Nicole Downs

As young girls, we aren´t conditioned to have the same inherent confidence in ourselves that young boys are raised to have. Because of this, I spent much of my childhood and teenage years believing that, if I wasn´t immediately good at something, I couldn´t do it. I believed I was incapable of so many things. Math was one of those things.

Ms. Downs changed that for me. She gave me the space to ask questions and admit when I couldn´t understand. She would sit after class with me, creating a judgement-free space. This allowed me to learn. For the very first time, I realized that, even if something didn´t come naturally, I could figure it out. I could learn to do it with the best of them. She, in her own quiet way, empowered me. She helped me help myself.

Now, having just graduated college, I´m surrounded by friends who all have the post grad blues. We´re all in the "what am I doing with my life" phase. But I´m not worried. I know I´ll be okay. Because I am capable. I can always figure things out, even if they´re hard. Ms. Downs taught me that.

She was my 11th grade math teacher and the only math teacher that I have encountered that actually wanted her students to enjoy math and understand it. She also knew that sometimes math was boring but she was always honest about it. She inspired me to study chemistry and now because of her I have the opportunity to help others the same way she helped me in school. By showing them that hard work and dedication to your learning pays off. Forever grateful to you Ms. Downs.

Miss Downs was my junior year teacher in 2011 and I still remember her as one of the only math teacher´s I´ve ever had that helped me understand the material. Now, as a teacher myself, I have entirely new respect for all she did to help me and my classmates (and all her students). Thank you, Miss Downs; you will be missed.