came across a book on Neuro-Linguistic Programming, where Tom Hoobyar wrote about how self-doubt often stems from things said to us in the past. For him, it was a gym teacher. For me, it was my Year 5 teacher. And for so many of us, it’s moments like these—being told we’re not good enough at something, as if that defines our worth.

We forget that life isn’t just about academics. Yet, for years, I held onto that voice in my head, stopping myself from pursuing creative ideas because I felt like I should’ve been better at other things instead. But then I read Deepak Chopra’s words, and it hit me—why do we spend so much time trying to "fix" weaknesses instead of nurturing strengths?

It took me years to unlearn the doubt school planted in me. But I finally realised that denying my creativity would be a punishment far worse than any math test. Instead of focusing on what we lack, maybe we should invest in what makes us come alive.

As adults, we have the power to shape how kids see themselves. When we focus only on what they struggle with, they may start believing they’re not good enough. But when we recognise and encourage their strengths, we help build their confidence, resilience, and self-worth.

Not every child will excel in academics, and that’s okay. A child who struggles with math but thrives in music doesn’t need another reminder of their weakness—they need someone to nurture their gift. Because when kids feel valued for who they are, they’re more willing to work on the things that challenge them.

The goal isn’t to turn every weakness into a strength. The goal is to help kids see that their strengths matter.

:)