"From Struggle to Success: Overcoming the Challenge of Statistics" by adazae

"From Struggle to Success: Overcoming the Challenge of Statistics" by adazae - December 2024 Scholarship Essay

I pride myself on being a quick learner. Most subjects come naturally to me, and I usually excel without much difficulty. But then came statistics. During my sophomore year of college, I could not tell you one thing about statistics. I could barely use a graphing calculator, and in high school, we simply used our iPads to create graphs. Statistics was completely foreign to me, and it felt as though my brain just shut off when I encountered it.

Throughout my educational career, I had always been the student who raised their hand to answer questions and helped peers with study sessions or test corrections. But this was different. For the first time, I was struggling with something, and it was a real challenge for me. For most of the semester, I fought to understand the concepts but made little progress.

As the semester went on, I realized I would not pass the class with a grade I felt acceptable. This was when my professor told me about the learning center and the tutoring hours offered at no cost. I immediately decided to take advantage of this resource. I spent hours at the tutoring center, working with tutors who patiently explained the concepts to me. I practiced calculations, corrected tests, and slowly began to build my understanding.

Some days, I stayed at the center until it closed at 6 PM, determined to improve. It wasn’t easy, and it didn’t come quickly, but I kept pushing myself. The more I practiced, the more confident I became. By the end of the semester, I was able to pass the class. The grade was not perfect, but I was proud of my efforts and the progress I made.

This experience taught me that perseverance and asking for help are essential, even for someone who is used to figuring things out on their own. I learned that no one is above tutoring, and there’s no shame in admitting you need assistance. Sometimes, the key to overcoming challenges is simply recognizing when to seek support and staying committed to the process, no matter how difficult it may seem at first.

In the end, I learned far more than just statistical calculations; I learned the value of persistence, humility, and determination. It was an experience that has shaped how I approach challenges, both academic and personal, and has taught me that growth often comes from stepping outside of my comfort zone.I pride myself on being a quick learner. Most subjects come naturally to me, and I usually excel without much difficulty. But then came statistics. During my sophomore year of college, I could not tell you one thing about statistics. I could barely use a graphing calculator, and in high school, we simply used our iPads to create graphs. Statistics was completely foreign to me, and it felt as though my brain just shut off when I encountered it.

Throughout my educational career, I had always been the student who raised their hand to answer questions and helped peers with study sessions or test corrections. But this was different. For the first time, I was struggling with something, and it was a real challenge for me. For most of the semester, I fought to understand the concepts but made little progress.

As the semester went on, I realized I would not pass the class with a grade I felt acceptable. This was when my professor told me about the learning center and the tutoring hours offered at no cost. I immediately decided to take advantage of this resource. I spent hours at the tutoring center, working with tutors who patiently explained the concepts to me. I practiced calculations, corrected tests, and slowly began to build my understanding.

Some days, I stayed at the center until it closed at 6 PM, determined to improve. It wasn’t easy, and it didn’t come quickly, but I kept pushing myself. The more I practiced, the more confident I became. By the end of the semester, I was able to pass the class. The grade was not perfect, but I was proud of my efforts and the progress I made.

This experience taught me that perseverance and asking for help are essential, even for someone who is used to figuring things out on their own. I learned that no one is above tutoring, and there’s no shame in admitting you need assistance. Sometimes, the key to overcoming challenges is simply recognizing when to seek support and staying committed to the process, no matter how difficult it may seem at first.

In the end, I learned far more than just statistical calculations; I learned the value of persistence, humility, and determination. It was an experience that has shaped how I approach challenges, both academic and personal, and has taught me that growth often comes from stepping outside of my comfort zone.