Why Calculus Was The Most Important Class In My Life
TLDRIn this inspiring video, the speaker shares a personal journey that highlights the transformative impact of a high school calculus AP course. Initially struggling with poor grades, the speaker credits the course and their teacher, Ms. Lynn, for instilling a belief in their potential and the importance of perseverance. Through hard work and a shift in mindset, they excelled in the AP test, setting the foundation for future academic and professional success. The story emphasizes the power of self-belief and the limitless potential that comes with it.
Takeaways
- 📚 The speaker emphasizes the importance of calculus as a transformative course in their life, not just for academic reasons but for personal growth.
- 🏫 The calculus class was an AP (Advanced Placement) course in high school, which is a college-level course with the potential to earn college credit.
- 📉 The speaker initially struggled in the class, receiving poor grades and feeling out of place among their peers.
- 🤔 Despite the initial failure, the speaker questioned their teacher's encouragement to take the AP course, which led to self-reflection and a decision to push beyond their comfort zone.
- 👩🏫 The teacher, Ms. Lynn, played a crucial role in the speaker's journey by not allowing them to give up and providing support and tutoring.
- 🔄 The second semester focused on test-taking strategies and understanding the AP exam, which helped the speaker improve significantly.
- 👥 Group work was utilized effectively, with the speaker benefiting from the support of peers who were stronger in the subject.
- 📈 The speaker's improvement was gradual but consistent, moving from failing grades to eventually scoring a perfect 5 on the AP test.
- 💡 The experience taught the speaker the value of perseverance, practice, and understanding the fundamentals to overcome challenges.
- 🚀 This course instilled a newfound confidence and belief in the speaker's abilities, which carried over into their future academic and professional life.
- 🌟 The speaker's story illustrates that belief in oneself and the willingness to push boundaries can lead to significant personal and professional achievements.
Q & A
Why did the speaker decide to take an AP calculus class in high school?
-The speaker decided to take the AP calculus class because their trigonometry teacher encouraged them to, despite getting a C in that class, which made them think they had more potential.
What was the initial experience of the speaker in the AP calculus class?
-The speaker initially struggled in the AP calculus class, receiving grades of C, D, and multiple Fs on tests, and ended the first semester with a 46% grade.
How did the speaker's teacher, Ms. Lynn, approach teaching the second semester of the AP calculus class?
-Ms. Lynn focused on teaching how to get a five out of five on the AP test. She paired students into groups with varying skill levels and spent two months intensively practicing for the AP test.
What was the speaker's lowest score on the mock AP tests before improvement?
-The speaker's lowest score on the mock AP tests was 14%.
How did the speaker's mindset change after experiencing the AP calculus class?
-The speaker's mindset changed from being unsure of their abilities and not very confident to believing in themselves and their potential to achieve high goals.
What was the impact of the AP calculus class on the speaker's future academic and career path?
-The AP calculus class instilled a strong belief in the speaker's abilities, leading them to graduate with honors from USC and successfully navigate their career, including starting their own business.
What slogan did the teacher use to motivate students to aim for a five on the AP test?
-The slogan used by the teacher was 'five on AP,' which students would say every day as they entered the classroom.
How did the speaker's high school GPA compare to the typical GPA required for admission to USC?
-The speaker's high school GPA was 3.17, which is lower than the typical GPA required for admission to USC, which is usually 4.0 or higher.
What was the speaker's final college GPA when they graduated with honors from USC?
-The speaker graduated from USC with a 3.5 GPA.
What lesson does the speaker emphasize about belief in oneself and achieving goals?
-The speaker emphasizes that belief in oneself is the foundation for achieving goals, and that one's potential is limited only by their creativity and mindset.
What advice does the speaker give to viewers about their potential and self-belief?
-The speaker advises viewers that no matter their age or circumstances, they can achieve whatever they believe is possible, and that believing in oneself is the starting point for turning dreams into reality.
Outlines
📚 My Unexpected Journey with Calculus
In this video, Petra Dang shares a personal story about how taking a high school Calculus AP course unexpectedly shaped her life. Despite initially struggling with math and receiving poor grades, Petra was encouraged by a teacher to persevere. Through determination and support, she transformed her approach to learning and eventually excelled, which significantly boosted her self-confidence and academic outlook.
💪 Perseverance and Teamwork Lead to Success
Petra describes the second semester of her Calculus AP course, where her teacher, Ms. Lynn, implemented a strategy focused on teamwork and rigorous practice for the AP exam. By working in groups and consistently practicing, Petra's scores gradually improved from failing marks to a perfect score. This experience taught her the importance of perseverance, the power of belief in oneself, and the benefits of collaborative learning.
🌟 The Impact of Belief and Hard Work
Petra reflects on how the experience of overcoming challenges in her Calculus AP course had a lasting impact on her life. It boosted her confidence and shifted her mindset towards self-belief and persistence. She narrates how this newfound mentality helped her excel in university, transfer to a prestigious institution, and ultimately achieve success in her professional career. Petra emphasizes that believing in oneself is the foundation for achieving one's goals.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Calculus
💡Advanced Placement (AP)
💡Motivation
💡Self-belief
💡Struggle
💡Potential
💡Support
💡Practice
💡Confidence
💡Achievement
💡Mentality
Highlights
Calculus was one of the most important courses in the speaker's life for unexpected reasons.
The speaker's high school was Mark Keppel High School, where they took an AP calculus class.
AP calculus is a college-level course that can earn students college credit.
The speaker initially struggled with calculus, receiving a series of poor grades.
Despite a poor start, the speaker's teacher encouraged them to continue with the course.
The second semester focused on test-taking strategies for the AP exam.
The teacher, Ms. Lynn, implemented a group study method to help students improve.
The speaker's initial AP test score was a 14%, but they gradually improved with practice.
The speaker credits the teacher's motivational techniques for their eventual success.
The speaker realized that understanding the test and practicing was key to their improvement.
The experience with calculus boosted the speaker's confidence and changed their mindset.
The speaker transferred from UC Riverside to USC and graduated with honors.
The speaker attributes their career success to the mindset developed during the calculus class.
The speaker emphasizes that belief in oneself is crucial for achieving goals.
The speaker encourages viewers to believe in their potential, regardless of their current situation.
The speaker concludes by sharing their name, Petra Dang, and inviting engagement from the audience.
Transcripts
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