Overcoming Algebra 1 by Makaila

Overcoming Algebra 1 by Makaila - December 2024 Scholarship Essay

During the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the most challenging academic experiences I faced was learning Algebra 1 in a completely virtual format. The transition to online learning was difficult for many students, and for me, math became especially challenging. I had always been an average student in math, but the shift to remote learning made it harder to grasp concepts and stay engaged. Without the face-to-face interaction with my teacher and classmates, I struggled to understand the material and keep up with assignments. The lack of immediate feedback and support left me feeling disconnected and frustrated.

At the start of the year, I quickly realized that I wasn’t doing as well as I had hoped. I found myself confused during lessons, unable to ask quick questions or clarify concepts in real-time, which led to me falling behind on assignments and losing confidence in my abilities. My grades began to slip, and I felt overwhelmed by the thought of not being able to catch up.

To overcome this challenge, I knew I needed to take proactive steps to regain control of my learning. First, I reached out to my teacher for additional help. Thankfully, he was incredibly supportive and offered to meet with me during office hours. These one-on-one sessions became essential for me to catch up. I would prepare a list of questions and topics I was struggling with, and we would work through them together. This helped me understand the material more clearly and gave me the opportunity to ask questions that I couldn’t get answered in the large virtual classroom.