Wondering if you can write about your weaknesses in your college essay? Yes. I did once earn gold stars for my multiplication tables– but it was in part because the third grade math specials teacher was a terror. Her pedagogy included yelling sharply and loudly, like a Rottweiler defending its threshold, at students whose memorizations fell short. This ensured if they didn’t know their 9’s, they at least crapped their pants in school. She was an ageless old that I now recognize as probably 35. After that, my math successes plateaued, then completely fell off. My math person potential crashed to a halt at the accomplishment of 144, which is 12 x 12. I went down with all my stars.