The Math Teacher that Changed My Pace by Lisa

The Math Teacher that Changed My Pace by Lisa - September 2013 Scholarship Essay

            Ever since I was little, I was gifted in math. I was not a genius but I did not struggle with math, learning almost instantly, and was always at the top of my class. This continued on throughout middle school and high school until junior year. Pre-calculus the year before had been easy enough but the preparation was not enough. My calculus teacher, Dr. Wong, was a notoriously challenging teacher, but, then again, people believed that my pre-calculus teacher was as well. Nonetheless, I went into Dr. Wong’s class expecting the worst and I received so much more than that.
            The first test was gruesome; even though I understood the notes and the homework, the test looked foreign to me. When I got my test back, it became the first test I had ever failed in math. The class average was a D and from the looks on everyone’s faces, I could tell that they were feeling exactly the same as I was, disappointed.
            This class had broken my arrogant confidence. Instead of automatically doing well in the course and acing the tests, I had to devote time and effort into practicing and making sure I thoroughly understood the topic. Although I complained and viewed each test as the bane of my academic life, I knew that it was preparing me for future learning opportunities in life. Throughout the year, I saw my studying habits change and my test grades began rising.
            In the end, unlike the common conception, Dr. Wong was not out to “play tricks on us,” but rather help students’ study habits and mindsets. Being in his calculus class opened my eyes, eventually changing my habits in other classes as well. I studied more earnestly and gave one hundred percent in all my classes. In return, I retained more of the information I learned and worked my brain a little more.