I was in the fourth grade, when the comparison trap tripped me up. Two of my classmates would go upstairs to the fifth grade classroom for math because their skills exceeded the level the class was on. It seemed like they were soaring, while I was left struggling downstairs. Math was never my strong suit, so seeing them elevated left me with a twinge of jealousy. 

In the sixth grade, I remember being told that a select group of students from our class would be going on a field trip to sing Christmas carols at a senior citizen home. Our teacher, Sister Mary Louise (a nun at our K-8 Catholic school) walked the aisles listening to each of us sing. After the song, she chose a handful of students to go on the field trip, which didn't include me. I knew singing wasn't my strength, but I didn't think it was bad enough to exclude me from going. Math challenged and unable to carry a note, I wondered what set me apart.

All I wanted as a kid was stellar math skills and a strong singing voice. What I failed to see...