I am not that kid in class-- the one who talks back to the teacher or circumnavigates the rules, smart yet unruly. While teachers dislike those students, they recognize their inherent aptitude. I have never been that kid. I was always the quiet girl who did whatever the teacher asked. Unfortunately, my timid behavior was mistaken for lack of intelligence. In third grade, we began learning simple algebraic concepts. I found it easy without my teacher’s explanations. When she...