To What Fictional Character Do You Most Relate and Why?

I love math. This love goes deeper than just enjoying a class at school, it’s developed me

into the person I am today.

All people who love math share characteristics, but most of all, we’re nerdy. This

nerdiness underlies all other personality traits; while others view nerdiness as a bad thing, we

embrace it, and it makes us who we are.

The love of math leads to making connections in strange places. One of my earliest

memories connecting with a character on television was watching the cartoon Phineas and Ferb.

When I was younger, I just enjoyed the show, but as I got older I realized why I enjoyed it so

much: I’m just like one of the main characters, Baljeet Tjinder.

While it may seem that Baljeet and I just share math as a common interest, it goes deeper.

Math brings out the nerd in us. I love talking about math topics with my friends, and doing a few

math problems can help clear my mind when I get stressed. Although he might not ever come up

with a plan to build a beach in the backyard, Baljeet uses his math to assist with Phineas and

Ferb’s farfetched schemes. While others focus on Phineas, Ferb, Candace, Perry the Platypus, or

other characters, I focus on Baljeet, quietly standing off to the side.

In one episode, Baljeet mistakenly signs up for a “rock” class. When he learns it is a

Rock and Roll class, not geology, he panics that he will not be able to succeed in the class.

Similar to Baljeet, I take great pride in my schoolwork and will accept nothing less than my best

effort. We both possess nerdy characteristics that have developed us into the smart, motivated

students we are. We’re also both scared of failure; we’ve instilled high expectations for

ourselves, making underachieving not an option. In another episode, Baljeet even refers to a

failed math test as “the scariest thing known to man!”

 Uncomfortable with an electric guitar around his neck for his Rock and Roll class,

Baljeet turns to his friends for help. We both have great support systems in our friends, and, just

as we can count on them to help us, they can always count on us to lend a hand. In nearly every

episode, Baljeet, the nerd, is seen with his frenemy Buford, the bully. Just like Baljeet and

Buford, I connect with my friends in spite of our differences. Baljeet finds a sense of comfort in

Buford, and I feel the same way with my friends; they comfort me in uncomfortable situations

and let me open up and truly be myself.

In Phineas’ backyard, Baljeet is surrounded by an eclectic mix of characters. He provides

calm and logic to the loud, colorful group. I often find myself wondering how I fit in; just like

Baljeet, I’m the calm overthinker in my group. Steady and ever present, it’s nice to have a front

row seat to the group’s adventures.