Kevin Prum also contributed to this article.
Exams are soon approaching as we find our way through the third quarter. So, Malden High School’s Math Club decided to create a tutoring program with the hopes of assisting those who are in need of extra help in math, covering Algebra 1 up to Precalculus.
Not everyone has to be good at math to join the Math Club. Mark Woods, a substitute teacher at Malden High who recently joined the club, explained how he uses resources such as Khan Academy to “relearn” the subjects with the goal of assisting students who need help. “We learn together, and sometimes we’re working on a problem, they see a way to solve the problem before I do,” Woods continued.
Similarly, junior Eric Lin, who’s been a member for some time, explained how when he first joined the club, he was confused about the topics they covered up to Precalculus, which was a skillset he had not yet learned.
“The previous year, I probably couldn’t have done any of them; I had to learn everything, and I had to ask all the members,” Lin explained. He followed up with, after learning Precalculus, everything was easier. .
In addition to their tutoring sessions, the Math Club continues to prepare for competitions, with their most recent one being at Brown University. Each member received a packet containing similar problems they would face during their competitions, which they would work together to solve.
They follow the same schedule, mentioned in “Malden’s Math Club Competes at St. John’s Prep Tournament in Second Competition This Year”. Each student learns from each other with every practice, whether it is the math itself or the passion for it. Senior Shaneel Zeb, a first-year member of the club, expressed that, after joining the club, he was able to view the “integral parts” of the club.. “It’s also like the social connections that you can make. I made quite a few new friends, joining the club,” Zeb finished.
The Math Club is inclusive all around, also assisting those whose primary language isn’t English. Woods, for example, helps Spanish-speaking students with math. He noticed that after they reviewed the problem, they understood the concept. “So I think they know the math, but they can’t understand the instructions in English,” Woods said.
Additionally, junior co-captain Ninitha Balamurali, a third-year member, explained how the math club inspired her. “I just saw the impact that people made. Especially the seniors before me, they really helped me branch out,” Balamurali praised. She continued on to talk about how she gradually grew comfortable with every competition.
The Math Club isn’t just about math; it is a place where anyone can join to experience a collaborative environment while gaining extra help with math. If interested, the club hosts meetings in H315 every Tuesday.
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