If you told me two years ago that I’d actually enjoy doing math I would have laughed in your face. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always sucked at math. Once freshman year came around and I was introduced to Algebra 1, I had no clue what I was doing so I accepted my fate and basically gave up. 

I cheated my way through assignments, sat on my phone in class and stressed over tests my entire freshman and sophomore years. I wasn’t expecting anything different this year. I was prepared to be lost and repeat the same cycle for another year, but I was wrong. 

At the beginning of the year Algebra 2 teacher Ashley Nelson explained that she would make the assignments as simple and understandable as she could. I still wasn’t taking math very seriously, but I decided to put in some effort. I soon realized she meant what she said.

It was when she took time away for maternity leave this year that I realized nobody could match her patience and her way of teaching. Although every assignment wasn’t easy, she made sure to take her time and be patient. 

She made something that I believed I’d never be good at into something that I can now understand and help others with. She’s made me become confident in my work and, for once, I don’t dread math class. 

** This story is part of a Teacher Appreciation series where students write about a staff member who has had a significant impact on them during high school.