The Moment It Clicked: Lindsay Buffington Learned to Say 'Right Now'

When Lindsay Buffington arrived at Walters State Community College, she was certain of one thing: She could not do math.

Buffington was born prematurely and experienced a brain bleed affecting the area of her brain involved in mathematics. Math had always been difficult, and the independence expected in college made her nervous.

Then she learned she would eventually have to take statistics.

“I thought to myself, ‘I have hydrocephalus. I cannot do this,’” Buffington said. “I would be up at night wondering how I would be able to get my brain to understand the concepts.”

The challenge wasn't simply learning formulas or working through practice problems. Buffington worried about whether she could retain the steps and recall them when it was time to take a test. 

Two words made a difference

Buffington began working with Dr. Julianna Gregory, her math professor, along with staff from Walters State Disability Services, tutors, a counselor and friends.

Again and again, the people around her told her she could succeed.

Eventually, Lindsay began adding two words whenever she caught herself saying she wasn't good at something: Right now.

“I’m not good at this right now.”

“Adding ‘right now’ on the end of any negative statement helped me believe that things would get easier and I would be successful,” Buffington said. 

Believing she could improve was only part of it. She also had to figure out how she learned best and then put in the work.

She practiced problems at home. She wrote down the steps. She used the extended testing time provided through Disability Services. She visited the tutoring lab every day, sometimes more than once. And after tests, she worked with a Walters State counselor to identify what had helped, what hadn't, and how she could approach the next one differently. 

Slowly, tests became less intimidating.

Her scores started climbing.

From hoping for a D to earning a B

Buffington initially set a modest goal for statistics: pass with a D.

She did considerably better.

“I was aiming to get a D, but I worked hard and earned a B in statistics,” she said. “I did not think it was possible for me, but I did it.”

The grade represented more than success in one course. It was proof of a new way of approaching challenges — finding the right resources, understanding how she learns, accepting help, and continuing to work when something is difficult. 

Buffington credits the people around her for helping her reach that point.

“Knowing I was not the only one who struggled was really comforting to me,” she said. “I am so grateful that God brought me to Walters State and gave me so many amazing people who helped me succeed.” 

One step at a time

Now, Buffington has advice for another student sitting in a classroom convinced that they can't do what's being asked of them.

Ask for help. Then, be prepared to do the work.

“Others can help, but they cannot do it for you,” she said. “You have to apply the things you learn from those who are helping you and put in the work even when it is hard or you don’t feel like it.”

Ready to secure the help you need? Explore the many options Walters State offers students.