by Joe Tassinari

This is a story to publicly congratulate my son Dominic on completing his 3^rd and final college calculus course, CALC 3 at Folsom Lake College, and to give encouragement through example to future calculus students.

The reason this is noteworthy is because Dominic's perseverance and learning capacity had to grow with each level of this daunting math episode. Many students drop out of majors that they are interested in (Physics, Engineering, Pre-Med, etc.) because of the interminable roadblock – Calculus. This is one person who saw it through amongst several F grades and much turmoil!

After spending hours toiling through Calculus 1 and giving his all Dominic received a D grade. This almost caused him to quit his course of study and switch to a less math-centric major. Dominic had tried his very best yet failed in his pursuit; he was startled, confused and ready to quit. After all, his true love was not physics or engineering but music.

 Dominic studying during his 2nd attempt at Calculus 1, spring 2012  

As his father I did my best to encourage him by highlighting the lifelong benefits of pursuing something hard now for an easier and prosperous life in the future. A family friend, Burl Don, shared how he had struggled through calculus and eventually graduated Med-school to become a successful MD.   

But it was his Calc 1 instructor, Mr. Eitel the instructor he had earned the D grade from, whose words truly hit home. Mr. Eitel was relating a story during class about his two sons, both college graduates who majored in Business.

Because the sons took calculus and statistical analysis they were able to apply math towards practical endeavors, which made them valuable in our increasingly technological world. Because they learned high-level math their careers have superseded other generic Business major graduates and today both have generous salaries from Apple, Inc. and a New York stock exchange firm.

The next semester Dominic re-enrolled in Calc 1 with instructor, Calvin Green, and barely eked-out a C – the minimum for an Engineering degree.  PHEW! CLOSE CALL! Still unsure, still in doubt with 2 more calculus courses remaining he enrolled in Calc 2 with seasoned instructor Kim Hand.

One evening I was returning from a trip and stopped by Folsom Lake College to see if Dominic wanted to go out to dinner. It was 8pm and his Calc 2 class was still in session so I peeked through the window to see my son in the back row, bobbing his head from whiteboard to note pad feverishly taking notes in a desperate attempt to somehow, someway make sense of the lesson. What I was impressed with most was the true grit that he was displaying; he was giving his all.

Having taken two Calc 2 exams and with an average grade of 56% (an F) we set in motion a plan. Dominic would continue with his fellow students in a bi-weekly study group, begin to sit in the front row and visit his instructor during office hours at least two times the rest of the semester.

Sitting in the front row is a proven class-time maneuver to bring complete focus to the enterprise.  Visiting the instructor was an attempt to get to know him on a personal basis so as to learn from him better during class time.  It worked! On his next two exams Dominic received an 82% and a 76%. Because he achieved a near perfect score on his homework assignments he needed only a 56% (F+) or higher on the final exam to receive a C grade in Calc 2.

After his final he was not encouraged, it looked bleak. If he received a D in Calc 2 I’m not sure if he would had the temerity to take it again. A few days went by and the results were in: he had received an F+ on the final (59%) and a C grade in Calc 2! We partied for a week and I bragged to everyone who would listen that we were partying because Dominic got an F+ on his final exam; humorous irony that just had to be promoted.

Calc 3 was more of the same, determined and forthright studying, grades averaging a around 68% after his first three exams.  His instructor Dean Pietromonaco had a reputation for giving difficult tests; but what calculus tests are easy? After taking his last regular exam Dominic was not enthused yet ended up with an 84%! With his diligent homework efforts he had a solid C going into the final exam.

The results are in, Dominic earned a 94% on his Calc 3 final exam and a B grade for the course. After all of the ups and downs he finally earned an A grade on a calculus test proving that he, like anyone, can be outstanding when they are determined.  Next semester he begins at Sacramento State where he’ll earn a degree in Electrical Engineering. Who knows, maybe Dominic will wind up designing the next generation of music synthesizers? 

Dominic chatt'n it up with his cat Sugar          

In the event that this story can help another reluctant calculus student here is a summary of helpful tips:

• Be positive
• Know that as college progresses you will become an increasingly better learner
• Briefly review the history of calculus
• Get an A in homework by completing all of it on time and being accurate
• Join a study group (do your homework together)
• Visit your instructor during office hours so that you will better be able to understand their style during lecture
• Respect your instructors no matter how goofy they seem; they are your bridge
• Ask questions in class
• Sit up front
• Believe in yourself
• Talk to your cat 🙂 

Joe Tassinari, Dominic's dad, is president of Business Works a company dedicated to the creation of positive workplaces.
Tag: How to pass calculus