Galileo believed the universe “is written in the language of mathematics, and its characters are triangles, circles, and other geometrical figures, without which it is humanly impossible to understand a single word of it.” He made this statement during the 16th century, when the most complex of equations included parabolas and trigonometry, concepts most people have to learn before they even graduate high school. If Galileo were alive today, he would be wonderstruck about what we know about math and how it makes up our universe now. Even centuries ago the brightest minds understood the power of math; its importance today is undeniable. Although math helps people in practically every field or occupation, a great example with a clear path to benefits would be studies of the mind. As someone who currently plans to study neuroscience in college, I understand math as the literal language behind discovery. Math is the catalyst through which we make breakthroughs. Statistics we collect and data analysis we perform reveal patterns that clue us in to the brain’s inner workings. The speed and time period of dementia decay can be graphed and picked apart, giving us hints for tracking patients’ status. Widening the lens into general human studies, my mom’s life was saved by math. One morning when I was only a few years old, my mother was rushed to the hospital in the small hours of the morning. My family was informed that unless they did emergency removal surgery, my mother’s gallbladder would erupt inside her body, creating lethal side effects. Yet, as I am writing this essay, my mother sits downstairs reading a book, our poodle’s head resting in her lap. She is here today because of the incredible surgeons that worked for hours to save her— surgeons whose procedures have been forged through centuries of mathematics. Precise measurements and trigonometry supply the surgeon with the scalpel, the scissors, the bandage, and every other tool they use. The brains of surgeons are constantly ;./ with approximations, measurements, timers, and more while they operate, all components of math. While the surgeons undeniably perform the medical miracles, math is what provides them with the platform to do so. While many people groan at their perception of math (calculus homework they have to do instead of going to the movies with their crush), its true reach is irrefutable. Billions of people run their lives on math every day, and millions more make strides towards making the world a better place with it. So, when I think of math, I no longer think of numbers on paper. I think of lives saved, discoveries made, and a beautiful world carefully built with calculation.