Personal Narrative My Education Essay

Math has always been a challenge for me because I find algebra to often be confusing, but I have learned through my involvement with advanced competitive dance that quitting never feels as good as conquering your own fears. This contributes to why I have sought not only advanced placement history classes to really help me focus on mastering complex topics, but I have also challenged myself to take many honors and elective courses while very difficult, have helped me immensely with maintaining an expanding mind and giving me the foundations on how to live life with a

When I was little, I was always good at math, before 8th grade, when I was in Germany and I came to America. But that changed when I faced the most difficult challenge yet Honors Geometry. Shy 8th grade me was too embarrassed and reluctant to ask my teacher for their help in math and it led to some very big consequences. Because I didn’t try to ask for help, I didn’t do as good as I could’ve and I didn’t reach my academic goal of getting the Golden Tassel.

Jason Gibson’s article “Why Learn Algebra?” is detailed and persuasive. Not many people think or believe that math is important. Many of us don’t realize how much we use math in our everyday lives. Math or algebra, which ever one you prefer to call it, is all around us. Gibson gives good reasons as to why math is important and how we use it in our everyday lives, “We can all imagine situations where basic math serves us well - calculating your change in the grocery store for instance.”

I have always considered myself a mathematician; however, that did not keep this subject from being difficult. Math has a glorious way of growing you up. For me, it began in the first grade where I was introduced to the multiplication table; my instructor used to test us with mental exams and I remember enjoying it like I was playing a game and winning.

In my eighth grade Algebra I class, I finished with an 89%, the first "B" I had ever earned in middle school. While a relatively decent mark, I knew I could do better. In the class, I had solved problems simply by memorizing the processes and regurgitating them to the best of my ability. Tired of not understanding, I decided to change this rigid mindset of memorizing to a mentality

Being the oldest of four children, it was always hard me to learn things fast. My parents weren’t able to help me with schoolwork because they both dropped out of school at a very young age. As I entered high school, I was terrified of all the hard classes I would be taking. Although I am not the best in every subject, a topic in which I have excelled in is Mathematics.

Mathematics is a subject that I grew up despising. However, since the eighth grade mathematics and I have been building a bond. Summer of eighth grade year, I took an advanced Pre-Algebra class that would create a path to AP Calculus. My goal for entering that program was all about entering high school with 10 credits and a decent GPA. As the years went by I became proud of what I had accomplished. Ninth grade year, I took Algebra II, a course that is offered to sophomores. The following year, I took a break from Algebra and learned geometry. Summer of sophomore year is when I started to comprehend the true benefits of Pre-Algebra. Again, I was offered the chance to take an advanced course of Pre-Calculus. Six weeks, five hours, five days of Pre-Calculus. I often had migraines from all the information that I had to process, but it was worth it. When the class ended and I learned that I would be entering AP Calculus, I was ecstatic! I had really done it. I had achieved my first high school goal. I was in an AP class and I did it all through hard work.

This Dalis Hernandez, I've done a couple of observation hours in your classroom these past two semesters. For my education class we need to interview a educator that works with students with disabilities and it's only fourteen simple questions. I was wondering if you would be interested?

Many people are just born to be athletes and charismatic speakers. Genetic predispositions, charming personalities, and the ability to speak without stuttering are all examples of how many humans can easily progress through the world. However, mathematics has always been a strong suit of mine. Up until about the seventh grade, school - math in particular - was very difficult. Learning how to balance all of the different subjects and topics was a hassle, but during eighth grade, I was introduced to Algebra.

Until third grade, I was homeschooled. Kindergarten through second grade, I worked in workbooks at my own pace. From third grade to sixth grade, I didn’t hate math, but I wasn’t a fan of it either. I had the same teacher for both 7th and 8th grade math, and that is when I started disliking it. I have always been good at math once I figure it out, but I don’t overly enjoy doing it. Ninth through eleventh grade I had a one hundred or higher (extra credit) in math because I was in regular on-level classes. Tenth grade year was my favorite though. The teacher was really kind and would take the time to explain if I didn’t understand. Twelfth grade, though, made me hate math. The teacher did not like me and told me I needed tutoring because I “obviously”

There are many subjects that I enjoy in school, but the one topic that stands out to me remarkably is mathematics. There are numerous measures in which analytical skills have helped and influenced me in life. One of the many ways math changed me was when I started community service. Another way it helped me is the way I look at other courses I currently partake. Lastly, math influenced me to study the analytic ways of it further in college.

For the past three years of my high school career, and now my fourth, I have made it an obligation to continually expand my horizons in regards to math; when I cannot fully grasp an idea or concept, rather than giving up, I relentlessly pursue the idea until it is understood. During freshman year, math did not come easily to me. I was forced to go in early some days because, simply, I did not comprehend the concepts. However, taking initiative with my school work, and constantly working through problems that were difficult can be deemed one of the best decisions I have made. Although my final grade may not have been an

In junior High School, things started to turn around for me. Although I was still placed in lower level classes, I developed a love for learning. In the years to come from Junior High to High School, I had a strong urge to make up for lost time. One class I started to excel in was the one I used to have the most trouble with, Mathematics. It seemed as though the once boring and complex equations now seemed meaningful and simple. As I progressed into 8th grade, I was able to advance to normal classes. I felt that the hard work I put in was finally paying of. At this point, I felt that I could handle a higher level. At the end of 8th grade, I took the necessary procedures and tests to try and get into honor - level courses in 9th grade. After taking a summer course of Algebra 1 and several tests I was able to succeed and take the classes. The experience was great. I felt that I was finally going the right direction

I remember being asked several times during grade school what my favorite subject was. I did not know for a while until third grade. I was outside at the school playground and one of my friend’s mom had asked me. My answer was uncertain at first, so she asked me if I was sure. I then thought about how I enjoyed learning math and practicing it. I smiled and confirmed that math was my favorite subject. After giving this answer several more times adults asked why or would say that it is possible my answer will change over time, and peers would say they hate math or do not understand. This moment was important because I began to take note why I like math, what aspects appealed to me. I questioned if I enjoyed just because it came easy to me.

As a mathematics major, the concept that most people overlook is that I did not choose to study mathematics because I do well at it; I chose to study mathematics because it makes me smarter. In fact, all throughout junior high and high school I was in remedial mathematics classes and worse, I did not even place into a freshman year mathematics class in high school. I had to re-take 8th grade mathematics. However, something about mathematics excited me. Maybe it was the fact that mathematics never came easy to me and I wanted to prove to myself that not only could I pass mathematics classes, I could actually understand and excel at them. For me, mathematics is not about the arbitrary numbers, trivial solutions, meaningless formulas, or repetitive computation: it is about the progress of knowledge and human understanding.