I fell in love with math in 2nd grade and by 5th grade I'd finished all of Middle school math and a bit of high school math. Everyone praised me and saw me as some sort of genius. However, by 6th grade, I discovered videogames for the first time and became obsessed (think up to 10 hours a day), and maintained that all throughout middle school but still scoring well on exams.
By high school, same thing up until 11th grade. I realized I was now behind. Everyone else that just did things slow and steady was ahead of me. Out of hatred, I quit math and it became my biggest fear.
Today, I am an undergrad student at Johns Hopkins, majoring in Economics. However, after starting Linear Algebra, I'm starting to feel my love towards math come back.
And now, I am considering switching my major to Applied Mathematics and Statistics. However, it is really discouraging for me to think that I really haven't done any math in like literally 6 years and now want to make this my major.
It hurts me to know that I am going to work a million times harder to succeed in these courses than if I had just studied slow and steady. I know I want to major in math, I know I want this, but I just can't get over this feeling of stupidity whenever I struggle to pick up the most basic concepts in Linear Algebra.
Furthermore, I'd like to pursue grad school (a masters) in math after my undergrad. I am entering my 3rd year after this summer. Do I still have a shot at top Math Masters' program (think ivies or MIT) if I maintain a 3.7 GPA and only take the required Applied Math & Stats courses with the exception of a few math electives?
Just wanted your honest opinions pls, thanks.