2022 Graduate Ranked 2 Out of 22 by Audrey

2022 Graduate Ranked 2 Out of 22 by Audrey - August 2023 Scholarship Essay

My biggest achievement during my education was graduating from high school as the salutatorian. During my junior year, I saw on my transcript that I was ranked third in my class, meaning I was not in the running for valedictorian or salutatorian. I decided that I wanted to challenge myself to see if I could work my way up to either rank one or two since I was so close. I enrolled in multiple dual enrollment courses at my local community college, which helped boost my GPA. In March of my senior year, the superintendent stopped me as I was walking out to my car and told me that I was officially the salutatorian. I was so excited to have earned this title, as I never thought I would be in the running.
This experience taught me that when I put in effort, set my mind on goals, and, most importantly, rely on God, I can accomplish amazing things. When I was in elementary school, I struggled with focusing and had trouble with my work. My parents were able to get me help, and I started to do well in school. I only started to do well with my grades in tenth grade, and even then, I got A's and B's, but never straight A's. I remember first getting straight A's the last quarter of tenth grade, which surprised me. I kept putting all my effort forth, and managed to earn straight A's my junior and senior year. Since my grades were not all A's during my entire time in high school, I did not expect to earn the title of salutatorian. I am grateful that the college classes I took in high school counted, and earned me that title of salutatorian.