I enjoy the permutations of alphabets rather than the combinations of numbers. I always labeled myself as a “wenkesheng,” a mandarin word for students who specialize in subjects such as English and social studies; To be a “likesheng,” someone who enjoys math and sciences, is something I view with admiration but distaste. The cliché but true saying of math having only one solution stuck with me the day I started learning simple addition. As I grew older, it puzzled me more– how is there just one correct answer for a 50-word word problem? 

Naturally, I wanted to be a writer rather than a mathematician. This translated to my academic work, as math is at the bottom of my priority list.     

Scoring a 75 for my first test in pre-calculus in junior year, expectations weren't high going into the second one. “You are failing. I’m going to get you a tutor for math,” my mom’s voice squeaked like my math teacher’s whiteboard marker. Avoiding a tutor became my sole motivation to study.

As I entered the math classroom the following day, the odor of whiteboard markers, damp textbooks, dull pencils, and a malfunctioning air conditioner filled my nostrils. The five rows of chairs were spread out evenly touching the filthy corners. Not bothering to walk back, I sat down in the first row and wiped the gray eraser crumbs from my desk. The vibrant fluorescent lights flickered incessantly, casting harsh white spots on my blue pencil case as if taunting me with their optimism. 

“You may start now,” my teacher croaked as the bell rang.

“Question 1: Prove the following identity using the two triangles– ” “Triangles? I only reviewed proofs with circles. I only learned proofs with circles. I only know proofs with circles.” 

As I aimlessly jotted down sins and cosines, the fluorescent lights flickered in a higher frequency matching the increasing rhythm of my heartbeat. I saw my friend scribbling away furiously with a grin plastered on her face. I sighed.

Deciding that I shouldn’t waste time on this problem, I turned to the other page. Comforted to see questions with circles that showed up in my textbook the night before, I easily cruised through the questions. I returned my attention to the triangle problem. “Ivy. Erase. Restart.” 

As I reread the complex problem that took up the whole first page, I thought like a writer. Triangle proofs are the same as writing about an unfamiliar topic. I am not scared of a new prompt so why should I be scared of triangles? As I sank into the math problem, I applied the proofs in circles to the triangles.

Circles and triangles are different in shapes, orientations, and properties; “wenkesheng” and “likesheng,” in favorite subjects, specialized majors, and learning approaches. Yet math, like writing, demands creativity and practice. Perhaps math is a triangle, characterized by definite angles and sides, while English is a circle, labeled with infinite facets and dimensions. When you fuse them, you get the best results.