Freshman Year: The Odyssey by Alexander

Freshman Year: The Odyssey by Alexander - November 2014 Scholarship Essay

Mix the thrill of a roller coaster with the terror of a zombie apocalypse together to yield the unforgettable experience of freshman year. It begins the excitingly terrifying 720 day journey, on average, of high school. Filled with laughter, parties, drama, homework, sports, assemblies, and friends, high school is the ultimate teenage experience. However, it is not the easiest environment to adapt to physically or mentally. With a different building, new policy on work, a whole lot of work, different people, different teachers, and different expectations, the brain can overload. The first month of my freshman year was filled with all of this, especially the brain overload. However, some of the kind upperclassmen and my amazing teachers gave me some tips and guided me through. Now, as an upperclassman myself, I have one critical piece of advice for an incoming freshman: explore. I tried track, orchestra, theater, soccer, chess club, and many other things; eventually, I found my niche. Exploration during freshman year is critical in the transition to high school as well as the overall high school experience because it allows the individual to discover what he loves.
On the first day of my freshman year, I went to painful introductory assemblies, found (most of) my classes, and went to the incredibly confusing club fair. All of the upperclassmen stood behind tables labeled with their respective groups. I walked past table after table, looking for at least one thing to sign up for. By the end of the fair, I signed up for only a few things because I was intent on thoroughly exploring them. Not only were my friends going to join me in the activities, but I was excited to start some new adventures. Freshman year was the first instance where I could really do whatever I wanted. Yes, I still had plenty of limitations, but the sheer excitement from this opportunity helped me start my high school journey. In fact, I started off with a running start.
“Bud, be careful with what you’re getting into there. Indoor is insane,” said the upperclassman behind the track and field table as I signed my name on the indoor track roster. The practices began in late October, and I quickly realized what I had gotten myself into. Despite the fact that it was indoor track, the team practiced outside. The cold weather sliced through my body everyday as I sprinted around the track. No amount of clothing could keep me completely warm, but I did not mind. I was having fun. I stuck with track regardless of the intense practices and exhaustion to see if I honestly liked it. In addition, I had a whole new set of friends, both upper and underclassmen. So, when outdoor track season started, I decided to continue to explore my athletic abilities. I actually tried throwing javelin and discus to see if I liked it better than running. The outdoor season went on much like the indoor, and I thought that I would continue along the athletic route until I was given another opportunity.
Towards the end of the outdoor track season, a senior asked me to participate in an orchestral pit for the spring theater production. I had been playing cello since third grade and knew that I loved it, so I gladly agreed. Unknown to me at the time, this was the beginning of a three year dedication to my high school’s drama club. During dress rehearsals, the cast involved the musical ensembles in a series of improvisation and warm-up games. I was nervous to participate, but the group supported me. The moment I started to act, I felt strangely comfortable; all of my fear vanished. I was then faced with a decision: I could either choose to continue down an athletic path or an artistic one for the next year. Because of this new-found interest in drama, I chose the latter, and I am grateful for that decision every day.
This small decision forged unbreakable bonds with my peers and helped to sculpt my character for the better. It is imperative that freshmen know that small decisions can lead to great things. Taking large or even small steps outside of one’s comfort zone can yield amazing and rewarding experiences. Freshman year is the ideal year to do this because there are countless opportunities to take. I am grateful for every opportunity that I took because I learned what I liked best and discovered my passions. Yet most importantly, I learned that there are no consequences to exploring something new. Even though I did not absolutely love track despite the time and effort I put into it, I felt accomplished; I tried something new. It is not wise to make an uninformed decision. Through exploration, one can gain the necessary knowledge to make a sound decision. This is critical in not only freshman year, but throughout high school, college, and life. The sooner the individual knows this, the better-equipped he will be for the future. I am who I am today because of those adventures I took my freshman year. Exploration is the key to a rich and rewarding high school experience, and it all starts freshman year. It makes all the difference in all areas of life.