How to Succeed in Calculus by Gillian

How to Succeed in Calculus by Gillian - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

Math, as a general topic of study, is a dreaded topic of many high school students. Calculus in particular causes anguish and suffering in eleventh- and twelfth-grade students, even those who thought they were strong in math. So when I enrolled in BC Calculus my junior year, I hardly expected that it would become my favorite class. Under the instruction of my teacher, Dr. Ricketts, I learned much more than how to integrate and differentiate; over the course of two years in her class and a subsequent year at the same school, D.R., as she was affectionately known, taught me how to prepare myself, how to prioritize, and how to embrace my passions in life.
Dr. Ricketts prepared her students meticulously for each test as well as for the culminating Advanced Placement exam, but she also took the time to pass on her wisdom concerning how to prepare for the future. Though she assured her students that their grades would not be penalized if they chose not to complete homework or review guides, those who did both always saw higher test scores. This enabled students to decide how ready they were and how much time they should spend studying given materials. For a month leading up to the AP exam, class time was spent taking practice tests and solving problems from past exams, and Dr. Ricketts opened her classroom on Saturday mornings for those who elected to spend more time studying under her guidance. By allowing extra work to boost but never depreciate grades, Dr. Ricketts taught me how to determine whether I was prepared for upcoming events.
As a teacher, Dr. Ricketts spent most of her class time teaching and supervising study, but she cautioned students not to prioritize academics over mental or physical health. Living in a metropolitan area, she knew the pressure her students were under to succeed, and she pushed us to perform our best without misplacing priorities. When students dozed in class, she woke them, but encouraged tired pupils to nap later or go to bed earlier. After a student at my was tragically lost to suicide, she canceled that day’s lesson plans and instead discussed the importance of spending time with friends and family, seeking help when needed, and never becoming myopically focused on present hurdles in comparison to future hopes and opportunities. At the end of the year, as students grew restless for summer, she encouraged students to enjoy free time but not to become reckless, as the pursuit of good times should not include risking one’s life. Unlike other instructors of advanced classes, Dr. Ricketts managed to stress the value of her material while simultaneously allow students to prioritize wellness.
Aware that not everyone relished math, Dr. Ricketts nonetheless promoted passion in those who did and encouraged all students to spend time seeking out enjoyment in life. Before taking Dr. Rickett’s class, I was proficient in math but never had any affinity for the subject. When she introduced simplified calculus theory at the end of her precalculus course, though, my interest was piqued like never before. Despite the challenging material involved in BC calculus, she motivated me to take the class and supported my intrigue in the subject. Students often discussed possible college majors in relation to earning potential, but Dr. Ricketts admonished us to study what made us happy, not what topics parents suggested or which majors led to higher earnings. Financial and social success are often deified by teenagers, but Dr. Ricketts advised her students to study and pursue the fields and activities that we loved so that we would find fulfillment in life.
Dr. Ricketts was my teacher for two years, and I learned many lessons from her. She taught me how to take derivatives and how to think critically, how to convert degrees to radians and how to study for difficult tests. But above all else, Dr. Ricketts taught me how to live successfully. By teaching me the value of taking time to enjoy life while also preparing myself for future academic and work-related endeavors, she prepared me for my time in college and in the marketplace.