From a Stone to a Shiny Diamond by Militzia

From a Stone to a Shiny Diamond by Militzia - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

It is 7:45 a.m. and I am terrified to enter my first and most laborious class of the semester, or so I thought. Math, ever since I was little, has never been my strongest subject. I struggled every year to get at least a passing score. I know that I was trying, but perhaps trying was not enough. High school came along and every math course that I took which included pre-algebra, algebra I, geometry and algebra II felt like a lightning bolt striking my body, and I did not seem to be reaching my full capacity. I enrolled for my first college classes July of 2013, and I was petrified because my advisor enrolled me for a college algebra course, and my goal in mind that semester was to get good grades, but something inside me knew that this would be my most challenging class. I was preparing for the worst.

I walked into Mrs. Lilly Rai’s classroom that morning scared to not understand the material, to fail every exam given, and ultimately fail the course. As I walked in, I was also telling myself these words, “Milli, as long as you pass you will be okay, try you best to get that C.” Little did I know that morning that my life would change completely. Mrs. Lilly Rai introduced herself to the classroom with the sweetest voice and a kind soul. Her passion for what she does was far noticeable, in the way she expressed her love for teaching, and her endeavor to help students reach their academic goals. For the first time, I felt that I could do more than just pass a math course, I started to believe in myself, and I began to think that anyone is capable of reaching a goal if they set it in their mind. Mrs. Lilly Rai explained the material so easy for me to understand and she would encourage every student to ask questions if we felt that we were not understanding something. The fact that she cared about us meant a lot to me, and that inspired me to continue learning and complete every assignment. I will not lie, it was challenging at first, but every week that passed by I saw myself eager to learn, and interested in the subject. The grades for the first test were handed out one morning by Mrs. Lilly Rai. She gave me the exam, and said to me, “good job” I had gotten an 84 in my first exam. The thrill of joy surrounding my body was unimaginable because I had done for the first time what I believed was impossible. The weeks passed, and the satisfaction felt after every exam was delightful. All the long hours of studying seemed to be paying off. Ultimately, in one of my exams my grade was a perfect score and this is when I realized that when you set goals in your mind and you work hard enough to achieve them they would become a reality. I got an A in my overall semester grade! Surprisingly as it may sound, but I did it. I cannot thank God enough for overcoming my deepest fear since I was a little girl, and letting me see beyond a superficial wall that was not letting me advance in life. Of course I cannot find words to express my deepest appreciation for the work that Mrs. Lilly Rai did with me. She converted a stone to a shiny diamond with her encouragement, dedication and passion towards her career. She was able to give shape to my behavior and helped me out to find my best skills and qualities. I will forever be grateful to Mrs. Lilly Ray.

Today, three years from the day I enrolled in Mrs. Lilly Rai’s class, I can proudly say that I am employed by the institution that saw me grow as an individual from the first day that I decided to start my journey in college. I am currently a Student Learning Assistant which is most commonly known as a tutor. I have been working for a year already at the Center for Learning Excellence, and my specialty is college algebra, Healthcare statistics, and developmental math courses. I decided to do what I do because Mrs. Lilly Rai, like a light in a dark pathway enlightened me and inspired me to become a tutor. I decided to become a tutor to be able to help others discover that with effort and perseverance they can be able to learn and pass their classes to achieve their dreams as we are all together facing obstacles in the making of my college’s community. When tutoring someone, I am not just showing up and letting a series of tasks be done, I am making a difference in a student’s academic life just as Mrs. Lilly Ray did for me. I have had students show up on finals week to thank me for helping them get through the semester. I still remember the day when I walked into my college algebra class terrified, unknown of what was awaiting me, but even more mindful is the different perspective Mrs. Lilly Rai instigated in me.