Growth and Development Reflection
This year I have learned so much from trigonometry to statistics. In the beginning of the year, my goals were to make sense of the problems and construct viable arguments. Making sense of the problem was always tough since I would always skim through it trying to finish as fast as possible but it’s not a race! Taking the time to learn and understand something is more valuable than getting it done with. It is especially valuable when it comes to teaching someone. You really need to get a deep understanding of the topic to be able to coherently explain it to someone in a simple manner. I was able to practice a lot as a TA since the main intention was to teach my fellow peers. I couldn’t just do the problem. I needed to understand how it worked and why it worked. So even though it required more time and dedication, I would do the extra research to make sure I could provide solid guidance to my peers. As a TA, I was also constantly questioned. I had to show them the answer and prove to them why it was correct. It did require a lot of background knowledge but the most important element is the way you teach them. You could just give them the answer but that won’t help them grow. Being able to correctly explain things to them in a supportive and thoughtful manner will make a better interaction and help them understand it. As I focused on practicing these skills, it started to become more natural and I started to become a better teacher.
Collaborating has always been one of my favorite things. I love interacting with others and am not afraid to voice my opinion when I have an opposing view. Whether it be shouting out the answer or going to the board to teach the class something, I enjoy collaborating and it keeps me engaged. During the Sine City project, Demi and I ended up doing most of the work. I did all six of our elevation views and she did the site plan. Even though none of us were familiar with adobe illustrator, we managed to work through it and met all of the deadlines. We could have added more color to out site plan but the concept of a roller rink was an awesome and unique idea! For the sine project, I was also part of the team that helped with the behind-the-scenes of the exhibition. Even though I have a lot of other extracurriculars to attend to, I tried my best to be involved and help out in what was needed. Juggling is hard work but it definitely is worth in getting your voice heard.
Overall, my biggest struggle was with the SAT book. It was a terrible resource to use when learning new information. It started right away with complex processes which I had never had exposure on. It was frustrating and made me feel like I wasn’t smart enough to do college math. The SAT book wasn’t something you could learn the day of. You really had to take some time out and research it on your own (Khan academy is my best friend) to be able to understand what it was telling you. As a TA, it required even more research since you needed a deeper and fuller understanding of it. But that extra time you take in pursuing a problem you are struggling with is very beneficial. At some points I definitely could have done more research on it and not rely on the TAs or you to teach us. When I actually know the concepts before I get taught, I am more engaged because everything starts to make sense. Either way, doing extra work on your own time is a valuable skill to have to continue to grow as a learner. As a mathematician, I’ve always had problems think abstractly. I am not the type that thinks outside of the box. I like things direct with a single solution. But I know in complex world we live in, having one solution is almost never an option. You have to think big to choose a solution that is the most beneficial for your problem. We do not live in a black and white world! I have slowly started to improve on this as I see how math is applied to the world around us but it is definitely something I need to keep practicing!
Collaborating has always been one of my favorite things. I love interacting with others and am not afraid to voice my opinion when I have an opposing view. Whether it be shouting out the answer or going to the board to teach the class something, I enjoy collaborating and it keeps me engaged. During the Sine City project, Demi and I ended up doing most of the work. I did all six of our elevation views and she did the site plan. Even though none of us were familiar with adobe illustrator, we managed to work through it and met all of the deadlines. We could have added more color to out site plan but the concept of a roller rink was an awesome and unique idea! For the sine project, I was also part of the team that helped with the behind-the-scenes of the exhibition. Even though I have a lot of other extracurriculars to attend to, I tried my best to be involved and help out in what was needed. Juggling is hard work but it definitely is worth in getting your voice heard.
Overall, my biggest struggle was with the SAT book. It was a terrible resource to use when learning new information. It started right away with complex processes which I had never had exposure on. It was frustrating and made me feel like I wasn’t smart enough to do college math. The SAT book wasn’t something you could learn the day of. You really had to take some time out and research it on your own (Khan academy is my best friend) to be able to understand what it was telling you. As a TA, it required even more research since you needed a deeper and fuller understanding of it. But that extra time you take in pursuing a problem you are struggling with is very beneficial. At some points I definitely could have done more research on it and not rely on the TAs or you to teach us. When I actually know the concepts before I get taught, I am more engaged because everything starts to make sense. Either way, doing extra work on your own time is a valuable skill to have to continue to grow as a learner. As a mathematician, I’ve always had problems think abstractly. I am not the type that thinks outside of the box. I like things direct with a single solution. But I know in complex world we live in, having one solution is almost never an option. You have to think big to choose a solution that is the most beneficial for your problem. We do not live in a black and white world! I have slowly started to improve on this as I see how math is applied to the world around us but it is definitely something I need to keep practicing!