Math Lessons by Krysten

Math Lessons by Krysten - June 2016 Scholarship Essay

For as long I can remember, I’ve had a strong disliking for all things math. I could count to ten in both ascending and descending order by the time I was three, but that didn’t mean it didn’t feel like a visit to the doctor’s office every time I had to do it. In the second grade, I could finish a minute-multiplication sheet in under a minute, but I dreaded every second. Almost every quarter of my educational career I made A’s in every subject except math. It’s safe to say, a perfect report card didn’t come very often for me, but with the help of an amazing math teacher, supportive peers, and my commitment to my goals and grades, I was able to develop an appreciation for numbers.
The first day that I walked into pre-calculus, she slapped a quiz on my desk and gave my classmates and I fifteen minutes to complete the four question handout – which I failed with a 40 percent. Considering that I scored the lowest in the class, I felt dejected, embarrassed, and ashamed. Looking back, the math was basic, but I couldn’t comprehend the operations and processes necessary to solve the equations, thus leading to my failure. I didn’t feel confident enough to ask for help. I was a senior, students looked up to me and I thought to highly of myself to admit that I wasn’t perfect, so instead of letting my teacher know that I wasn’t comfortable with the course work, I decided to struggle through and hope for the best – which probably was not the best decision to make.
It wasn’t until my grade fell to a 59 percent that I mustered up the courage to let my teacher know that I was struggling. Instead of putting me down for my lack of knowledge, she nurtured me, weeded out my ignorance, and cultivated the skills that I believed to be long forgotten. She was willing to take time out of her day to answer my questions and move at a pace suitable for me. I’d never had a teacher who was willing to tend to the needs of each student individually while maintaining a perfect balance within the classroom. I spent countless mornings in her classroom, pining over problems that once caused me confusion and countless hours on Khan Academy after school trying to learn as much as I could to bring my grades up.
By the end of the semester, I passed her course with a 96 and enough knowledge to aid me both inside and out of the classroom. With the help of the greatest math teacher I’d ever had and my own dedication, I went on to pass Honors Statistics, and was able to bring my SAT scores up by 150 points. I will never forget everything that she taught me, or let my hard work go to waste.