Ode to Calculus

She was the best math teacher I ever had. I looked forward to going to her class everyday at 1:30, even though it was the hardest class I had ever taken. When I decided to take AP Calculus BC in the winter of my junior year, all of my friends thought I was crazy. However, I didn't care because I love math and all of its challenges.

Every spring my high school holds AP days where students that are taking AP courses the following fall meet in the cafeteria to get acquainted with what the class is going to be about. They meet the teacher and get any summer work that is required for the class. I remember sitting at one of the tables with a few of my friends who were also going to take calculus in the fall. Mrs. Wentzel walked into the cafeteria with a huge stack of papers, which included information sheets and summer work packets (yes I said PACKETS), that were to be handed out to the students. The first words out of her mouth were something along the lines of: "Welcome to your worst nightmare, if you are thinking of slacking off, please leave now. If any of you had Garman, you really need to work up your work stamina because we will not be 'easing into the weekend' at all."

Side note: I had Mr. Garman for both Geometry A and Pre-Calculus. He is the type of teacher who doesn't want to lecture in front of the class for an entire 80 minute block. So he would start class by saying, "Hey everyone. Today we're going to learn about the fun subject of -insert subject here-. I'll be done by 9:30 (and class started at 9:15 both times I had him)." On Wednesdays he'd begin "easing into the weekend." This philosophy basically meant he was already tired from the week, so he would only be teaching for a maximum of ten minutes. I loved his teaching method because the class was basically independant study.

Everyone looked at each other, and looked at her with hesitation. She scared the heck out of me! But I decided to stay because I'm not a slacker.

The first few months were okay, I grasped the concepts pretty quickly. However, around Christmas vacation she informed the class that we would be receiving a take home test that would be due when we returned from break. She handed it out on the day before break, and I was shocked. It was a packet with probably around fifteen pages of integrals. She told us that we probably would not be able to do all of them, but try anyway. That made me nervous, but I did them anyway.

My next calculus epiphany occurred at the beginning of the second semester. While everyone else was starting all new classes, I was only half way done with my math class. I kept thinking to myself "What possessed me to take this class all year?" Mrs. Wentzel again filled our heads with scary thoughts. She told us that the second half of the year was going to be twice as hard as the first half. I quickly got that thought out of my head, and powered through the rest of the year. It definately wasn't as bad as she said it was going to be.

The AP test came in the beginning of May. I was so excited when that time came because it meant that we wouldn't be learning any new material for the rest of the year. However, with the test came a rigorous review schedule that Mrs. Wentzel created herself. It consisted of an assignment due one day and a quiz the day after, and on and on until the day before the test. I hated that schedule with a passion while I was on it. However, when I found out that I got a five on the AP test, I was greatful for that annoying schedule.

For the remainder of the school year math class consisted of doing experiments involving calculus, which was much better than starting new material.

Recently on a visit to my high school I found out from one of my friends taking AP Calculus this year that Mrs. Wentzel is no longer teaching there. She apparently took a job in Pittsburgh. But, I guess she's happy because Pittsburgh is her favorite city.

"Carpe Diem!"