High School Days

High school is a strange time. After three years of trying to develop identity and friends in middle school, students are expected to mature immediately on the first day of ninth grade, but I never completely did this. I never fully realized in earlier grades how important high school success, as measured by GPS and credit, would be to my future life. As a result, I am applying to college with seemingly contradictory measures of my ability to perform college-level work. If I had worked and studied hard rather than hanging out with friends and viewing high school as an opportunity to socialize, I would not have to apply to school with a 21 ACT, a cumulative GPA of 3.032, and no credit my junior year of high school. Had I taken my grades in my earlier years seriously, I could have been an ideal candidate for college.

This year I am making an earnest effort to improve my work ethic and view about high school. My grade point average is raising and my study habits are improving. However after performing poorly my junior year, my GPA cannot reflect the transformation I underwent at the beginning of this year. Now dedicated to making something of myself, I have finally matured and am now trying to lessen the consequences of my past actions. Armed with my new attitude, my eagerness to attend school, and my understanding of the extreme importance of earning good grades signal my ability to work responsibility. I assure you that I will never revert back to the student I once was.

In retrospect, I believe that it was my inability to choose my classes that resulted in my lack of enthusiasm. I enjoy the freedom to pursue my own interests and anxiously await the ability to choose my "own" class schedule in college. While I understand that college with be significantly more challenging than high school, I have always found it easier to study and attend a class that interests me. I am also willing to accept the fact that as long as I am in school, I will be forced to take required courses that I might be less enthusiastic about. However with my new goal-oriented nature, I now realize that I am working towards my college degree and my future success, and I will regain the force to excel.

I now realize that even my least favorite subject will contribute to my ultimate goal of living a rewarding life while working at fulfilling a career. There is a tremendous benefit in being well rounded. I now realize the emptiness