Every Moment Counts by Amanda

Amandaof Pataskala's entry into Varsity Tutor's April 2016 scholarship contest

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Amanda of Pataskala, OH
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Every Moment Counts by Amanda - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

On the first day of freshman year, I was told that high school goes fast. I was told to enjoy every minute and to work hard because everything counts. Every grade, activity and day of attendance counts. Seeing as it was my freshman year, I didn’t pay much attention to that advice. It seemed as though I had all the time in the world. Four years seemed to be a whole lifetime away. I didn’t pay much attention to this advice. However one day, the statement became a reality. I was a senior in the blink of an eye. I suddenly found myself struggling with regrets and asking myself “what if?” What if I had worked harder in this class? What if I had signed up for this activity? What if I had studied more for this test? If I had to give one piece of advice to younger students knowing what I know now, it would be to not take anything for granted. Take advantage of every second spent in high school.
As a freshman, sophomore, or even a junior, it’s easy to assume that not trying or getting a bad grade in a class will not matter in the long run. It’s not an uncommon or uneducated belief. It’s simply the naivety of being young. It’s the belief that the things we do when we’re young will not matter when we’re older. Unfortunately this isn’t the reality. One of the most common things I see when watching people go through the college application process is poor grades catching up with them. Every grade counts. Colleges look at grades from every year. It is important to keep up with studies through every year of high school. It will all pay off in the end. It’s easy to fail a class, but it's extremely hard to recover. I wish I would have had someone to remind me of how important it is to stay on track no matter how hard the class may get.
Not only should grades not be taken advantage of, but memories as well. Take every opportunity that presents itself. Get involved. High school is a place to make memories and meet new people. It’s easy just to go through the motions of high school. Just going through the motions, however, will not be memorable. Join clubs, play sports, try something new. Even if it may be scary at first, it will turn out to be a great experience more often than not. Don’t end up asking “what if?” Make memories and learn new things. Nothing bad can come from that.
Many things will happen throughout high school. It’s important to stay motivated and appreciate every moment. This is my advice to younger students. It’s what I wish I would have been told repeatedly when things got hard. High school is an adventure that shouldn’t be taken for granted. It goes by quicker than one may think. Take advantage of every moment and don’t leave wondering what could have been.

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