Math Camp

Participating in Math Camp at BGSU has been one of the most important experiences in my journey toward becoming an educator. Math Camp, which allows future teachers to engage with elementary and middle school students in a lively and interactive learning environment, goes beyond traditional academic experiences. It is a place where students and volunteers are encouraged to learn, grow, and reflect. Through activities like math tag, leapfrog, and ultimate tic-tac-toe, children are introduced to math concepts in ways that feel more like games than schoolwork. For me, this experience didn’t just reinforce my desire to become a teacher, it also deepened and affirmed my worldview: that everything in life has a purpose, that every challenge is an opportunity for growth, and that peace and joy can be found when we learn to slow down and appreciate the little things along the way.

At the core of my worldview is the belief that every experience serves a greater purpose, whether it’s joyful, difficult, or seemingly insignificant. Math Camp was more than just a volunteer opportunity; it was a space where I could grow as a teacher. Getting to interact with students, guiding them through games, and seeing their excitement when they connected the dots between math and fun showed me how impactful a positive learning environment can be. There were moments of chaos, managing energetic kids while staying on task isn’t always easy, but even those moments taught me patience, flexibility, and creativity. Rather than viewing these challenges as frustrating or discouraging, I saw them as opportunities to grow into the kind of teacher I want to be: someone who remains calm under pressure, adapts quickly, and prioritizes student engagement and joy.

One of the most meaningful aspects of Math Camp is the way it makes learning joyful. It’s easy for students to associate math with stress, confusion, and boredom. But through the camp’s design, where movement, laughter, and curiosity are all essential parts of the learning process, students begin to build a different kind of relationship with math. Watching kids light up when they completed the amazing math race or figured out the strategy behind ultimate tic-tac-toe made me reflect on how powerful a mindset can be in shaping our experiences. It reminded me that education isn’t just about content, it’s also about how we frame that content and how we invite others into it. This mirrors my own belief in the importance of finding joy and peace in life’s journey, even when it’s hard. Sometimes, all it takes is a little creativity to see something familiar in a completely new light.

Another part of my worldview that this experience reinforced is the importance of slowing down and appreciating the process of growth. In the rush of college life and future planning, it’s easy to get caught up in what’s next and forget to reflect on the progress we’re making along the way. At Math Camp, I had to slow down. I had to listen to students, meet them where they were, and figure out how to help them make meaningful connections. There was no room for rushing because real understanding takes time. These moments of connection, when a student finally “got” the math behind a game, or when they told me they had fun learning, became small reminders to savor the process, not just the results. That mindset of slowing down and embracing the journey is something I want to carry with me not only as a teacher but also as a person.

In a broader sense, Math Camp has helped me reflect on who I want to be and how I want to live. Seeing young students discover confidence, joy, and excitement about learning reminded me of why I chose this path in the first place. I want to be someone who helps others see their potential, who turns challenges into opportunities, and who finds meaning and joy in each step of the journey. Math Camp allowed me to practice this firsthand and showed me that teaching when done with intention and heart, can be a powerful way to reflect these values.