The Law of Physics by Gabrielle

The Law of Physics by Gabrielle - April 2019 Scholarship Essay

During my senior year of high school, I thought my year was set for success. I was taking rigorous classes that would land me one step closer to getting accepted into my dream college. One of my classes was AP Physics II, and the year before I had completed AP Physics I. Going into the class, I was not worried about any challenges I might face. But, this all changed after our first test. I failed it miserably. It was a grade that was so embarrassing that I could not believe my eyes. How could I fail so bad in a class that I was confident in? I thought my effort was enough to get the job done. However, it was not even close.
My first thought was to drop the class. I wanted to take the easy way out and stop while was ahead. I did not want to set myself up for failure. This is where my parents stepped in to remind me that it was just one grade, not the end of the world. But, that it was only going to change if I changed my mind set about the class. I could not continue to think that I was a failure at it or that I was over my head, but that I had to let that one go and conquer the next one. I had to take it upon myself and go seek the help that I needed to succeed, because it was not going to happen by itself.
So, the next opportunity to get help, I took it. There I was, standing at my physics teacher’s door, waiting for him to arrive. No matter how embarrassed I felt, I had him sit down with me and my horrible test to go over every single question, whether I answered it right or wrong. I had to learn from my mistakes in order to regain the foundation of the basic knowledge I needed for that class. It was the wake up call that I needed in not just physics, but for all of my classes. In order for me to succeed, I had to take advantage of all the resources around me. This meant going in for tutoring before every test, taking diligent notes, and watching simple videos on whatever topic we were learning about. These small changes to my studying are what made the difference. Since the beginning of the school year, I have made A’s every marking period in physics. I owe this to my change in work ethic, as well as my support system around me.
Although one failed test was not going to end my academic career, it definitely forced me realize I needed to step up my game, especially if I wanted to be successful. Committing myself to my academics has led me to perceiver through any difficult task that has come my way, whether it be in or out of school.