Riya was a high school student who loved reading, writing, and painting. She had a vivid imagination and a creative mind. She dreamed of becoming a famous author or an artist someday. But there was one subject that she hated with all her heart: math.
Riya had always struggled with math since she was a kid. She found it boring, confusing, and frustrating. She could never understand the logic behind the numbers, formulas, and equations. She would often get lost in the class, make silly mistakes in the homework, and score poorly in the tests.
She was not alone in her misery. Her parents and teachers were also worried about her math performance. They tried to help her by enrolling her in extra classes, buying her books and apps, and giving her advice and encouragement. But nothing seemed to work. Riya felt like she was doomed to fail math forever.
To make matters worse, she had to deal with Raj, her classmate and rival. Raj was good at math and everything else. He was smart, confident, and popular. He always aced his exams and won competitions and awards. He also had a knack for making fun of Riya and putting her down. He would call her names like “dumbo”, “slowpoke”, and “loser”. He would also try to sabotage her study efforts by distracting her or giving her wrong answers.
Riya hated Raj more than math. She wished he would leave her alone and stop bothering her. She also wished she could prove him wrong and show him that she was not as dumb as he thought. But she felt powerless and hopeless. She had no idea how to improve her math skills and boost her confidence.
She was especially scared of the final exam that was coming up in a few weeks. It was worth 50% of her grade and it would cover everything she had learned in the year. She knew she had to study hard and prepare well, but she didn’t know where to start or how to do it. She felt like she was facing an impossible challenge.
One day, as she was walking home from school, she saw a sign on a gate that caught her eye. It said: “Math Tutoring Available. Free Trial. Call Now.” She was curious and intrigued. She wondered who was offering math tutoring and why it was free. She decided to give it a try and called the number on the sign.
A friendly voice answered the phone. It was an old man who introduced himself as Mr. Sharma. He said he was a retired math teacher who lived in the house behind the gate. He said he loved teaching math and he wanted to help students who needed extra help. He said he was offering a free trial session for anyone who was interested. He asked Riya if she wanted to come over and give it a shot.
Riya hesitated for a moment. She was not sure if she could trust a stranger who claimed to be a math teacher. She also wondered if he could really help her with her math problems. But she was desperate and willing to try anything. She agreed to meet Mr. Sharma and set up an appointment for the next day.
The next day, after school, Riya went to Mr. Sharma’s house. She was nervous and anxious. She didn’t know what to expect or what to say. She knocked on the door and waited.
The door opened and a smiling old man greeted her. He was wearing a sweater and glasses. He had a kind and gentle face. He invited her in and led her to a small room that was filled with books, papers, and a whiteboard. He said it was his study room and his tutoring place. He asked her to sit down and make herself comfortable.
He then asked her some questions about herself, her school, and her math situation. He listened attentively and nodded understandingly. He said he could relate to her struggles and he had a solution for her. He said he had a special method of teaching math that was fun, easy, and effective. He said he could help her improve her math skills and confidence in a short time. He said he had helped many students like her before and he was confident he could help her too.
He then asked her if she was ready to start the lesson. Riya nodded nervously. She was still doubtful and skeptical, but she was also curious and hopeful. She wanted to see what Mr. Sharma had to offer and how he could help her.
Mr. Sharma smiled and said, “Let’s begin, then. Today, we will start with the basics. We will review the concepts and rules of arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. We will also practice some problems and exercises. Don’t worry, I will explain everything clearly and patiently. I will also give you some tips and tricks to make math easier and faster. And most importantly, I will make math fun and enjoyable. You will see that math is not as hard or boring as you think. It is actually a beautiful and fascinating subject that can enrich your mind and life. Are you ready?“
Riya nodded again, more confidently this time. She was intrigued and excited. She wanted to learn more and see for herself. She said, “Yes, I’m ready. Let’s do this.”
Mr. Sharma clapped his hands and said, “Great. Then let’s begin. Welcome to the world of math, Riya. I’m sure you will love it.“
And so, the lesson began. Mr. Sharma started with the basics and gradually moved on to the more advanced topics. He explained everything in a simple and clear way. He used examples, analogies, and stories to illustrate his points. He also used humor, jokes, and games to make the lesson fun and engaging. He gave Riya plenty of practice and feedback. He praised her for her efforts and corrected her mistakes. He encouraged her to ask questions and express her opinions. He challenged her to think critically and creatively. He also shared his own story of how he became interested in math and how it helped him in his life and career.
Riya was amazed and impressed by Mr. Sharma’s teaching style and method. She found him to be a great teacher and a mentor. She learned a lot from him and enjoyed the lesson. She felt more comfortable and confident with math. She also felt more curious and interested in math. She realized that math was not as bad or scary as she thought. It was actually a useful and rewarding subject that could open up many opportunities and possibilities for her.
She thanked Mr. Sharma for the lesson and asked him if she could come back for more. Mr. Sharma said yes and said he was happy to help her. He said he would charge her a nominal fee for the future sessions, but he would also give her a discount and some extra benefits. He said he would also help her prepare for the final exam and ensure that she would do well. He said he believed in her and her potential. He said he was proud of her and her progress.
Riya was grateful and touched by Mr. Sharma’s words and gestures. She said she appreciated his help and support. She said she would come back for more lessons and work hard to improve her math skills and confidence. She said she was determined to ace the final exam and prove herself and everyone else wrong. She said she was ready to face the challenge and overcome the odds.
Mr. Sharma smiled and said, “That’s the spirit, Riya. You can do it. I’m sure you will succeed. Just remember, the power of persistence is the key to success. Never give up on your dreams and goals, no matter how hard they seem. Seek help and guidance from those who can support and inspire you. And always believe in yourself and your abilities. You are a star, Riya. And you will shine bright.”
Riya smiled back and said, “Thank you, Mr. Sharma. You are the best. You are my hero.”
And so, Riya continued to attend Mr. Sharma’s tutoring sessions and followed his advice and guidance. She also studied hard and practiced a lot on her own. She improved her math skills and confidence day by day. She also developed a new appreciation and passion for math. She started to enjoy math and see its beauty and value. She also started to perform better in the class and the tests. She surprised her parents and teachers with her improvement and progress. She also surprised Raj and his friends with her new attitude and behavior. She stopped being afraid and intimidated by them. She started to stand up to them and challenge them. She also proved them wrong and showed them that she was not as dumb or slow as they thought.
The final exam day arrived. Riya was nervous and excited. She knew it was the most important test of her life and it would determine her future. She knew she had to do well and pass the exam. She knew she had to face Raj and his taunts and tricks. She knew she had to face her fear and self-doubt. She knew she had to face the challenge and overcome the odds.
She took a deep breath and entered the exam hall. She found her seat and sat down. She looked around and saw Raj sitting across from her. He smirked and winked at her. He said, “Hey, dumbo. Ready to fail the exam and cry? You know you can’t beat me. You know you are no match for me. You know you are a loser. Why don’t you just give up and go home?”
Riya ignored him and looked away. She said to herself, “Don’t listen to him. He is just trying to mess with you. He is just jealous and insecure. She closed her eyes and took another deep breath. She said a silent prayer and opened her eyes. She saw the exam paper on her desk. She picked up her pen and started to write.
A few days later, the results were announced. Riya and Raj rushed to the notice board and looked for their names. They found them and gasped. Riya had scored 95% in math and topped the class. Raj had scored 75% in math and ranked fifth in the class.
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The moral is that one should never give up on one’s dreams and goals, no matter how hard they seem. One should also seek help and guidance from those who can support and inspire them. And one should always believe in oneself and one’s abilities.
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