Reginald "Reggie" King graduated from Lindblom College Preparatory in May, with a passion for math education and a plan to invest in the future of academic success.
Attending Xavier University in Louisiana on a full ride scholarship this fall, King plans to major in accounting to satisfy his love for math and minoring in either education or sports management. There, he hopes to develop his interest in teaching mathematics.
King’s interest in teaching started right before he entered high school.
“7th grade I took algebra on the one-year track,” King said. “7th graders who come into Lindblom take the algebra exam, pass [and] go to geometry [or] fail.”
Missing the passing score by just a couple of points, King grew frustrated with the test results and the lack of academic support available to him.
“I was frustrated I never had a tutor I felt comfortable with. My parents didn’t know that math, [so] they couldn’t help.”
Aside from his own journey in school, King credits 8th grade math teacher at Lindblom Academic Center Amaris Evans as the person who changed the trajectory of his academic experience.
“I felt comfortable learning with her. I ended up passing that year and kept coming back to her [in] freshman year and sophomore year.”
Thanks to Evans, King was confident in the material he learned and wanted to help other students who were struggling with the same material he now understood. “Just being the helping hand” fueled his passion to help others understand math.
“It was really great working with my teacher this summer, really expanding my knowledge of teaching, and learning the ropes of how to interact with students of all ages.” King said. “It was easy to come in and see who needed help. I knew she had already taught me the [material, so I could help them].”
King knows what support his struggling peers need most, because he experienced the same things as a student himself.
“Kids our age, you don’t want to overwhelm them. They may [tune out if you come on too strong with just academics at first].” King said. “I looked at myself as their friend first.”
Wanting to continue to help students as long as he could, King helped Ms. Evans with her summer tutoring program.
King enjoys being a resource for his peers in addition to their teacher, as he recognizes the impact he has on them and their studies.
“It was me being there to listen to them, not to get on them about their work,” King said. “Giving them an outlet other than the teacher and seeing their reaction towards me, some kids really uplifted and changed.”