Alyssa Guo: The first time I walked into Mrs. Rolfe’s classroom, I knew it would become my comfort class that year. Right away, her reassuring presence created a welcoming environment, one in which I immediately felt at ease. The environment was warm and inviting, but what immediately took the edge off the first day of school was the bright smile on Mrs. Rolfe’s face. It told me that, no matter how challenging the class would prove to be, as long as I put in our best effort, everything would be okay.

I went in as someone who never had a love for math, and I left it the same day with not only a newfound appreciation for the subject but also a deeper confidence in my own abilities. Mrs. Rolfe had a way of making math feel less like a series of intimidating numbers and more like a puzzle waiting to be solved. Her patience, dedication, and unwavering belief in her students transformed what once felt like an impossible challenge  to an opportunity to grow. 

Sarah Veeraraj: Taking Algebra 2 Honors as a freshman was an intimidating experience. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, and I had heard it was a very rigorous and challenging course. 

What set Mrs. Rolfe apart wasn’t just her impressive mastery of the subject—though that was undeniable. It was the way she made her classroom a safe space where questions weren’t merely encouraged but celebrated. She always reminded us that no question was too small or too simple and that every student learns at their own pace. Whenever one of us struggled, she saw it as an opportunity to teach rather than a reason to criticize us.

Alyssa Guo: Mrs. Rolfe has a knack for breaking down complex problems into simple, digestible steps. She would often use real-world examples as well as memorable comparisons to show us how math applied to our daily lives, making it not just a subject, but a valuable tool.  Beyond that, Mrs. Rolfe showed us how the values we learn in math extend to everything we do.

One thing she said that really stuck with me was, “Math is like music. When you play scales, you have to practice them over and over again to really get good at it. You can’t expect to just play them once and be perfect at them. You must keep trying.” As a student in music myself, not only did this really resonate, it really taught me how math can be applied to daily life not only in the concepts itself, but also in the values it teaches. 

Sarah Veeraraj: As a teacher, Mrs. Rolfe prepares us not only for future advanced math courses but also by helping us build a strong foundation for upcoming topics. Now, not only in math, but in all aspects of life, whenever I encounter a difficult problem, I use her advice to break the question down into smaller, more manageable steps and to keep trying, even when it feels impossible. 

Beyond the teaching aspect, Mrs. Rolfe is always smiling and cracking jokes with her students, in order to build a genuine connection that extends beyond the classroom. 

Alyssa Guo: That’s why we’re beyond grateful to have the opportunity to have Mrs. Rolfe as a teacher in such a crucial transition stage in our academic careers. Thank you for all of your hard work, dedication, and help, Mrs. Rolfe! We are so lucky to have you, and we appreciate you so much.