Freshman Math Journey by Gabriella

Freshman Math Journey by Gabriella - December 2024 Scholarship Essay

During my freshman year, I faced a lot of challenges in math. I often felt frustrated and overwhelmed by difficult concepts. But I knew that if I wanted to succeed, I couldn’t just wait for things to get easier. I had to step up, seek help, and put in more time and effort to understand the material. This mindset pushed me to take action and look for new strategies to improve my skills.
One of the first steps I took was asking for help whenever I needed it. I realized that staying quiet wouldn’t get me anywhere, so I started meeting with my math teacher almost every weekend. We went through different problems together to help me grasp the material more clearly. I also began working with classmates on assignments, which gave me new perspectives and different ways to approach problems. Putting in these extra hours made a huge difference in building my confidence.
Another way I improved was by trying out different ways to understand math. I would stay after school to get help from my teacher and go over my assignments with him to see how I could fix my mistakes. I also talked to him more about what I was struggling with so I could figure out how to get better. After school, I’d meet with a tutor to go through my homework, which helped me better understand the problems I was working on.
I made an effort to reach out for help from others. I took advice from my classmates, tutors, and my teacher. Receiving advice helped me see where I needed to improve and gave me clearer steps on how to get better. Getting extra support from teachers and tutors helped me work through math more effectively. As a result, I gradually built up my skills and confidence. This support system was a big part of my progress.
Looking back, all the effort I put into improving in math was worth it. By being proactive and reaching out for help, I gained more confidence and developed stronger problem-solving skills. Most importantly, I realized that asking for help wasn’t a sign of weakness, but it was an opportunity to grow and get better at something challenging. This experience showed me that real progress happens when I step out of my comfort zone and take charge of my learning. Through this experience, I learned that real progress happens when I push myself to try new things and actively work to improve. Now, when I face challenges, I remind myself of what I learned in math and know that with commitment and the right support, I can overcome any difficulties.