Overcoming fear, dyscalculia, and doubt to pursue a lifelong dream
Alix struggled with numbers at school because of her dyscalculia. But needing a maths qualification to pursue her dream course at university, she overcame her fears and enrolled at City Lit, learning to trust in her abilities.
Video: Alix describes her time at City Lit
Alix's story
“My name is Alix Baptiste, and I’ve just completed and passed both Level 1 and Level 2 Functional Skills Maths.” That’s how Alix begins her story, a sentence filled with pride and resilience.
After deciding to apply for a degree in Languages and Linguistics at Birkbeck, Alix discovered she would need a maths qualification. This was daunting. Maths had always been hard for her, largely because of dyscalculia, a learning difficulty that makes it hard to understand numbers, often likened to dyslexia, but with maths.
“Tackling any kind of maths course was terrifying,” she recalls. “I was fearful. I had all those old school messages in my head, that I couldn’t do it, that I was stupid, that people would laugh.”
City Lit offered something different: a safe space to begin again, with the right kind of teaching and understanding. “I needed to go to a place where I felt comfortable starting from scratch,” she explains. “And I found that at City Lit.”
The journey wasn’t easy. There were moments of doubt, frustration, and even tears. But it was the support from her tutor and classmates that made the difference.
“I couldn’t have done it without the wonderful teaching. My teacher believed in me, and that helped me believe in myself.”
For Alix, “finding your voice” in maths wasn’t about standing at a whiteboard solving equations. It was about the courage to ask questions, to admit confusion without shame, and to recognise her own progress. That confidence began to spill over into other parts of her life.
Just weeks ago, she attended an open day at Birkbeck. “It was terrifying,” she admits, “but also inspiring. I met people who’ve already got degrees, who are now studying something they’re passionate about. It reminded me that I deserve to be there too.”
Her goal is clear, to study French and Spanish at degree level, and to use that knowledge to give back, to her community and to the wider world. “Studying languages brings me joy,” she says. “Even though it’s hard, I know it’s worth it.”
Find your voice at City Lit
Everyone is uniquely wired, with our own passions and ways of expressing ourselves. Yet many of us haven’t discovered our true voice or have the opportunity to share it. At City Lit, our courses are designed to help you find your voice by exploring your ideas, building your confidence, and unlocking the strengths you never knew you had.
Study Maths at City Lit
City Lit offers maths courses in London and online to build confidence, boost everyday skills, and support career or education goals.
