The Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM)
I decided to try the Math Team during my Freshman year, coming fresh off of lockdown after the pandemic. I went to my first Math Team meeting with the mindset of using my freshman year to determine whether or not I wanted to continue to be a part of the Math Team for the rest of my high school career. Until high school, I hadn’t participated in many clubs and was naturally anxious about meeting new people and participating in new activities. However, after participating in my first regional math competition with the Math Team, I found my place within that community. I found special connections that I wouldn’t have found elsewhere and also was able to form deeper connections with those I had already previously known. Due to my time on the math team that year, I found the motivation and commitment to continue for all four years. There have certainly been ups and downs in my performance and enjoyment, but I have never regretted the choice of joining.
