Math class is a place to bond with fellow peers, get to know the elusive math teacher and an opportunity for me to antagonize my mother. OK, antagonize isn’t the right word, but having the teacher live at home with me is kind of weird. The downer is, I can never lie about when I have homework- she always knows!
I’m taking Calculus, the hardest math our school offers, and believe me it is hard. We are currently learning about second derivatives and Role’s Theorem. Fun Stuff. The nice thing about our class is the fact that everyone wants to be there. Math isn’t required for seniors so the students enrolled in this AP course have a passion for learning. There aren’t discipline issues because everyone has basically the same goals- graduate with as many college credits as possible. It’s probably one of the coolest learning environments I’ve been in because we don’t have the assignments every day and due the next. Our teacher assigns us all the homework for the chapter and we work through the various sections as a class. We are expected to think for ourselves and figure out our own answers. It’s hard, but it’s the best feeling to know I conquered the math book.
Do I look down on other math classes? Not at all. I realize other students have different interests and abilities and the level of math a student takes doesn’t always reflect their ability to learn or their study habits. I can openly admit an art class would expose my lack of artistic abilities. Art isn’t my thing but I can recognize my strengths and abilities and harness them into constructive outlets. It takes a lot of skill to be “artsy” and I respect anyone who has the ability to be creative in that area.
My math class is hard, but I chose to take it because I’m able to keep up with the work. Our school has great opportunities because of our variety of classes from Shop to Phy Ed and Child Care to Anatomy and Physiology. Everyone has the opportunity to excel. I’m just glad to be a part of it.

Math has never been my forte. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t important for me to understand it and do well in my math classes. Unfortunately, the year before the class of 2010 took their MCA math tests, a state-wide legislation was passed stating a passing score on the test was required for graduation. I took the test, put as much effort into it as I possibly could, finished, and waited.
I received a letter stating I had failed the grad portion of the test, meaning I would have to take a remedial course and retake the exam. My pride had taken a hit, but I vowed to try my hardest to freshen up on my math skills and pass the test.
Being in Grad Math was a little embarrassing to begin with, but I soon realized we were mostly there for the same reason. Math didn’t exactly come easy to all of us. Sure, there were students in my class who obviously didn’t care about their score. I had some good times in the class with Mr. Gentz, he makes the learning environment an interesting place and tries hard to help everyone succeed.
As I stated earlier, math hasn’t really come easily to me in all my years of schooling, I am a much more visual and creative person. In school, I thrive on art classes and special creative projects. Never in my life have I ever come close to failing a test in any of those fields. I have always been creative. It is just part of who I am.
Needless to say, after retaking the grad portion of the test and feeling pretty confident about it, I was given the opportunity to relax in a glorious first-hour study hall. To anyone else, a first-hour study hall in a grueling day of learning is essentially a gift handed down from some sort of ethereal being. For me, it would turn out to be the second study hall of my day. Is that not nearly unheard of during ones senior year? It should be. I would much rather be learning something to further my intelligence.
After learning that I failed the test with the exact score I received the first time, I felt some animosity toward my lack of mathematical skill. Again, I vowed to try my hardest to not be defeated in my conquest of a passing score.
So here I sit, awaiting my final score. Failing has no substantial consequences, other than my own emotional pangs of failure. My college choices could seem to care less what score I receive. I merely have the urge to pass to prove to myself that 11 years of schooling in arithmetic weren’t simply a waste of time and state funding.
In conclusion, I am trying to prove not every Grad Math student is in the class because they have a lack of drive to succeed in school. Most are involved based on the fact that they have a deficiency in math skills.
I am no longer embarrassed of the fact that I was involved in the Grad Math class. It made me realize that people really do learn at different paces, and teachers didn’t just say that to make you feel better. It is nothing to be ashamed of if you don’t fully understand something right away, as long as you try your hardest in your attempts to learn.