My calculus teacher plays Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools" as we walk into class, singing the malapropism "Chain Rule" instead. Quickly setting the tone for the lecture, she dives into scribbling a proof of the chain rule across the whiteboards as students start to settle into their seats. With vigor, I whip out my spiral notebook and attempt to keep up with the fast pace of the class, my wrist aching but my brain moving rapid-fire.

As I soon learned, AP Calculus BC would not turn out to be just another mundane math class. Instead of snore-inducing lectures and monotonous problem solving, calculus class provided the theory and philosophy behind math in engaging, thought-provoking ways. For example, my teacher took us on a five-minute "field trip" to view prevalent shapes in calculus in architecture and nature, such as catenaries, hyperbolas, and ellipses. She taught me that math isn't about routine computations or memorizing formulas. It's about understanding the theory behind those numbers and grasping universal concepts. Through her teaching, I learned to love and appreciate the mathematical beauty of calculus.

Also, being one of two juniors in a typically senior-centric class, I felt a bit out of place at times. Peers would often expect me to know the answers to every problem, despite the fact that I was learning the material the same time as them.

By no means was I perfect; in fact, I had my own fair share of tests on which I didn't do quite as well as I wanted. Every test I got back gave me a mini heart attack as I peeked at my grade--sometimes sighing with relief, other times shaking my head solemnly. Despite people's ideas and stereotypes about me, Calculus was a very difficult class with foreign concepts, and yet it was incredibly engaging. This class humbled me, leading me to the epiphany that there was so much about the world that I had yet to learn.

Perhaps my favorite class taught my favorite teacher in high school, AP Calculus BC held significance to me not only because of the subject material but what it opened my eyes to about life in general. I've always been enamored with math. The way that numbers perfectly align create a sense of order and satisfaction once solving a problem. However, calculus was unlike any math I've ever studied before, leading me to become intrigued in the topic. Being one of the more difficult classes I've taken, calculus taught me to be humble and to maintain a good work ethic.

Despite my acceleration in math, I had to study just as hard (and perhaps even more) as my peers to succeed in the class. Because of this, I've realized that success doesn't come innately: one has to persevere and give their all in order to triumph. I know that I will apply these lessons in all of my future endeavors because I desire to make the most of the gifts I am blessed with. If I continue to strive to do my best, and maintain a humble attitude, then I can not only better my life, but also better others'.