Think Outside The Box by Teeria

Think Outside The Box by Teeria - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

It’s Friday, again and as I’m sitting in my middle school Algebra I gifted class, I’m perplexed to think that our principal is sane. At first, I thought he was so nice and that he understood our concerns but, I’m not so sure now. A group of us as well as parents have gone to him on several occasions to address our math dilemma. But to no avail, the situation remains the same. For the past few weeks, he has subjected us to a foreign teacher with minimal English speaking competency. Don’t get me wrong, she has a wonderful personality and I like her but, I can’t understand anything she says and I’m not the only one. My grade is presently a 65. I’m horrified because unlike others who may not fear taking those type grades home, I still have a reverential fear of my parents. What has made matters worse is that students have declared mutiny. Books are closed, airplanes are flying and the teacher has no control. For a brief moment, I zone out. I’m startled out of my daze as the classroom door swings open and the teacher, with bags and books in hand, walks out. I look around and no one is moving. A few minutes later, which seems like hours, the principal returns. He informs us that for the 3rd time this quarter, we have no certified teacher and he would be sending letters home to our parents to explain this matter. Not only that, he also goes on about the inappropriate behaviors that have yet attributed to another teacher’s slow but, purposeful exit from our class.

Upon entering school on Monday, there’s a buzz in the air. We have another Algebra teacher. As we slowly enter the classroom, I’m thinking, "Here we go again". But to my amazement, a smiling, familiar face is present. We all take our seats and wait expectantly. Our teacher smiles but, never speaks. The entire period, she watches us and we watch her back. We try to engage in conversation but, she only smiles. I leave the classroom baffled. We return to school on Tuesday to the same routine. Our teacher smiles as we enter the classroom. She doesn’t speak. Again, she sits and watches us. We sit and we watch her back. We try to communicate again but she doesn’t respond. She only smiles. I leave the classroom baffled even more. On Wednesday, the class begins the same as it did Monday and Tuesday. As a class we look around and it’s as though something connects in us. We begin to take action. We already have an established routine for getting our day started. Our books and notebooks came from under our desk. Our last teacher had lessons and activities already laid out for us for the week. We got together in groups and we began to get down to business. As we began to take action so, did our teacher. For the first time, she spoke to us. She called us each by name and she directed us to areas we needed to revisit. Throughout the weeks that followed, she pulled us aside one by one and she connected with us. Not only did she connect with us, she also gave us insight and direction into why she took the approach she did that first Monday she arrived. She explained that even when we don’t understand situations and they appear to be difficult, we have to allow ourselves to be open to that which is different. We have to work together with others in order to find a more workable solution to a problem and realize that the solution we come up with could possibility benefit everyone rather than exclude anyone. Her insight showed me that though we can’t learn what we don’t understand and we can’t learn what we’re not exposed to, we have to learn to think outside of the box in order to make a difference. She had us to reflect back our experiences with our three teachers before she arrived to see that none of those teachers were at fault. They each brought to the table differences that were beyond their control. The difference with their final outcomes and hers was the approach that was used and the expectation of the desired outcome. That teacher brought balance and calm into a potentially chaotic situation. She was truly amazing and she touched my life deeply.