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This past fall we sent my then two, now three year old, to his first year of preschool. It was only two mornings a week, but we felt like it would benefit him to start socializing and learning alongside other kids his own age. He’s our third, but given the eight year age gap and the demanding schedule of his older siblings, he hasn’t been exposed to his peers as much as they did at his age. So over the past year I’ve watched my kids as they have navigated learning in preschool, fourth grade and sixth grade. Some days they are eager to learn, and some days that excitement isn’t quite there. This got me thinking about the mindset of a student and what motivates them to learn. 

Some students are results driven. They want to see that “A” on the top of their test when it’s handed back.…

What motivates students to learn? If you’re a current student, think about the classes or teachers that inspire you to learn. If your schooling days are in the past, think back on the activities or classes you looked forward to attending the most. What is it about those classes that caught your interest? Was it the teachers, the content, the activities? There are many factors that contribute toward our perception of our educational journey, but I believe that one of the most impactful things is how engaged we are or were in our learning.

Enter gamification. Gamification in education is the implementation of elements of gaming into the learning process. It’s tapping into the interests of the students, and using that engagement to foster learning. So, does it work? Does transforming traditional learning into a game-like atmosphere contribute toward higher learning and retention? 

I’ve heard mixed opinions on this topic,…

For high school students passionate about mathematics, summer math camps are more than just an academic escape—they're launchpads for intellectual growth, friendships with like-minded peers, and potential pathways to elite universities or international competitions. Among the many programs available, a few stand out for their prestige, rigor, and transformative impact. Below are the most respected math summer programs in the United States and what makes each unique.

One of the most selective and prestigious programs is the Math Olympiad Summer Program (MOSP). This camp isn’t open through a typical application—it’s invitation-only, based on performance in a sequence of math contests: the AMC 10/12, the AIME, and finally, the USAJMO or USAMO. From there, top scorers are invited to MOSP, where they train intensively for the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). About 60 students nationwide attend each year. It's entirely free and doesn’t require essays or teacher recommendations—just pure problem-solving excellence. If…

Growing up in rural Wyoming, opportunities for students like me—those from small, underserved communities—often seemed out of reach. While I worked hard and excelled in school, the idea of attending an elite college felt like an impossible dream, mainly because of the financial burden and lack of resources. That all changed when I discovered the QuestBridge program. My name is Aria Collins, and through QuestBridge, I was matched with Princeton University—a school I had admired from afar, but never thought would be accessible. In this essay, I’ll share the details of my QuestBridge journey and explain how this program opened doors to possibilities I never knew existed.

What is QuestBridge?

QuestBridge is a nonprofit organization that connects high-achieving, low-income students with full scholarships to top colleges and universities. The program’s mission is to provide bright, motivated students from underserved communities with access to higher education opportunities they may otherwise never…

As a freshman in college, looking back on my AP Physics C exam feels like a huge accomplishment. Scoring a 5 wasn’t something that happened by chance. It was a result of hard work, smart strategies, and using the right resources. If you're aiming for a high score on this exam, here’s how I did it, and how you can too.

1. Mastering the Fundamentals

The most important step in preparing for AP Physics C was ensuring that I fully understood the core concepts. Physics C is calculus-based, meaning you need to understand both the physics and the math behind it. I started by revisiting the basics—especially Newton’s Laws, kinematics, and energy principles. Every time I encountered a concept that was confusing or unclear, I’d pause and go back to the theory behind it. For example, when studying rotational motion, I spent extra time understanding torque, angular velocity, and moment of…

As mothers, we often pride ourselves on being strong, unshakable figures in our children's lives. To them, we are superheroes—capable of handling countless tasks, always there to offer support and guidance. But behind this strength, there are countless moments of fatigue, doubt, and helplessness. We may rarely show this side of ourselves, fearing that it may diminish the image of the powerful mother we strive to be. But perhaps true strength lies not in always being invulnerable, but in sometimes allowing ourselves to show vulnerability.

"Mom gets tired, too. Mom has moments of weakness." These are the words I have learned to say. And in saying them, I realize that this vulnerability brings me closer to my children. It reminds them that I am not an unbreakable force, but a human being, full of feelings and emotions, just like them. I am not always strong, and that is okay. In…

When I think back on high school, one class stands out more vividly than the rest: AP World History with Mrs. Remsberg. At the time, I didn’t realize how significant that class would become in shaping the way I think, analyze, and understand the world. It wasn’t just another box to check for college applications—it was an experience that fundamentally changed how I viewed the past, and more importantly, how I approached learning itself.

Mrs. Remsberg had a way of making history feel alive. She didn’t stand at the front of the room and recite facts. Instead, she challenged us to engage with history—to dissect it, question it, and piece it together like a puzzle with missing and misleading parts. She used to say, “History isn’t just what happened; it’s what we say happened—and why we say it that way.” At first, I didn’t fully grasp what she meant. But…

A few days ago, I helped my daughter move into her dorm room at a private college across the country. It was a beautiful campus—tree-lined paths, historic buildings, and excited students buzzing with energy. But as I walked back to the car alone, the joy of watching her begin a new chapter was mixed with worry and reflection. I realized there are some things I wish I had known—or at least truly understood—before she packed her bags and stepped into this new world. If you’re a parent preparing to send your child to college, here’s what I think you need to know: financially, emotionally, and academically.

Financially, nothing can prepare you for how quickly the costs add up. We had saved for years, carefully reviewed tuition and housing costs, and thought we had a good plan. But even with scholarships, there were expenses we didn’t expect—books that cost hundreds, lab…