CA by Alicia

CA by Alicia - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

I Do Love Math was the class I participated in every summer since I was accepted into the Upward Bound program. I first went into the class thinking it was going to be another normal math class, but even the teachers changed the feeling. Right away we began with games and went around the room, introducing ourselves. The whole class, including the teachers, each mentioned their experiences with math. You would say if you enjoyed math or not, and if there was anything that influenced you to think that specific way. For me math was boring because my math teacher had a usual routine of notes, notes, and notes every day with nothing new to expect, like assigning a project or game during class. The teachers of the I Do Love Math organization changed my thinking of math. He explained how your past experiences usually have an influence to how you think of something.
Every day was a new entertaining lesson, which did not simply involve taking notes. All of the class went outside and gathered to form a circle, each person facing the same direction. Our goal was to find a way that each person could squat down without losing the shape of the circle. The hardest part was staying close to one another and not spreading out to lose our circle. At last the group realized we were able to act like chairs. While one person was squatting down the person in front of them would sit on their leg until we made it all the way around the circle. People would constantly have to get close together so each person could fully reach one another to sit on their lap. Another lesson was calculating how to throw a basketball, or paper ball. A student was chosen to throw a paper ball into a trashcan bin. We had to draw what we saw and the teacher demonstrated how there was a triangle and parabola involved. He gave us an equation to solve and had the student try it again. The point of these games were to make us realize how math is continually used even when we do not intend to use it, like playing basketball or shopping.
Besides playing games we would also take notes on subjects that could help us in the future. The unit circle was a subject we always came back to so we could memorize it. Our final job of the summer was trying to fill out the entire unit circle, using the skills and lessons we were taught. As a matter of fact, I later on in my math class of high school had to perform the same thing we did with the unit circle during the summer.
The I Do Love Math class opened my eyes to comprehend that one bad experience should not ruin the way you look at things in the future. This did not just focus on my education but also in my everyday life. For instance, shopping at a specific store and receiving unacceptable customer service. I am not going to stop going in the store because one employee gave me a bad experience. Not every worker at the store has that same action. The worker that day may have had a bad day or was tired that made her act that way towards me. I do not let one negativity in my life cause more negativity for my future. My teacher taught me to look forward and keep going as life continues. You will stumble due to certain subjects and may look back to it thinking it will repeat. Instead leave it behind you and do not let those experiences bring you down.