good at math is a sign of being smart in general

If parents talk about math like something challenging and unfamiliar,children can internalize that.Teachers with math anxiety are also likely to spread it to their students.Pressure to solve problems quickly dials up stress even more.And in some cultures, being good at math is a sign of being smart in general.When the stakes are that high,it's not surprising that students are anxious.Even Maryam Mirzakhani, an influential mathematician who was the first woman to win the Fields Medal,felt unconfident and lost interest in mathematics because her math teacher in middle school didn't think she was talented.