Whether it is in academics, athletics, or companionship, it is important for everyone to always try to be the best that he can be. This not only gives one a sense of self satisfaction but also, make the world a much more optimistic and pleasant place to live. It is up to an individual to rise up to meet a challenge. Many do not and take the easy way out but many do and are the best they can be. I had this choice in my younger years and chose to do my best.
             It was in the fifth grade and my class was preparing for a unit test on fractions the next day by working on a review sheet. No matter how hard I tried I could hardly ever seem to match my answer to the solutions on the back of the paper. I would forget to reduce or not even start off with the right numbers. I struggled and tried all day. When the bell rang, I decided that if I wanted to do well I would have to ask the teacher for help. We spent several hours after school working through the questions on the sheet with very little progress until my teacher had to go home. On my way home, I looked over the familiar numbers over and over, but in fraction form they became as familiar to me as Yiddish or any other foreign language for that matter.
             After dinner that night I asked my parents if they could try teaching me that, which I fought so hard to grasp. They both agreed and we spent until my bed time working with a greater deal of success. My mom decided that I should wake up earlier the next day so I could do a little more practice before the test. I woke up extra early the morning of the test and practiced the questions on the sheet until I could remember most of the numbers involved. I was very nervous and worried that some of the children in my class that understood the concept of fractions would make fun of me for not doing as well as they did.
             My mom drove me to school and wished me good luck. I told her I would need it. I entered my classroom, sat down at my desk and s...