Ms. Bryant and High School Algebra II 2.0

Have I ever told you the story of Ms. Bryant, my high school algebra teacher? Well, my "senior" year of high school I took advanced algebra II. Math was my thing. There were a lot of things I didn't get as a teenager, but algebra wasn't one of them. In fact, I was so good I often had to tutor half the class before and after class and teach them how to do the homework. I would take it step by step and show them exactly how to do it.

Well, somehow, I was always the lowest scorer in the class as well. Someone I taught how to do the work would get a 90 and I would get a 60. In fact, the only time I ever got less than an 88 in high school was my senior year. For the two 6 week periods that made up a semester I got a 77 and a 66 in my advanced algebra II class. Ms. Bryant took me aside and suggested I drop the course. I was so frustrated. I knew I knew the material, and when I would ask her about the difference in grades with someone I helped with their homework she would point out a mistake I made and say, I know so and so knows what they are talking about even if they forget to close the parenthesis, I don't know that you do. She had me. I made little mistakes and while most people wouldn't care as long as the work and right answer was there, Ms. Bryant would mark my whole problem wrong. I knew she didn't like me but I had no clue why. I told Ms. Bryant I would NOT drop the class and I took my Christmas vacation annoyed, and not sure what exactly I would do. Over my break I called my sister Tina, who lived in Italy at the time, to vent and she was caught by surprise. "You have Ms. BRYANT?!?!?" she asked. " I hated her!" She continued on to tell me the horrible relationship she had with her. And then it came flooding back... the first day of school, as I am sure I was the tanner spitting image of Tina, Ms. Bryant asked me if I was related to TINA Carrio. I responded that yes, I was. Nothing else was ever spoken of the subject. As I recalled this event it all came flooding to me. I knew right then and there that I was being punished for my sister's horrible behavior towards Ms. Bryant, and her lack of skill in math. I was determined to start over and show her how I was not my sister, despite how much we may look alike. (something I always had to prove to my parents as well.)

The first day of the next semester I walked into Ms. Bryant's classroom with a new determination. I would make her love me, and I would never make another mistake that she could hold against me. I marched to the front of the classroom and picked the chair that was about 6 inches away from her face. While extremely obese Ms. Bryant hardly ever walked. She wheeled around the classroom. I would tell her how cool she was and ask her if she went clubbing over the weekend. I was sarcastic the whole time but she thought I was serious. I always made a point to "show an interest." I figured if she wanted to play a game, well none better to play with than me. I hate playing games, but if you force me to I will; and I will win. I will have you know I made two 100's that next semester. I think I even made a friend in Ms. Bryant. She even exempted me from taking the final because she knew I knew my stuff.

Well folks... it is 8 years later that I find someone challenging my knowledge and yet I give them mistakes, minute as they may be, to use against me. This is just version 2.0. I felt overwhelmed at first. But the question is will I sink or swim? Fight or flight? I thought I was going to drown. I thought I should just give up because this battle was too big to fight. As I started to close my eyes and let the current take me under a sudden wave came over me and I knew what I had to do...

SWIM! FIGHT!

I am not giving up just because you think you are stronger or more powerful. I refuse to let someone try and get rid of me just because they don't like me. I didn't let it happen then and I won't let it happen now. It isn't going to be easy, and it is going to take a LOT of time to read a LOT of material. I am going to have to double and triple and quadruple check everything I do from now on...but that's OK.

TAWANDA!