Throughout my years of high school I have always strived for the best grades that I could attain, and they didn’t come easy. There were plenty of distractions that had driven me off course. Whether it was long hours at practice, volunteering for my community, or having a part-time job, I couldn’t let these activities hinder my grades. This purpose had sprung in me, to not only strive in my extracurricular activities, but also my schoolwork. Balancing both school and additional activities wasn’t a simple task. This led me to many sleepless nights, in which I had to tutor myself on certain topics I was struggling on. This ranged from my hardest subject, to studying extra hours on my hardest class, and even simple topics that I needed extra work…
School is place where I have met different people with different ways of culture and living. I have found it interesting meeting new people that don’t share the same beliefs as me because I get to know more about where they came from and what their beliefs are.…
Sorry for not getting in touch with you, I haven't had time to check in with you because I am taking summer classes in San Francisco and doing part-time help desk position at the same time. I did great on my first year of college and looking forward to the upper division classes in the upcoming sophomore year. I think the first year of college went well for me because of my wonderful experience at…
Back in 2012 I was accepted into Early college academy at south-ridge (ECAS). This school is particularly special because it allows high school students to take dual credit courses in a community college. Obtaining high grades in my classes while also being required to do my best was something I always had trouble with. I was the the type of person who didn't mind a 70 when it came to report cards, until I found out colleges didn't like students with low grades or at least with low performance like me. My freshman year I made the decision to improve my grades and become a better student.…
It was my first day of practice for high school swimming. There I was- a scrawny freshman, idolizing these upperclassmen who towered above me. Being the only freshman in my class, my coach had me train alongside these giants. I remember the countless morning practices, which always involved grueling endurance sets, where my teammates lapped me constantly while I struggled to make the intervals; feeling disappointed in myself, but determined to continue working hard in order to catch up to my teammates. However, even those grueling workouts could not compare to Christmas break that year. A whole week of practices that were near impossible for my teammates, and absolute torture for me. I will never forget one set from that week. It was a set of 32x150s with a descending interval every four. By the last eight, I was no longer making the interval and struggling to keep up with my teammates, who ended up lapping me, as usual. But I still put every ounce of effort I had into that set, and swam every lap long after everyone else had finished. I challenged myself with a fierce determination to…
Looking back to middle school I remember the fear I had for someday having to go to high school. My teachers always told me how different and harder it would be when I went. My older sister was in 9th grade at the time and I wanted ti be with her when I went. But the high school she was at was different from the one all my friends were going. I always had a hard time making decisions and now I had to choose between going to a school with my friends or going to a school that would help me prepare for the future. So I decided I would just apply to my sisters school to see if I got accepted, going into the interview I wasn't really scared because it didn't matter to me, I just thought whatever happens, happens. Surprisingly I got accepted and…
Walking into my honors English class my eleventh grade year, I felt as if it would be a breeze. Thinking back to the previous year to when I constantly maintained an “A+” and without hesitation I knew that any test, quiz, or writing prompt I was destined for an “A.” It was until now sobbing in a big puddle of salty water I knew for a fact I was doomed. Although I had never really thought into what karma was and what it really meant. It was my eleventh grade year in high school it had finally caught up to me.…
Starting your freshman year of college is a really, really terrifying moment. You go from being in a place where you are totally comfortable to being in a new place full of new people you have yet to get to know. And for every single freshman, it’s especially harder for any number of personal reasons. When I first got to Williams I often wondered if I really belonged here at all—was I smart enough, talented enough, educated enough? As I got closer to my JAs and my entrymates, I began to overcome my insecurity and learned that I could and did belong at Williams. I want to be a JA because I want to give a group of freshman the same support and confidence that my JAs instilled in me. I want to be able to work with a group of my peers and my…
Starting high school was a terrifying idea to me. Different teachers, class times, lockers, drama! I remember that I always looked up to my older sister while she was in high school. She had tons of friends, played sports, participated in student government, and went out for the school play. I wanted to be just like her when I started high school. In middle school, I lined myself up for this, I played soccer in the fall and basketball in the winter. I helped out in the school plays, and I joined the student government. I had a group of great friends, and thought nothing bad was going to happen.…
According to Globe Post, 48 percent of college students dropped out because of the financial pressure. I was taken by surprise when entering college by the additional cost of materials and other living expenses, and also wasn't prepared for the financial obligation that college included.…
When I started my first semester at Florida SouthWestern, I found myself under a crushing amount of stress and believed I would be overwhelmed within the first week. I also convinced myself that the Cornerstone Experience was a significant waste of my time. However, throughout the semester my opinions changed as the course introduced me to several important topics that I found myself referring back to throughout the semester: financial literacy, time management and wellness and stress management.…
High school is one of the biggest transitions in a person's early life. You go from being at the top in your school to the bottom. For me, it was very hard to adjust to this change. On my first day of high school, I walked into first period so nervous I thought I was going to get sick. This is much like what happened during my transition into middle school. On the first day at Mazzuchelli, right before the first class began, I threw up all over the floor of the classroom. I’m not a big fan of change. To make matters worse, the first week of high school was outrageously hot. The combination of the heat and my nerves made me sweat uncontrollably. At the time, I felt very self conscious of sweating during class. As bad as these first few days…
During my current four years of high school, I have come to a conclusion that life is hard and the decisions you make are very important. This is my last year of high school and I’m the first one to graduate from my family. My grandmother tends to tell me that I don’t need college just a simple 7 month course of medical assistant or dentist assistant and not waste any more money. I’m lost, I wish people could help me out and tried to guide me in the direction of the right decision but is my life and choices. There has been times that my grandmother has told me that I am not going to be somebody in the future.…
(More dramatic beginning) Choking and laughing through the cigarette smoke as I sit around the smoking area listening to the seniors tell their crazy drunken stories and cat call at the numerous ladies. This is the dream for any freshmen, but not what I expected when I was thrust into Younglife weekend camp January of my freshmen year.…
When I came back from studying in the United Kingdom I had a goal in mind to lower the cost of education so my parents weren’t as financially burdened. When I was accepted to Bentley University I thought things were going to be better since it would not cost as much as studying overseas. What I did not account for is things going wrong.…