The first day of junior year. The nerves of the hardest educational year of high school loomed over me. It probably didn’t help that my three Advanced Placement classes and Calculus were all in a row. This year I decided to take two difficult math classes. I always liked math in a weird way. I like solving problems but I had never understood why. Why do I like to sit through difficult math classes when everybody else seems to hate it? Why do I even like what I do? And then, I walked into AP Statistics. 

The first day of junior year felt the same as every other day of school. Until I entered my A.P. Stats class. I trudged into the room, to see a bubbly guy welcoming everyone into the room and greeting us as fellow “Math Nerds” ready to begin a year full of learning math. Wow. Math Nerds? I was in shock. Never have I had a teacher that seemed so confident and proud of his love for math. 

I had heard of Mr. Olenchek’s funny mannerisms and creative explanations, but I had never understood what people meant until I experienced it firsthand. His creative analogies and mini lectures made this math class like no other. He uses real life instances of when we would apply a Statistical concept and uses analogies that high schoolers relate to more often.

His analogies and lectures led me to re-evaluate what I am doing in my own life. Once, Mr. O. used an analogy about swimming. I had never had a teacher use swimming to explain a concept. As a competitive swimmer, I perked up and thought even harder. That night at practice, I thought of what he said about how to apply my strategic thinking into my swimming, and it worked. 

Mr. O’s strategic way of ‘writing math’ has also helped me apply strategic thinking and contemplated responses into some of my other AP Classes’ FRQs. Since writing in AP Classes is so important, he has not only helped me in AP Statistics, but also in my other 2 APs and Calculus.  

I never would have thought math could help me in so many aspects of life, that is, until Mr. O showed me. His experience as a college professor helps me keep the future in mind and to prepare myself for senior year and beyond. 

Whenever I see Mr. O in the hallway, I make sure I say hello and keep walking with a smile on my face. I look forward to going to AP Stats. I love the way the class has me interact with my group members. I love the way Mr. O holds me accountable for the math I do in class. I love being in a class of math nerds.

So thank you, Mr. O, for helping me find my ‘why’ in math class. Thank you for helping me find my ‘why’ in life.