If you think you’re beaten, you are
If you think you dare not, you don’t
If you like to win, but you think you can’t
It is almost certain you won’t

Those words from the poet Walter D. Wintle apply to math anxiety from which many people of all ages suffer.

Their ranks include water and wastewater operators looking to pass the exams that open the door to higher levels of licensing, more responsibility and better pay.

How common is math anxiety? Studies have shown that at moderate to high levels, it affects some 25% of four-year college students and up to 80% of community college students.

Math anxiety may take hold during early grade school and persist into adulthood. It leads people to assume they are simply “not good at math,” and so they avoid it, taking only the minimum required courses in school and shying away from math in professional life.

Water and wastewater treatment licensing exams include math problems, and the fear of math — not the same as lack of capability or low intelligence — can hold operators back from career advancements they desire and deserve.

Making friends with math

Math anxiety can be challenging to conquer, with symptoms both physical (nausea, shortness of breath, sweating, heart palpitations) and psychological (paralyzed thought, loss of self-confidence, negative self-talk).

Fortunately, it is also a problem you can solve. And the solution begins with challenging the basic and flawed assumption that “I’m no good with numbers.” It helps, of course, to have a great instructor. My high school geometry teacher, Mr. Otto, explained things so well that it was all but impossible not to master the subject.

That aside, math is an invaluable tool in your profession, and here are some strategies for dealing with math anxiety and eventually making math your friend.

It’s like a language. Think of math as akin to learning a foreign language. You can’t become proficient overnight. You build competency one step at a time, learning the basics and then moving on to more advanced concepts.

Collect resources. An internet search on “wastewater math” will bring up numerous useful items, from basic to more advanced. You’ll find workbooks, textbooks, websites, videos, formula sheets and much more. Choose a few that fit your learning style and call upon them often.

Practice pays off. Many resources include sample problems you can use for practice. Start with easier problems and work your way up to more challenging ones. Make it a habit to practice regularly. Tackling problems in a setting where mistakes have no bad consequences will help build confidence that comes in handy — at exam time and on the job.

Get help. Learning math alone is tough. If you’re struggling, seek out mentors — maybe an instructor at your technical college, your boss, a co-worker who’s a math whiz. There’s no shame in asking questions. In fact, the only stupid question is the one you don’t ask. 

Set goals. It’s easier to make progress when you have targets to shoot for. Make your goals realistic so you can advance at a rate that’s comfortable. Find ways to celebrate successes, even small ones. Example: On mastering a concept that was giving you trouble, enjoy a dinner out with your spouse or a friend.

Learn to relax. Adopt stress-relieving techniques before you actually need them, such as at exam time. Something as simple as deep breathing can release a great deal of tension. Visualization is another useful tool: Before tackling a problem, picture yourself having solved it. Many world-class athletes use this technique — positive thinking breeds positive outcomes.

Join the club. Realize that you’re not alone. Math anxiety is common; just knowing that others are face the same challenge should help make you more comfortable in tackling it.

And in a word: Believe!

In large part, conquering math anxiety is simply having confidence that you can do it. Assuming that you can’t pretty well guarantees failure. In the words of the great Henry Ford: “Whether you think you can’t or think you can, you’re right.” Or in the words of a motivational TV ad series that aired years ago: “When the whole world says you can’t, believe in the part of you that says you can.”