A^2+b^2=c^2

     When I was in the 5th grade my teacher realized that I wasn't understanding things as fast as other kids in my class. He thought it would be a good idea to start giving me tests to see what was really going on. My parents agreed to the tests. I was tested from the 5th grade all the way until I reached the 8th grade. It was a long process. The test results came back that I have a learning disability. I don't learn things as quick as other people, my math level in high school was a 4th grade level. I literally can't do math without using a calculator or my fingers. I was ashamed that I had this problem. I didn't want people to know that I couldn't do math. I didn't want people to know that I was in 4 different math classes in jr. High. I didn't want anyone to know that I also was in a math class with only 4 people in it, and we were given our own individual help by the teacher. I was embarrassed. I failed all my math classes in jr. High.
    When I finally got into high school, I was back at square one. I failed my math classes. Math was my biggest struggle. I didn't even want to look at my math homework. I wouldn't even try to solve the problems. I would write an answer down and call it good. When I would come home from school, my parents always asked if I had homework. I always told them no because it frustrated me to even look at a paper that had any numbers on it. I decided one day to go in and get help from a teacher. I somehow passed that class with a C. Luckily, my senior year in high school they started to have a class for kids that needed serious help with math. The teacher for that class would help my teacher like a teachers aid. One day the teacher aid called out 3 people's names and I knew what it was for. Sadly she didn't call my name. After she called the names out, I ran over to her and pulled her aside and told her she better not be leaving me in that class. She knew that I had math problems but I don't think she knew how bad I had it. She looked at me and she said she had to talk to the teacher about it. She left the class room and I sat back in my seat. I sat there and looked at the math paper. 5 minutes later Mrs. Anderson came back into the classroom and called me outside. I looked at her with a smile on my face. She said that she wants me in her class! I was so happy because I knew that she would be able to help me with my math. I couldn't believe it! I knew that I would still struggle with math, but I knew she could help me. I still hated math, and I still was embarrassed that I needed the extra help. But, after much struggle and hard days of math, I actually graduated high school with straight A's for the first time in my life. I had an A in math the first time in my life my senior year. I had so much help over the years. I'm so thankful for my Jr. High math teacher Ms. Svenson, and my high school senior year math teacher Mrs. Anderson. Now that I'm out of high school, I don't care what others think of me. I am different. I am unique. I may not know how to do math that well, but I love who I am. I am forever grateful for my 5th grade teacher who decided to test me and figure out what was wrong. I'm unique and I'm okay with that.