Varsity Tutors Essay Contest: Advancement Via Individual Determination by Amiyah

Varsity Tutors Essay Contest: Advancement Via Individual Determination by Amiyah - November 2020 Scholarship Essay

Throughout my time of being a student, I’ve experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows: I’ve gotten lucky and aced some tests I forgot to study for, I’ve studied and prepared immensely for some tests but still failed, I’ve taken initiative to complete and turn in assignments early to avoid hassle, and I’ve even gotten so stressed out by my assignment workload that I resorted to not working on anything for almost 2 months. Those examples, and many others not listed, are proof that I’ve been on both ends of almost every possible spectrum. That’s why it’s so easy for me to point out what I’m most thankful for in my educational experience.
The A.V.I.D (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Program is a college/career readiness program mainly targeted towards students who have plans to attend college after high school and earn a job in a field that corresponds with their degree. It gives students the opportunity to develop great habits that will follow them throughout the following chapters of their lives post high school. I am thankful for this program because it has transformed me into the studious individual I consider myself to be today.
There was once a time in my life that I was completely oblivious to studying, note-taking, being organized, and many other skills needed to help me reach my personal goal of being a successful student. I didn’t have any sustainable habits to aid me in making the grades I wanted and needed; because of this, my grades were very inconsistent from unit to unit. However, the older I got, the more I began to understand the importance of college to my desired career path, and it began to resonate with me that I have to strive for more. This realization led me to figuring out about the A.V.I.D program in middle school through a friend. She first introduced me to the Cornell note-taking style, mostly practiced by A.V.I.D students, and the studying habits used to retain notes. Once I started incorporating a solid study routine using those tips into my daily habits, I could tell I was retaining more information which lead to me making higher and more consistent grades. Still, I wanted to know more about A.V.I.D because I wanted to push myself to keep doing better; I asked one of my teachers to recommend me for the program. In a short time, I ended up interviewing and getting accepted into the program for the 2017-2018 school year (my freshman year of high school). To this day, I consider this a huge milestone in my education because I could tell a significant difference in my attitude towards school as a whole.
I’ve been in A.V.I.D all four years of high school, and it has been a truly humbling experience. Though high school hasn’t been easy, through this program I am currently ranked in the top 15% of my graduating class, I’m making exceptional scores on my standardized tests for college, and I’m getting accepted into all colleges of my choice. A.V.I.D has helped me grow into a student and a person I never thought I’d be, and I’m still growing and learning every day.
I am thankful for this program, not only because of the college and career readiness skills it’s equipped me with, but also because of the wonderful teacher (Adam Holland) I’ve been blessed to connect with over the course of my four years of high school. I’ve found that I’m more inclined to do my work faster and with better quality when I have a teacher like him that’s consistently encouraging me and pushing me past my limits. He has given me many pearls of wisdom that I’ll be able to use far beyond my high school journey. I wouldn’t be where I am if I wasn’t a part of a program taught by an amazing teacher like him.
There’s no question for me that I’m a better version of myself because of A.V.I.D. I may not be the smartest person in the world, but I know how far I’ve come. I can’t help but to think that the majority of my success is due to my being in this amazing program, and that is why A.V.I.D is the one aspect of my education that I’m the most thankful for.