DEV Community

Mahmood
Mahmood

Posted on

You are not slow-witted; you simply lack the necessary prerequisites.

I always thought that I was too “slow-witted” to understand math problems. During school, from grades eight to eleven, I always saw that math was easy for some kids, while for others like me, it was extremely complex and complicated.

This belief stayed with me until the end of 12th grade, until I started pre-university classes. There, we began math from scratch (learning how to count numbers, addition, subtraction, etc.); it was during that time that I reached a very simple understanding.

My problem was not due to a lack of intelligence or ability, but rather because I was missing many prerequisites.

An example of my problem was defeating the last enemy of my game at the beginning, or watching a movie from the middle; or lifting a hundred kilograms of weights on the first day at the gym.

The same applies to learning all complex subjects such as programming, algorithms — data structures, artificial intelligence, and so on.

My inability to understand and grasp those subjects was not due to a lack of capability in understanding the issue but rather a lack of knowledge in its prerequisites.

So, this is an encouraging reminder: You are not unintelligent; perhaps you just don’t yet have all the necessary prerequisites.
Image description

AWS Q Developer image

Build your favorite retro game with Amazon Q Developer CLI in the Challenge & win a T-shirt!

Feeling nostalgic? Build Games Challenge is your chance to recreate your favorite retro arcade style game using Amazon Q Developer’s agentic coding experience in the command line interface, Q Developer CLI.

Participate Now

Top comments (0)

Warp.dev image

Warp is the #1 coding agent.

Warp outperforms every other coding agent on the market, and gives you full control over which model you use. Get started now for free, or upgrade and unlock 2.5x AI credits on Warp's paid plans.

Download Warp

👋 Kindness is contagious

Discover fresh viewpoints in this insightful post, supported by our vibrant DEV Community. Every developer’s experience matters—add your thoughts and help us grow together.

A simple “thank you” can uplift the author and spark new discussions—leave yours below!

On DEV, knowledge-sharing connects us and drives innovation. Found this useful? A quick note of appreciation makes a real impact.

Okay