hisnameisrobertpalmer-blog

[hisnameisrobertpalmer-blog]

Learning math as an adult to go back to school.

Here’s the scoop. I have a GED. Because of many many reasons we’re not gonna get into I didn’t finish high school (Although I did do a little college later on.) But I’m smart. I have a great career working for the federal government. I worked hard, sought opportunities, pursued difficult things and through that I have been successful to a degree. 

I’m a wildland fire fighter, I love people, I like to travel and be outside. I like to help others. It can be challenging job, exciting and fulfilling, I also love being a leader. I’m good with people, and I care. I care to a fault. And I’m competent at what I do. I don’t need anyone to tell me I’m an excellent firefighter. It may sound arrogant, but I really know I am. I am because I care, and when you really care about something you will become proficient and what ever you do. 

I worked on an excellent Hotshot crew for six years. After that I was accepted into the Wildland Fire Apprenticeship Program. While completing the program I worked for two highly respected Helicopter Rappel crews. I’ve even had the opportunity to work internationally for New Zealand Department of Conservation in the “NZ Hotshot Program”. The experience changed my life. And now I work on a forest district on a type 3 wildland fire engine. In an amazing, highly competitive place to work with a high fire load. I can honestly say that throughout my career I have worked for and learned from the best. I truly feel that. 

Most people can do it. Not many people want to do it, not every one can be good at it though. To make a worth while living wildland firefighters work around a 1,000 hours of overtime within their season (between 700-1200 usually but most of us see a 1,000 as the sweet spot). That’s on top of the 80 hour pay period. To make a decent living, that’s what we have to do. And for the record, most of know what we’re getting into. We chose this. And continue to. Year after year I have. We are gone, a lot. Giving up so much time in the service of others. 

But I no longer feel challenged. And I keep hitting road blocks, mostly educational. Debating a career change. I’ve decided to return to school. I’m interested in science and computer technology, it’s awesome. I love learning. I LOVE science! It’s so fun and interesting. I want a bachelors degree, but first I need an associates degree. An associates of science.

The only thing I’ve ever struggled with is math, and I know in science there is a lot of math. I want to get so good at math that when I go back to school I don’t even bat an eye at it. So here I am, 32 years old relearning basic arithmetic. Oder of operations, prime factorization, multi digit addition/subtraction and so on. All with the goal of this thing I hear of..... “Calculus”. First I need to get to algebra. And before that, fractions geometry, percents and all that. What I’m finding is that I never applied myself. It is hard. But you just have to try. So I’m going to document my progression on here. I just learned factoring. 

Now if I can just memorize my multiplication tables I’ll be killing it! I shall share my next progression as I see fit and post photos of my learning experience. Also fire season, Cause my dad taught me, never quit a job until you have another one. And who knows? Maybe I’ll stay doing this for the next 17 years until I can retire. But science and tech! learning about physics, that sh*t is interesting man. Lofty goals, but the only thing that’s ever scared me in life is regret. And if I get to be 80 looking back, I’d be pretty sad if I didn’t even try.

Thanks for reading if you did, cheers.

Issak

[hisnameisrobertpalmer-blog]

It all starts with an idea.

This is new to me. I’ve started this to try to connect with people that have the same interests as I. Also to reach out to other’s with different perspectives and opinions. It’s not hard to change the world, we’ll never do it if we never try!