When it comes to school, I’m somewhat of a brat. I need more attention, and I ask a lot of questions. I’m like a little kid because when a teacher or my parent is explaining how something works; I have to know why.

Why are the two angles congruent? Why does the atomic mass minus the atomic number equal the amount of neutrons in an element? I need to know why.

I feel like the only way to get the student-teacher interaction that I need is by staying after or coming in before class. But I shouldn’t have to come in early or stay after to make sure that I learn.

The classroom settings in school aren’t helping me reach my full potential as a student because I learn better in a smaller classroom. In sixth grade, I was in a history class of around 18 students. I loved that class because it was smaller compared to a class of 25 like I’m in now.

Whenever I needed help, my teacher would talk to me one-on-one to make sure I understood what the essay prompt was or what I needed to know for the quiz next class and so on.

In high school, I feel like I’m deprived of that opportunity to get more attention from my teachers.

When a teacher hands me a scoring guide, I need the criteria explained to me to get an “Advanced” on that essay.

I’m currently taking American Sign Language II. I love that class. There are around 26 students, but, to me, the class doesn’t feel all that big because Ms. Julie Montgomery always gives each of us one-on-one help if we’re struggling with something. If I don’t know a sign or don’t know a medical advance for Deaf people, etc., Ms. Montgomery will come over and teach me.

Because of how I learn and the way classrooms are set up, I’m not entirely sure that I’m meeting my full potential as a learner. Getting a small class is all luck, and getting a teacher willing to walk me through things step-by-step or answering all of my “whys” is not always going to be guaranteed.

I’m going to talk to my guidance counselor and ask about being enrolled in smaller classrooms next semester. This way, I’ll hopefully be getting the one-on-one attention from my teacher that I need to learn my best.