Am I Being Mistreated??!!

I'm a freshman and I think I'm a decent person. I dont do drugs I dont have sex and I don't run away and get drunk in the middle of the night. I think I have ok grades except for a D+ in Algebra. Now, I have been grounded since second quarter, and part of that is my mom blocking SPEED Channel. Practice is on right now, and shes not letting me watch it. My GPA is prolly 2.9-3.1, and I can't watch it. She wants my algebra grade to be a freekin b, and damnit some people just aren't good at algebra, no matter how much she thinks I should be making straight A's. Somebody tell me if this is humane...damn I'm pissed.


P.S. Kick some ass Raikkonen, Represent Speed, Prove yourself Massa, and keep Rockin and Rollin Coulthard.

 

Do you want to go to college?

 

Why yes I do. I hope your not going to say "well then get that Algebra grade up!" because that just wouldn't be right.

 

You can't watch Speed Channel but you can post on Ferrari Chat? I guess I can't really see how that makes sense.

Good luck with your algebra.

 

Why wouldn't that be right? Explain that to me.....

This is for you....

I asked if you want to go and you said yes. Do you want me to do your Algebra for you? How can I help? I can only help by trying to make you see the bigger picture. Your mom doesn't gain anything from you doing well in school or you going to college. Sometimes you need to trust that the people that care for you have your best interest at heart.

Maybe your mom would allow you to record a couple of Speed shows if you show some interest and effort in algebra. I know most schools have tutoring in math and you should take advantage of it. Esp. if you like racing and cars.

When I was in school I thought algebra was one of the coolest subjects. I understand it can be tough at first, but get some help with it and see if you don't start to enjoy it.

Math and cars go hand in hand.


Or - What's your solution?

 

Very wisely put.

 

I know this won't help, but when I was your age, believe it or not, we didn't have Speed Channel. We didn't have ESPN. We didn't have cable TV. The results of the Grand Prix races weren't shown on the news on TV, and most of the time they didn't even appear in the newspapers, unless someone had been killed in the race. We had to wait for the race report in Road & Track a few months later. Or some real enthusiasts could find out the results only a week later, if they subscribed to Autoweek.

I've almost given up on all television. It's all ads. I'm not interested in hearing every five minutes what some corporation wants me to buy.

Do you have permission to watch the race itself, but not practice?

 

mom should take away internet access too - grow up and learn that the world doesn't always go your way - take your pity party elsewhere.

Carol

 

damn..how old r u??

 

Its only practice, your not missing much. Your school seems pretty nice too, giving out D+'s, my school just let you fail. Now with the F1 season starting, I would love to see where your grade goes. Get help while you still can, because it looks like you need it. Plus if you have a computer you can watch F1 races/practice/qual on it, try www.sopcast.com, but if your mom catches you, beware of the belt

 

OK I'm only 5 years older than you and trust me man just do the work. I screwed around my entire high school career because I thought I was too smart for everyone and I knew I would inherit a business, and it was a mistake. I still had about a 3.3 gpa and a really high SAT and thank god I went to a private school, or I would have been screwed when applying to colleges.

I'm not trying to beat you down or anything, but algebra isn't that hard conceptually. When you start dealing with calculus and advanced physics and math that is much more ambiguous then you will really work your brain. S

Seriously I'm in no position to lecture anyone about school, but I would save my GPA while I still can if I were you. Unless you go to a really good boarding school, a D+ or a 2.9 GPA isn't going to get you into top colleges. It may not seem like a big deal, but when all your friends get accepted and you don't you are going to feel like an idiot.

I know this sounds harsh, but listen to your mom as frustrating as that is she is right on this one. If you are anything like me you will just read everyone's replies and tell yourself they don't understand your situation but you aren't unique. Everyone has some reason to not do their best work, but its the one that do it anyway that succeed. You are a freshman man you have PLENTY of time to get your GPA up. You are too young to go out clubbing every night so you might as well study. Find the hottest girls in each of your classes and setup up study dates, if there is one thing that will make you study in high school it's a nice girl who hit puberty early.

 

Count your blessings. When I was in grade school, I got "the strap" if I brought home a "B". Straight "A"s were required.

(In high school, I was the odd "B", but I got "the stare" if I didn't make the varsity team. (My father was the sports hero at that same school, in his day.))

A GPA around 3 is a "B" average. In any public school or college, that's pretty mediocre. In a public school, a "C" is effectively a failure.

If you're not good at algebra, then get good. Algebra is basic math for the real world. No real problem in the universe will set up the equation for you and give you multiple choice answers.

If Massa wins ten more races than Fisi, and Alonso wins twice as many races as Fisi, and there are 17 races in the season, how many might Kimi win?

Just being born doesn't give you the "right" to expect any guarantees except that you'll die, sooner or later. Everything else is up to you.

... "And Mac, the horse's name is 'Friday'."

(PS: You're only getting algebra now?)

 

Try working 30+ hours a week just for the opportunity to be in college. You will appreciate things a bit more.

Get your effing grades up. Don't post on here again until you do.

Algebra class is freaking easy. Find a tutor, algebra study lab, the library, friend in class, or just memorize the book.

Stop going out, posting on here, watching speed anything, or having 'friends.'

-in college

 

Is this post a joke? Or this this kid just a retard?

 

Good work on the lack of drugs, sex and drinking (at least as a freshman in HS).

Having patted your back, I'll now slap you in the face. Wake up! No one here is going to say math doesn't matter for racing, education or life. You say you want to go to college, well even if you don't think you're good at algebra, most colleges require at least advanced algebra or calculus to graduate. You NEED to deal with this stuff if you want to do well enough to own a Ferrari, unless someone else is going to write the check for you.

All the cars you revere were designed with algebra, geometry and calculus. The fastest time through a corner is calculated with an understanding of math. Find a tutor if you need it, join study groups, ask for help on homework - but stop whining! Instead you need to decide that math isn't going to beat you and that you can do what it takes to get a B. It's going to be hard work, but it's worthwhile.

P.S. No you're not being mistreated, your mom is the one on the short end here. She's apparently a long suffering mother who has to deal with a young ignoramus that doesn't understand that what she's doing doesn't benefit anyone but you.

P.P.S. You probably shouldn't be allowed to access Fchat again until you can report at least a B.

 

... or until he can solve the "Kimi's wins" problem I posed above -- and show how he solved it.
(But how would we know if he did it on his own?)

(There is an answer, but I wonder how many people here would have trouble finding it.)
(Others shouldn't post solutions before the OP who needs to learn it now.)
(...or maybe just the Kimi number with no other details.)
(Actually, there are two correct answers.)

Sound like a challenge? Show up some of the older and harsher guys on the list, and impress your mom -- and maybe she'll cut you some slack before the report card arrives??

Or there's the "if Joe can paint a house in three days, and Sam can paint one in five days, how long will it take if they paint it together?" question from "Little Big League" -- which used a "cookbook" solution rather than showing the process ... which (believe it or not) does relate also to racing, in a a way. (TSD)

 

Was this necessary?

 

Bottom line, you live in your parent's home, their rules prevail. As for your grades, I have a different philosophy. I would only ask you to do your best.

If you are having trouble in some courses, get a tutor. College has become more important than ever, because life has become more competitive than ever. In order to be on top, you need every advantage.

 

I think you have your answer.
Remember this is Fchat where many of us are at a different "norm".
Here's what I did in school.
Find a person who you wish to "compete" with on test grades, Weather that person knows their competing or not doesnt matter. IE set a standard to beat.
Beat that standard.
Then the next tagret. Repeat.
It got to the point where I and one other kid were shooting for 100s. It was actually fun.

 

I remember trying my hardest to understand math at school and it never really sank in. Some people just don’t ‘get’ math, at least not until the right person teaches them, or situation arises in which they can relate the subject to real life. I constantly failed basic level math (and I was a straight A student in other subjects, and student of the year twice), but after putting in the hours and finding interesting subjects to relate the math to I managed to scrape by and now have a good degree in maths and science.

One of the most important parts of life, I feel, is to give everything your best shot, it doesn’t matter whether you succeed or fail, when you’re done you can look back and know you did your best. Your mum wants the best for you, obviously, all you can do in return is try your absolute hardest, but you must be able to look yourself in the mirror and know you tried your hardest. Use this as an opportunity to get your head down and push yourself to see what you can achieve. I’m sure your mum will recognise your efforts and allow you to watch speed if she knows you’re really trying, regardless of results.

 

Baloney, math is the simplest material you will encounter, it is an entirely objective subject. I've heard this excuse used time and time again, always by someone who makes little effort to understand the subject matter.

There is only one excuse for not doing well in math, laziness. Study the material, do your homework, and you will learn. Period.

+1

Best advice on this thread.

 

Please read my post properly, especially this bit:

“Some people just don’t ‘get’ math, at least not until the right person teaches them, or situation arises in which they can relate the subject to real life.”

 

+2

AND STAY OFF THE BIKINI THREAD!!!!!

I had to read the Italian newspaper (Il Progresso) here in NY on Mondays to get F1 results back in the day...(mid 70s)..

 

You should show your mother this thread. I think she might be interested in the support we have given you both.

Good Luck and post your grades as they improve over the next few years.

 

+1