Message to Ms. Teacher

If you haven't discovered it by now,

I have little interest in my grade

It is of no consequence to me,

If you grade my work by 

Its quality, or my errors.

You, dear teacher, are more than

A TI-84

My work may be a series of equations

And problems to solve,

But I am no mathematicion,

Nor a calculator

I don't want answers

I don't want perfection

Instead,

I seek formulas

I seek solutions

And I seek  mistakes

I seek trial and error

And I seek effort.

Because learning?

Learning is like no other milestone

From learning to walk 

To learing to swim, and

To learning in general

All require one thing

One thing that only I can control

I decide

If I sink or swim

So what you do you say?

Are you with me?

With yourself?