Graphing a parabola can be challenging. Let’s break down the important parts and the problems you might face:

1. Vertex: The vertex is a key point on the parabola. To find it, you need to calculate the $x$-coordinate using this formula: $x = -\frac{b}{2a}$ from the quadratic equation $ax^2 + bx + c$. This step can get tricky.

2. Axis of Symmetry: The axis of symmetry is just a fancy way of saying that there's a middle line the parabola is balanced on. It is given by the line $x = -\frac{b}{2a}$. Remembering this can sometimes be confusing.

3. Intercepts: To find the $y$-intercept, you plug in $x = 0$ into the equation. For $x$-intercepts, you’ll need to use the quadratic formula, which involves several steps.

Even though these things can be tough, practicing and taking it one step at a time can really help you understand and get better at graphing parabolas.