Pythagorean Theorm by Tania

Pythagorean Theorm by Tania - June 2016 Scholarship Essay

Math is and has always been a struggle for me. It has become increasingly difficult as I have progressed through high school. Math is hard because it is so abstract and because I cannot "see" it, it is difficult for me to understand. I have always had a math tutor, visited with my math teacher before or after school, and attended the weekly "Math Lab" tutorial offered at my school. Many of my tutors have made the same comment, "Tania, it's like putting together a puzzle. Each piece is independent and you have to figure out how they all fit. Do you see it?" My response has always been the same, "No." To make connections between abstract variables and then determine their value is quite a challenge - especially when I deem myself literal and logical.
Because Math is such a challenge, there are coping mechanisms that are a part of my academic world. First, I always have a math tutor on standby. However, before contacting my tutor, I allow myself to attempt to figure out the process myself. It is important for me to remain calm and patient so that I am not so easily frustrated in feeling that "I can't." If my efforts are not successful, then I work with my math tutor to better understanding. Once I understand the concept, I then work diligently on different variations of the concept to ensure that I have truly mastered it. Needless to say, I spend a great deal of time working on a subject and trying to master concepts that I unequivocally do not enjoy because I can't allow my fear and disdain of math to hold me back.
More so than conceptually, I have experienced the greatest improvement in allowing myself room and figure it out. I can recall a time when if I couldn't do the problem, I would not even try. I would simply wait for my math tutor's support. Now, I am a bit more confident in the subject matter than I was three years ago, and so I am patient enough with myself to attempt to figure it out before pushing it aside for the tutor session. I still have a problem with the abstract, but it's a process that I have been diligently been working through. I am proud of each and every Math grade that is reflected on my report card because it was a grade well earned. If I received a "B" in a Math class, it was a "B" that I fought for - every assignment, every test.