Math and I by Toyosi

Math and I by Toyosi - July 2026 Scholarship Essay

Growing up, I never considered math one of my strong subjects. My math classes always felt like an obstacle I had to overcome just to get to the next level.During the pandemic, I took geometry and Algebra I and II. It was a confusing and difficult time for everyone as we tried to adjust to virtual learning while dealing with so much uncertainty about the future. We spent about a year and a half learning online, and it negatively impacted my ability to improve in subjects I already struggled with, especially math.When I got to college, I had to take my first math class, and I was nervous because I had never been confident in my math skills. Once the semester started, I kept falling behind. I failed most of my quizzes, and I started to worry that I was going to fail the class. I realized that no one could do the work for me. I had to fully commit to improving.I started going to office hours, attending tutoring sessions, and completing practice problems every day. I had to work much harder than I expected just to understand the concepts, but little by little they began to make sense. By the end of the semester, I earned a B in the class. I was proud because I knew that grade reflected the effort I had put in.That experience strengthened my critical thinking skills because I learned how to break down difficult problems instead of giving up. Instead of assuming I wasn't good at math, I learned to analyze where I was struggling, ask questions, and adjust my study habits until I improved.