It All Adds Up - Varsity Tutors Scholarship Essay by Madeline

It All Adds Up - Varsity Tutors Scholarship Essay by Madeline - October 2016 Scholarship Essay

I have sat through many, many classes while attending Fort Payne High School. I tried to make the most of each day whether I liked the class I was in or not. That's what I've been taught to do my entire life. Why? Both of my parents are teachers, and the desire to learn was instilled at an early age. It has been my job each and every day of every school year. As a child of educators, I have heard firsthand many stories of a wide variety of students that range from the overachievers to the ones that have no desire to be there. Middle of the road is not an option for me. So, what was my choice? You guessed it. Overachiever. I actually enjoy school. Some classes I have enjoyed more than others, and some subjects I have enjoyed more than others. One academic subject that has always had an impact on me is math. My mother still tells the story of when I was very young, three or four years of age, when she would quiz me on simple math facts as part of my nightly bedtime routine. I would always make my way under the covers to get out my "calculator" which was actually my fingers. I would always come out with the correct answer. My parents tell me they were amazed that I could calculate at such an early age. That's where my love of math began. I have taken many math courses from Algebra 1 all the way to Dual Enrollment Pre-Calculus, which had to be my most difficult class. Perseverance won in the end since I conquered it with flying colors.

I had never thought about being a teacher but, now, as a senior, I do feel like the role has reversed from student to teacher. Since I have been given the task of tutoring someone in math, I can see firsthand how difficult it can be to understand the many different ways that a problem can be solved. Some students are naturally gifted in math, while some are not. I see their struggles and frustrations, and I sympathize with them because I have been sitting in their shoes at one point also. I feel like I also now know what it must feel like as a teacher in the classroom. Sometimes no matter how many times you explain something or how many times you show them a new way to do the problem they never understand. Some get it, and some don't. What's a teacher to do? There's no magic wand that can be waved over the students to magically fix their problems. It takes a teacher that wants to see their student succeed, and one that can come up with more than one-way to reach out to that struggling student because we all learn differently. I have had those teachers that go above and beyond to make sure I get it. These teachers’ miss planning periods and stay after school to help make sure their students get it. Why? It's not just a job. It's a passion. It's a calling.

Teachers are the salt of the earth. There would be no doctors, lawyers, or businessmen without a teacher. Teachers have a fire in them to spread knowledge. It's the student's job to take that fire and do something with it. I would not be where I am today without my teachers and for that, I am grateful. I hope I can make a difference in someone just like my teachers have made a difference in me in my future. The roles would definitely be reversed, and that would truly be an honor.