Stop and Smell The Roses by Audrey

Stop and Smell The Roses by Audrey - September 2020 Scholarship Essay

High school is like an essay. It takes a while to figure out how to begin, but soon enough, you run out of words and frantically try to wrap it up.

Four years ago, I stood outside of my school’s office, clutching a map that I had highlighted and labeled the night before. I was determined to have a memorable high school experience and that started with going to the right places at the right time. Feeling the butterflies in my belly, I took a deep breath and a step down the hallway. I marched down the hallway ready to begin my grand adventure.

Fast forward a few weeks, and the spark in my eyes is gone. Swamped by stacks of reading assignments and pages of math homework, I realized my new goal: becoming valedictorian. Becoming a social butterfly was now way out of the picture. I wasn’t cut out to be an extrovert, and I was already behind in the befriending game since most of my new classmates already knew each other from middle school. I figured that the only way I could stand out was to get good grades. It was a win-win situation for me since it would make my parents proud, help my college application process, and attract the attention of my classmates, who would ask me for help with homework. This became my lifestyle; my motto; my agenda; my addiction.

Soon, my carefree high school days warped into stressful study nights. Determined to get high scores on my tests, I would stay up later and later each night. The time that I set aside for friends and family shrank, and I began to feel the pressure of it all. On the way home from golf practice, I would sob in the back of the car, succumbing to the anxiety induced by my endless amount of schoolwork.

My hard work paid off. I earned a perfect GPA and scored high on my SATs and AP tests. But what did that cost me? I gave up the chance to make precious memories with my friends. I lost the opportunity to go to school dances and games. My stress and breakdowns placed a burden on my family. I lost sight and cast aside what was important to me. I sacrificed much of my high school experience for a small shiny title on a piece of paper.

That’s why, with just one year left of my high school career, I have a new goal. Despite the anomalous circumstances the world currently faces, this school year I want to soak up every moment as if I won’t live to see tomorrow. I want to be able to find a healthy balance in my life that won’t idolize academics but will take into consideration my friends and family. I want to cherish every class, assembly, interaction, and conversation I have while in high school. This school year, I am determined to live without regrets. I’m going to end my history of metaphorically sprinting through my high school years, and, instead, I’m going to stop and smell the roses.