SRHS freshman Hadley Balch’s love-hate relationship with math started in fourth grade when she started taking online classes. Since then, she has progressed quickly, even doubling up on math during middle school. Currently, she’s not only taking AP Calculus but also navigating the challenges that come with being the youngest in a classroom full of seniors and juniors.
Of course, she’d rather be doing something else.
“I’ve never really liked math; I’ve just always been good at it,” Balch said with a laugh. A mix of talent and determination has brought her to the difficult and demanding AP Calculus classroom, which she finds to be a refreshing change from her online studies. “It is a different experience learning in a classroom,” she explained. “I like having the opportunity to speak with my teachers and classmates.” However before, since fourth grade, she had to figure things out independently without interactions with a teacher.
Mr. Snaith, the AP Calculus teacher, has seen freshmen in his class before and said, “It’s often the social dynamics that make it tough for freshmen,” recognizing the challenges Balch faces being among mainly seniors. But Hadley Balch thrives in this environment. “I like being in a class full of seniors. The kids in my other classes can be a bit immature,” she said.
Outside of the classroom, Hadley is an athlete, balancing her time between cross country and club lacrosse. She dedicates about two hours each day to math homework, a big difference from her other classes that have a much lighter workload. “Managing time is tough,” she said, especially as she adjusts to the pressures of high school life with both schoolwork and sports. But she approaches her responsibilities with confidence, finding ways through the demands of both academics and athletics.
Even as a freshman, Balch has her whole future planned out. When I asked her questions about her future, she said, “I want to major in finance and live in NYC.” When asked why, she said that her mom worked in finance and was very successful and that it would support the lifestyle she wants to live in New York. What kind of freshmen plan this far ahead of time? Not many, which sets Balch apart from others her age.
Much of this maturity comes from the pressures of her parents. Balch described how she has faced a significant amount of pressure from her parents. They push her and sometimes, it feels like the pressure is too much. But she acknowledged that “if they were not as strict I would probably not be in such an advanced math class.” She also acknowledged that while she would still be advanced in math due to her natural ability, she likely wouldn’t be as accelerated as she is now.
Along with sports, Hadley Balch also loves spending time with her friends and going shopping with them, as most teenagers do. She loves to travel, which is a big part of her family’s tradition. She describes it as a way they connect and cherishes those memories, her favorite being going to Cabo and Maine.
So far, high school has been a good experience for Balch, as she enjoys the opportunities it gives her. But she faces the challenge of being in such a high-level math class at a young age, where the next step comes into question. She and her family have even thought about transferring to Marin Academy as it has more advanced classes available. But then why would she start at SR? She said that her parents wanted her to try out SRHS first, as her sister goes there, and if necessary she can transfer to MA in the next year. Another option would be taking more online math classes, but she feels in-person learning is better for her.
Like many other people in AP classes, Balch finds it hard to manage time, especially when playing sports. As a freshman that is newer and not many freshmen experience that as they are not in an AP class yet. Being in AP calculus and taking accelerated science and Chinese courses outside of school, she finds it difficult but tries her hardest to be a good student.
Mr. Snaith sees the pressure of her packed schedule and said, “Hadley is a good student but is too busy and doing too many things at once [which is] putting a lot of pressure on her and unable to do as much work,” he said. He also thinks being a younger person in his class is a disadvantage because they are not as experienced in dealing with multiple pressures.
As she navigates the complexities of high school, Hadley is aware of the challenges that lay ahead. After AP Calculus, knowing her options for advanced math will be limited, she tries to make the most of her current situation.
With her confidence and ambition, Hadley Balch is not just another freshman; she’s a young woman who is full of determination to succeed in academics and beyond. As Mr. Snaith said, “Hadley’s readiness for this class is a testament to her hard work. I have no doubt she’ll make her mark in finance and whatever path she chooses.”
