Failing Algebra by Sarah

Failing Algebra by Sarah - August 2014 Scholarship Essay

Math has never come easy to me. For as long as I can remember, it has been difficult to understand the numbers, symbols, and letters. It took a lot of work for me to comprehend the problems and get good grades.

Junior year was the hardest of all four years of high school. There were honors classes, there were the first A.P classes, there was the ACT, there was concert band, and there was marching band. The first semester of each year is always most difficult. Marching band took up three nights a week and once each weekend. I found it difficult figuring out new teachers and A.P classes. I struggle to keep up with schoolwork, marching band, and sleep. I took honors college algebra for my math credit. I learned very quickly that the teaching style was definitely not my favorite. The teacher usually didn’t give notes. He would put problems on the board and have us complete them. Given that his style was different, I struggled a bit at the beginning, receiving B’s and C’s. As the semester got going, the class was getting harder. My grades dropped even more. I was getting D’s and F’s on my quizzes and tests. When I saw a C on my paper I would get excited. I tend to get upset with any grade below a B, so needless to say, I was devastated.

Failing as many quizzes and tests as I did that first semester really woke me up. I knew that even though I was not slacking on the work I put into the class, I needed to truly give it my all. This meant asking more questions during class and going in early to get extra help if needed. When I began doing this, my grades slowly rose. I was not failing as many tests and quizzes. This is a lesson I took with me to the next semester and that give me a huge advantage my senior year.

The low grades taught me to not only give each and every class my all, but that the world will not end if I fail a test or two. The failing grade may be devastating when it is first received, however my grade can get better if I put in the effort. The easy things will have a more lasting impact on me and my grade rather than a few tests.