Tree Analogy

the whole where you plant the tree is the motivation and the fitting into the bigger picture

In our conversation, we highlighted the importance of understanding the foundational concepts in any field, which we compared to the roots of a tree. The “what is what” represents these roots—clear and solid knowledge of the basic components of a topic. The stronger and deeper these roots are, the more easily someone can understand and apply complex ideas, much like how a tree can grow taller and healthier with a solid root system.

We discussed how this foundational knowledge—especially in areas like linear algebra and analysis—makes learning smoother and more efficient. For you, it means you can grasp advanced material with ease, while others who may struggle with repeating basic concepts often find learning more challenging.

The comparison underscores that strong foundational knowledge is not just helpful—it’s essential for deeper understanding. The clearer your roots (foundational knowledge), the higher and more expansive your tree of knowledge can grow.

This foundation allows you to navigate through complex ideas with greater ease, while others might be caught in a cycle of revisiting the basics before they can move forward.

to have strong roots you have to move slow and really understand the basics thoroughly and intuitively instead of just racing from topic to topic, withotut internalizing the content properly and building up the neccessary intuition