The Great War Between the Brain and the Number

I am a graphic design major as a freshman this year at Edinboro. Although some math will be required of this career goal, I do not plan to loathe in my mathematics classes, begging for more. In fact, I dread the very idea of Finite Math that is lurking in the corners of second semester.
I sympathized with my roommate as she and tutor Kevin (3rd floor buddy) dove into the textbook pages of additions and subtractions. This test Manna was cramming for was only multiplying the need to jump out our 4th window and land on a soft yet prickly shrub below. I, on the other hand, felt as if I were in kindergarten compared to her as I cut our text and pictures from ratty magazines for a project due Tuesday. She, on the other hand, yelled at the answered, scorned the problems, and tried to stay focused as the late hours came upon us all.
We do we need such pressure? Why the agony? In this room, 418 Rose Hall, we are art people, not numbers people. So therefore, a war begins between the Brain and the Number.

The Brain first knows that the battle will be difficult as it makes its way towards the Cooper Building where math courses are taught. However, the Number sees no fear in the fight that will soon begin. For he knows that his troops, Captain Square Root and Lieutenant Multiples, are more than capable for the task of boggling the Brain and all it’s forces in a quick take-over time: about five seconds.

The battle soon being where the professor enters the room and briefly goes over what he expects the Brain should know. On the other hand, the Brain is a little distraught because all these things that are expected of it were ignored in high school as the brain instead day dreamed about Prom and what kind of shoes were on sale at the mall.

The first assignment takes place as the time of class nears to an end. This is where the Brain is almost most defenseless. Here we have homework, taken out of the classroom, and no help or questions can be popped out to the teacher at a whim when trouble rears its ugly head. The Numbers troops have been patiently waiting for the decisive kill tactic of how to confuse, bewilder, and help forget everything that was learned in 50 minutes. Soon the mayhem begins.

Now the Brain has no idea where its at or why or how, illusions set in and days fly by as the chapters are whirled in a fast, tornado like fashion. The answers don’t make sense, the chapter notes are forgotten, and test time is on the way this Friday and the Number can smell another sweet victory. The Brain is scared to death. ‘Here I am at an educational institution. I cannot fail this test!’ The Numbers army snickers and rejoices at another score for the team. Wait though…the Brain has taken a different tactic…the tutor! This tutor, much like a Special Forces team that swoops in for the rescue. The Numbers, once strong and confidant, are now shaking in their eqations as the tutor teaches, reviews, drills, and pumps up the mind. Now the test is no longer feared with such daunting fear but with a hope that the numbers F and D are banished from the realm. The Numbers weep and groan in discontent. The Brain has made a comeback. And although the Brain is no longer superior to the Number, it sure has a great chance at winner the war on December 17th- the last day of class.