Personal Narrative: Why I Decided To Skip Calculus

Who in their right mind chooses to skip Calculus? I did. The process began when my divorced parents showed up to practice together. They told me there were seats open in the AP AB Calculus class and my school was offering spots to sophomores who had scored above average in their Honors Pre-Calculus class. I would have to skip Calculus. My dad told me this decision would define my high school career in addition to myself as a person. He was correct. Sitting down in the AP AB Calculus room, I knew starting with only a background in Honors Pre-Calculus would put at a disadvantage to the other students who had previously learned Calculus. However I had an advantage over them I would not realize until later; I had the opportunity to learn about myself as a person. During this course, and AP BC Calculus as a Junior, who earned a 5 on the exam, I learned what it truly means to be a student. Worded bluntly, AB Calculus knocked me backwards, egotistically but work wise too. Never before had I felt so insignificant in comparison to my peers. I had always been the student others came to when they needed help so when I found out that pupils topping the graduating class before me were now my classmates, my ego was knocked down to size. I learned that in order to truly gain knowledge

This class was my first encounter with material that caused me to struggle. From this I learned to ask for help and work in groups. Through working in groups where someone else took charge I learned that in order to become a more successful leader, I had to follow. Observing others helped me better my leadership which I use daily as Student Government President and Captain. Asking for help taught me that needing more time does not signify defeat, it conveys an attempt to better myself. Turns out I wanted more than to merely pass my classes; I wanted to master