I don't understand why my math skills and or retaining skills are so poor?

I have friends that can just retain things at the snap of a finger as for me I can study for hours and not retain half of what I studied. Just an example; I was in class learning Plant Flow Diagrams, pump numbers & names, flow rates, pressures and so on. One of the guys I was in the class with picked it up like it was nothing and I studied my *** off and yet still struggled to get through it. What is differant about my brain make-up than his? What can I do to improve this problem? I would appreciate honest suggestions and no smartellick remarks please. I am not perfect and neither is anyone else.

Answer:
I'm sorry to hear that you have poor math and retention skills, but I think it's good that you are concerned about them. If you ask me, you don't need those natural skills to be good at something, you just have to want to be good and try. I like programming video games but my math skills are sub-par. I cannot take in information and use it as fast as others, but I don't give up trying. Even if it takes a few more hours or days, I KNOW I can get there. The more you practice, you'd be surprised how you can surpass those that learn these things easier.
I wish I could give you an exact reference, but years ago in college, I read of a group of researchers who discovered a gene for spelling, or at least a gene that acted in the area of that particular cognitive ability.
Perhaps you might want to steer your own investigation in that direction.
Learn and practice are basement of good skills.
PS Nobody is perfect.
Everyone is gifted in different areas. Go to a class tutor. They can help you with retention skills and give you ideas on how to learn and retain the information.
It took an disaster for me to learn math.your not alone.
Every on has they thing that he or she is good at. It some takes time and a lot of practice.
Math and retention skills are genetic. Why do some people to any natural skill better than others? Here is a trick one of my college roomates did to remember information. A night just before going to bed, he would go over the material he wanted to retain. Often the last thing that you do before bedtime will cycle through your mind in the night. Helped him.
Your skills will be different than those of your peers based on a variety of reasons, including former education, experience, interests, socio-economic background, alertness, health, etc.

My guess is that if you are studying engineering you are already a smart person by society's standards. Memorizing is not equivalent with being smart, intelligent, or having a high IQ. Memorizing has more to do with repetition and drilling. If the repetition and drilling are dull or boring, chances are that you won't do so well. Also, if you are sleepy or tired during class, or sick you may not do as well. Don't be harsh by comparing yourself to others. Who knows, maybe that guy who can recite all pumps names by memory just got back from a co-op at a nuclear power plant.

My suggestion for you is to figure out what works best for you. Learning is a technique, and like any other technique requires self-discipline and hard work and lots of practice. Just remember to always keep a balance.
I was in the Oil & Gas industry for 50 years and, things I learned as a trainee and at College in the 1950's are still with me.
This is because the subjects involved really interested me and every week without fail, right up to today, I set aside at least 1 evening to go over notes, calculations, conversions and process figures. I'm still learning and taking things in.
Anything I was/am unsure about I re-read my notes or look for an explanation. All it takes is the decision to do this and follow it through.
(My doctrine is: "I am better than no man and, no man is better than me" !).

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