An A+ in Life by Candace

An A+ in Life by Candace - March 2014 Scholarship Essay

Throughout my entire life, I have always been one of the most advanced students in my classes. I have always been the teacher’s pet, and I have always been the first one to raise my hand when a question was asked. Education is and always has been the most important part of my life to date. So when the question of my biggest academic achievement arises, there are a few times I would like to tell people about. However, one of the biggest academic achievements I have ever accomplished as a student was receiving high grades in my honors English classes in three of my four high school years. Nothing could have changed my life more than achieving those grades.

When I walked into my first honors English class, I had the feeling I was not smart enough to be in the class. I had not learned how to write an essay or give a speech. I did not know that moving people with my words, or changing tides with the flows and pulls of sentences was a possibility. But those courses with those teachers, who expect so much of you and are willing to help you meet your goals, really can change someone’s point of view of themselves. Ever since the day I got that first ninety four percent in honors English, I viewed myself differently. I started looking at my writings, whether they be short stories, poems or college application essays, and I started picking out the little bits of magic that I had added in between the scribbled words and the sore blotches of graphite. These advanced courses have helped me realize my passion for the English language, which has driven me to want to become a librarian.

So when I am asked what my biggest academic achievement is, I start thinking, and I realize that the achievement is not just academic. I have a plan for the rest of my life because of it, and that goes far beyond the walls of academics. I can say that because of my outstanding grades in my honors English courses, I am more prepared and more confident for the rest of my life than most freshmen entering the doors of universities are. So this academic achievement of mine does not only change my academic future. It makes the last decade or so feel like something had been accomplished in that time. It gave me a new perspective on myself, which is more than I ever could have hoped for from high school.