Biology was a subject that I struggled with in school. Up until taking biology my freshmen year, I had not had any previous struggles. I had a hard time understanding the content of the class, and I quickly saw my grade dropping lower than I anticipated. At first, I was extremely frustrated that I wasn’t picking up on the lessons quickly and I was struggling to complete my work. Even though it was difficult to ask for help I decided to reach out to a classmate for tutoring. My classmate, Makenzie, took the time to not only meet with me and explain current lessons, but even helped me understand the lessons that I struggled with in the past. We would meet 3 times a week after school to work on assignments together. Working with her helped me realize that there are many different ways to study, I was trying to read the book and apply it to the homework but I struggled with terminology and had a hard time remembering the materials. Working with Makenzie helped me realize that I retain information best when I write it down, I quickly learned that taking notes as I read really helped me remember the information and made the work much easier for me. Having somebody to talk through the homework with made all the difference in the world to me. Progress in my grade took time, but each homework assignment we did together slowly made a difference. We worked together the rest of the year which led me to earn a “B” average, as well as a strong new friendship. Working with Makenzie helped me realize how valuable people and resources can be when you need help. I believe this was an important life lesson that will help me persevere during future struggles, school related or not.
