I was the same way. I think the way we typically teach math (in the U.S. at least) to young people is particularly hard for those who insist on understanding r

I was the same way. I think the way we typically teach math (in the U.S. at least) to young people is particularly hard for those who insist on understanding rather than memorizing things. I was the same as how you describe yourself, and I always just assumed the kids who were best in the class were doing what I was trying to do also, but were much better at it. And then you see later how fragile/limited one's understanding is when taking the memorization approach—but as a kid you don't have many options.