Our Wildwood, Summer 2016, Volume 39

CALEB

Caleb Zakarin, attending Wesleyan University Scott Johnson, math and science teacher

Before winter break, you gave a lesson on infinity and mentioned Gödel, Escher, Bach. I started reading it over winter break. Reading that book sparked my interest in math. When I first heard your advice, I wasn’t happy because I wanted you to solve my problem, but as funny as that answer is, it’s true—if you want to do better, you have to get more problems right. I sat down with an honors problem set and worked for hours and kept getting problems wrong, but after a while, I would get some right, and in conjunction with reading Gödel, Escher, Bach and hearing about these mathematicians failing, I realized I couldn’t mess around. I had to do the work. That was an important moment. I realized how to approach work, which is: If I want to do better, I need to ask myself, “What can I do?” After winter break in 10th grade, you asked me, “How do I improve in pre-calculus?” I said, “Get more problems right.” How did you respond to that advice? At Wildwood, you undertook a study of foundational mathematics in a graduate-school-like seminar. How did the collaborative nature of that work affect your mathematical development? C The collaborative approach made me realize that math can function the same way literature does. It can be a discussion; it can be throwing around ideas. Being in a group where I could bounce ideas off people and have them bounce ideas off me broadened my perspective and approach to mathematics.

S

Our Wildwood /Summer 2016 4/5

You also have a passion for literature. Why is reading literature important?

I’ve always asked, “How can I look at something with new eyes?” Great literature pushes people to do that. I have a significant memory from 9th grade: I was interested in more academic reading, and a teacher gave me a few academic writings that I didn’t understand. I asked her, “How can I become a better reader?” She said, “The way you become a better reader is you just keep reading.” It’s the hard way, and it’s the best way. The more I read, the more vibrant my world becomes.

We have spent many hours discussing topics outside the classroom. What are the benefits of such interactions?

The most important part of my Wildwood experience was connecting with teachers on a meaningful level. I connected with teachers on issues I cared about and with teachers who pushed me to think critically. It’s been significant because the subjects I know best resulted from these outside-the- classroom experiences. The opportunity to work with teachers who cared about my learning outside the classroom was crucial to developing my own interests and exploring them.