Sweet Memory by Angelina

Sweet Memory by Angelina - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

Thank you for making me proud. It hasn’t been easy for sure. I remember hearing your pencil rapping against the table, the sound lingering and penetrating the silence at Mathnasium. You always wore your large, blue Disney hoodie with Mickey Mouse on the front. The desk with all those eraser shavings became our favorite spot. Other instructors asked to work with you, but you always chose me. Watching you with concern, your parents mentioned ADHD made life hard for you while they stood in the lobby waiting room. Though you often stared at the wall, seemingly lost in a daydream, I believed in you. I didn’t just see a distracted kid. I saw someone who could succeed.

We struggled at first. The more I encouraged you to pay attention, the more you’d resist and leave the table to sharpen your pencil. I needed to change, not you. So I tried making math into a game. I presented you with blue raspberry Jolly Ranchers, your favorite, each time you mastered a concept. Long division became our “final challenge,” and fractions became puzzles on a mini whiteboard drawn in bright Expo colors. Gradually, you started leaning in instead of drifting away.

Weeks turned into months. Even after your long swim lessons, you ran eagerly into the center asking if we could do the “hard” questions today. By this time, you were a grade ahead and able to solve problems without any of my help.

You reshaped my idea of leadership. I didn’t have the most experience or titles. What I did have was empathy, persistence, and belief in myself. I shared our strategies with my coworkers. I showed them how patience could transform frustration into confidence. My input gave our math center more color, laughter, and yes, a few secret stashes of Jolly Ranchers.

I now see potential in students where others may see difficulty. Whenever I help a student now, I think of you and how a little belief and a few blue candies turned math into joy. Thank you, Kirin.