Jump Into the Lake by Kevin

Jump Into the Lake by Kevin - January 2025 Scholarship Essay

Mr. John Barker is the best teacher at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, and I am sure he would be ranked in the top 10 for high school teachers for all of the country. He shows his intense passion for math and dedication to his students. As my AP Calculus BC teacher last year and my current Multivariable Calculus teacher, he is always showing his intense passion for math and he has a vested interest in all of his students truly understanding the material. He goes above and beyond to inspire and motivate all of us to exceed our own expectations during the class. His unique approach to teaching and his belief in our abilities has made a profound difference in our academic achievements.

During our junior year Calculus class, he spent our entire academic year making sure that all of us in the class understood the topics that were being covered. In fact, once a week, he would host a live Zoom event at night for us to ask him questions about our homework. It was nicknamed “Bedtime Calculus.” Mr. Barker motivated us to do our best on the AP exam by hosting a "5s Party," a cookout at a local beach in the summer after the class was over. Mr. Barker promised that anyone who didn’t score a 5 on the AP exam would have to jump into Lake Erie at this party. While this may have sounded scary at first, it became a driving force behind our commitment to score well. The challenge brought out the best in all of us. We ended up performing exceptionally on the test and many of us achieved scores that we never thought possible.

Mr. Barker is not only a fantastic teacher, but a wonderful human being as well. He is a great model who shows his students how to be “Men for Others.” He moderates the school’s Academic Challenge team and the Math Cats. He also actively participates in weight lifting and encourages us to stay healthy as well.

Currently, Mr. Barker is the teacher of my Multivariable Calculus in a dual enrollment class with St. Louis University. He encourages critical thinking and makes sure we have the resources to succeed. He wants to make sure that we truly understand the topics and not just that we score well on a test. Many of us plan to pursue advanced level math in college so he feels it is so important to instill a strong foundation of knowledge in each of us. Mr. Barker’s ability to challenge and support his students makes him an unforgettable teacher and a major reason for my love of and success in math. I am graduating in May and I plan to study for a bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering. I hope to design a safer, more efficient, environmentally friendly airplane in the future, and it'll be due to Mr. Barker and his dedication to his students. Perhaps I'll name the new plane design after him.