My Teacher, My Mentor by Makayla

My Teacher, My Mentor by Makayla - July 2014 Scholarship Essay

In my endeavors to be a good student, I have continuously failed at applying myself in math classes. In the popular myth of “left brain versus right brain” I am what many would deem right brain dominant. Numbers do not come easily to me. Instead I excel at other topics such as history and literature. So when it came time to sign up for classes for my twelfth grade year in high school it came to many as a shock when I obstinately insisted on taking AP Calculus, a class most of my teachers insisted I would not be able to succeed in. That is most of my teachers agreed upon this except for one, Mr. Kantaris.

Mr. Kantaris had only been teaching at my school for one year when I signed up for his AP Calculus class but he had already gained quite the reputation. Fondly nicknamed “Mr. K”, he was stubborn, opinionated, a marine, and the best math teacher our school had ever had. I remember when signing up for classes I had the privilege to ask his opinion about whether to take his class or not, and I remember him firmly assuring me that if I took his class and tried my best, he would not let me fail. I showed up that first day of class in the fall of 2013 more nervous for a class than I had ever been and it turned out my worries were right. I was undoubtedly the worst in the class, and Mr. K knew it too. However when most teachers would have probably insisted that I take an easier course, Mr. K did the exact opposite. He checked on me every day and asked whether I understood what he was teaching. He encouraged me to do better, and praised me when I did. For the first time in my life, math made sense, and I was getting pretty good at it too, all because of my teacher.

Not only is Mr. K a brilliant teacher but he is also an amazing man. Every class was not only a math lesson but a lesson in respect and hard-work and dedication. Mr. K promised me that as long as I worked hard to pass my AP Calculus exam at the end of the school year, he would work just as hard to give me all the materials and knowledge I would need. He never let me down. No other teacher that I have ever had has been more invested, more interested in the success of his or her students than Mr. K. He supplied us with endless study guides, and practice exams. He was always willing to stay after school for private study sessions to further explain things I needed help with.

One of the best moments of my life was when I passed the AP mock exam for Calculus and Mr. K told me he was proud of me. I felt like I finally succeeded at something. It was more than just a test for me. It was proof that I had what it takes to be successful in something I am not naturally good at, and it is all because of Mr. K. Admittedly Mr. K became a father figure to me over the past year, and you could not believe how good it felt to hear him say he was proud of me.

Towards the end of the year when the stress was high Mr. K offered up even more opportunities to study and get help before the last exam, and when I walked into the test building for the exam I knew I had a good chance of passing the test. I attribute my success in AP Calculus completely to Mr. K. He motivate me in a way no teacher ever has before, and isn’t it the mark of a good teacher to be able to teach a student a subject the student has never been successful in before? Mr. K taught me not only Calculus but also how important it was to be dedicated to my own education. Mr. K taught me how to persevere in my studies. He taught me that no matter the subject or material I need to learn, I can learn it. Mr. K is undoubtedly the best teacher I have ever had, and one I will never forget.

So thank you, Mr. K, for what you have given me. You have been an amazing teacher and a brilliant mentor. I can never thank you enough for helping me so much. I know I have now what it takes to go to college and be successful because you have given it to me. You have given me courage and faith and a commitment to my education plus so much more. Thank you, for everything.