Lauren Walch

Math Scholarship Essay

My aspirations of becoming a high school math teacher led to my decision to major in mathematics. Many experiences have contributed to my desire to be a teacher. I have been surrounded by good teachers, love math, and enjoy helping other students understand difficult concepts.

Mr. McCloskey, my Algebra II teacher, stands out as a truly great educator. He challenged the bright students while never leaving the slower ones behind. Not only did he encourage his students to strive for academic excellence, he also built our confidence, inquiring about and supporting us in our extracurricular activities. He would often stop class to teach a life lesson; he tried to shape good people as well as develop bright math students. His sense of humor made class fun. He made each student feel he/she had something to be proud of. Mr. McCloskey’s class inspired me to be a math teacher. Math has always come easily for me, and I am eager to help other students understand it. Additionally, I know students need inspirational teachers to be successful in life as well as in school.

Math is my favorite subject. Trying to see connections between equations that seem so dissimilar is enticing. I love the logic in math. I enjoy the more challenging, longer math problems because of the great satisfaction I feel when I get the right answer after 3 pages of work. I’m looking forward to expanding my knowledge of mathematics here at A&M.

Perhaps the biggest influence on my decision is having parents who are educators. Education has shaped my life. My parents have high academic standards for my sisters and me. My father has been a school superintendent for most of the schools I’ve attended, and my mother is an English teacher. I’ve seen both ends of the spectrum, from administrative issues to one-on-one interaction with the students. We discussed daily events each night at the dinner table. I’ve seen the satisfaction when my mom has drawn her lowest students into the lesson, and have stayed up until after midnight to finish decorating her classroom. I’ve shared my father’s joy of energizing 1,000 school employees on the first day of school. My parents’ jobs aren’t eight to five jobs. They work long hours but are rewarded with knowing they’re made a difference.

I also enjoy teaching others. I’ve often had six or seven peers at my house for study sessions in Algebra II, Pre-Cal, or Calculus. I love helping people understand math concepts. It’s a terrific feeling to see a problem finally ®click” for a friend after I’ve explained it.

All of these experiences have led to my decision to be a high school math teacher, and thus a math major. I’ve had great examples, I love mathematics, and education has always been a part of my life. I know what it means to be a good teacher, and I know I can be one. Teachers shape the future. They inspire students to become good lawyers, doctors, scientists, writers, and teachers. I want to do something with my life that makes a difference and that I will enjoy. Math education isn’t just in my mind, it’s in my heart.