Academic Role Model of the Year by Marissa

Academic Role Model of the Year by Marissa - March 2021 Scholarship Essay

Looking back from the past five years of my high school career, there has been a lot of teachers that have supported me along the way. There is only one teacher who has pushed me academically and mentally in life and that is my former math teacher, Mrs. Beierschmitt.

I have had the pleasure in becoming close with Mrs. Beierschmitt for three out of five years in high school. I first had her for Geometry when I was a freshman. She actually did not start teaching at my school until two months after school started because she was still transitioning from her other school and it took forever to find another teacher to take her spot. Once she came to my school, I knew that she was going to become one of my favorite teachers because she was always so nice to me and I love coming to my math classes! From my freshman year in school, I knew that was just the beginning of the bond that we would create.

The second time I had her was last school year for Pre-calculus as a junior. I was definitely challenged in her class because I realized that math was becoming more of a challenge for me. It definitely gave me a challenge to battle through, but she would always help me when I needed help and she helped me whenever I would need help. She knew that I loved math ever since she met me and would always tell me to preserve with what I enjoy the most. Sometimes I thought I would never be able to pass her class, but I always found a solution around the corner whenever I would get stuck on a problem.

As I only have less than two more months of high school, I have been enjoying another year with Beierschmitt. This year is a little different because I have independent study with her. Independent study is when a student can be with a teacher once a day to experience more about the occupation they would want to do after graduating high school. Ever since middle school, I knew that I wanted to be a math teacher because I love math and I enjoy helping others in this subject. Beierschmitt has given me more information and work to do that teachers normally do besides teaching in their classroom. Last week, she has given me the first experience on student teaching her class. Even though I will learn about teaching in college, I am so thrilled that she has given me this opportunity to do and to learn by for later. She has become one of those teachers that I know that I will truly miss after high school and maybe there will be a day when we can teach together!

Mrs. Beierschmitt is one of the few teachers that has helped me grow into the person I have become today! I am so glad that I have spent most of my high school with her or else math would have become really boring if I would have never had her. She knows that I will be an awesome math teacher someday from the knowledge that she has shown me and the kindness that spread to my fellow students. I know that she is so happy that I am going to Messiah University for Secondary Mathematics Education and I cannot wait for the next adventure to begin!