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mathematical
autobiography
This math autobiography is the story of who I am as a mathematician. Everyone has a math journey, but every journey is unique. My math journey has had a profound impact on my identity — chance is that yours has too. When we share, we can better understand each other.
Before birth
That's my grandma. My mom is wearing pigtails, and next to her is my aunt. I come from a line of driven and entrepreneurial women. My mom graduated from college in Southern California and started her own business with my aunt. They owned a card shop for 14 years.
Birth
Meet my dad - he plays the guitar and likes to ride his bike. My brother and I are three years apart. Growing up I loved helping my brother with his math homework because people told me I was good at it. We went to the same K - 8 school in California. The teachers gave my brother points for acting out. He hated school.
Middle School
Gina and Audrey were my two closest friends in middle school. That's us! I was one of only two girls tracked for advanced math. I was proud, but embarrassed. What did I do? Did I deserve to be there more than my friends? They worked just as hard as I did — plus, they were way more popular than I. Thoughts from my middle school diary...
High School
This is my high school AB Calculus class. I took the class when I was a senior. I don't remember very much about Calculus, but I remember how the class made me feel. We were a community; evidently we took pictures together. We had fun solving problems. And our teacher encouraged us, gave us time, and validated our efforts. College math and pre-med track, here I come!
College
I graduated from college in 2014! Though the degree I'm holding is not the one you'd expect — Bachelor of Science in Anthropology. My first year of college courses was stacked - Chemistry, Chemistry Lab, Calc I, Calc 2, Biology. Then I failed my first chem exam. And then another. My confidence plummeted. I compared myself to others and decided that I wasn't smart enough. I am not a math person, I told myself. I was ready to get out of town and start something new.
New York City
New York City is where I learned courage, perseverance, and resilience. Before graduating college I applied for a position at Cornelia Connelly Center (CCC), an all-girls school in the Lower East Side that champions under-resourced students. I learned of the position from a high school alumni job alert. I interviewed, got the job, and a few months later, I moved to NYC. I'd serve as an Americorps Resident Teacher and I'd be teaching...math! CCC is not only where I rediscovered my love for math, but also discovered my love for teaching it!
Graduate School
I decided that I owed it to myself and to my students to learn how to teach math the right way. There's no right way, but while attending Fordham's Graduate School of Education I learned that math is about problem solving, using your brain, building up confidence, overcoming challenges, and ensuring equity. I was living and breathing math — it was awesome.
Now
There is much to do to achieve justice. What can I do? What can I give? We all have gifts and talents to contribute, and this is mine. Teaching math is about breaking down systems that undermine equality and promoting confidence and compassion. It's a math revolution that's changing the world!
