A Teacher's Enthusiasm by Marisa

A Teacher's Enthusiasm by Marisa - October 2016 Scholarship Essay

At some point in life, the question, “if you were a teacher, what would you teach?” comes up. Of course the obvious answers are art, English, and social studies. I’m not saying that these subjects can be easy but I’ve come to realized that almost no one ever picks math. Yes, it is statistically proven to be the least liked subject in schools, yet not everyone absolutely hates. So why doesn’t anyone want to teach it? Well, because math is a hard subject to explain and for a lot of people, the concepts in math are very hard to understand. Though math is my favorite subject, even I still struggle from time to time, but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying the challenges of learning. If the roles were reversed I would most definitely teach mathematics to show students that just because a certain subject is hard, they don’t have to completely dislike it.
In the beginning of my senior year, I asked my calculus teacher how she was able to teach a subject that not many students enjoyed. She said that it wasn’t about if the students like the class or not, it was about if the teacher liked teaching it. She told me that she had read an article about how math was the favorite subject of students in middle school but when they got to high school it became their least favorite. Teachers couldn’t find ways to involve the students in the lesson as they became more difficult.
To me, making sure students understand a lesson is more important than if they enjoy it. Everyone learns at a different pace and in different ways. Some students are hands-on learners while others do better by looking at steps or instructions.Being able to understand and do simple algebra can help students become versatile and functional in the future. I believe that before graduating all students must be fluent in algebraic formulas or advanced mathematical skills. Not everyone will need math for their future careers but it is still a very important skill to have.
In my past middle school and high school years I have had many math teachers, one even a math professor, who have taught me many valuable lessons. Some lessons were not as proper as others, but said with good intent nonetheless. One thing I’ve learned from all of them though, is to accept challenges and keep working to strive towards a better future. Though I may be struggling with a math concept at the moment, once I overcome the obstacle I’m filled with great satisfaction and the urge to learn even more. This feeling of accomplishment if something that I want all students to feel. Being able to conquer difficult problems has boosted my self esteem over the years and had made me proud to be who I am.
If I was ever to be a teacher, I would teach math to show students that they can accomplish even the hardest of challenges. Learning mathematics can open students eyes to new experience and show them a path they might never have thought to take. Though the subject is hard, with the right amount of enthusiasm, any teacher can make learning math gratifying.