Big Fat 'F': My Pathway Towards High School Success by Isaac

Isaacof Oshkosh's entry into Varsity Tutor's July 2016 scholarship contest

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Isaac of Oshkosh, WI
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Big Fat 'F': My Pathway Towards High School Success by Isaac - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

She handed back the slip of paper with a frown on her face, and glancing down, I could see why. Scribbled across the front in light red pen was a single letter grade—F. It seemed hard to believe that such a small piece of paper could carry so much weight, but as the first quiz in geometry—something that I had felt so confident about the day before—it was a crushing blow. To be honest, it was the first blow that I’d ever had. School had always been something easy, a few minutes of homework before I could retire to something more promising, more enjoyable, and I never had done more than fifteen minutes of studying before a test. I had always relied simply on the fact that I had been present in class to guarantee straight A’s, but I could quickly tell that strategy had come to a screeching halt.
As I looked down at that paper, I still couldn’t believe the grade. After a minute of silence penetrated only by my rapidly increasing heart rate and hyperventilation, I finally focused in on the paper. I had forgotten to label my answer, dropping my score from a perfect, gleaming 4/4 to a 2/4, something I had never seen before on an assignment of my own. Looking back, the quiz was only worth four points, something trivial and easy to fix, but in that moment, I panicked.
After school, I didn’t spend any time socializing with friends—I went straight home to study. No, we didn’t have any sort of quiz coming up, but I wanted to make sure that I completely understood the class before another terrifying grade could appear, and not just in geometry. All of my classes suddenly seemed like daunting opportunities just waiting for my academic demise, but let me tell you, I am a very stubborn person, especially when it comes to personal goals. The night, sitting in my room with math worksheets scattered in circles around me, I made it a goal of mine to never receive a grade I wasn’t proud of again. My math teacher, none the wiser, had probably graded hundreds of quizzes—some of them just like mine—without a second thought, but with a few strokes of red pen, she had changed my whole perspective on school and academic excellence, a lesson that I still value and follow today.
From that moment on, I’ve drastically changed my studying habits to ensure success both inside and outside of the classroom. Now my nights are filled with a lot more quiet time in my room, a textbook cracked open in front of me, and I’ve learned to enjoy it, this time by myself when I can fully push myself to be the best that I can. Yes, I also do “fun” things in my spare time, but I’ve learned how to recognize when this isn’t the best option for me, and I’ve learned a lot about myself in the process. I’ve learned to push myself to my own limits without exhausting my passion for excellence, I’ve learned to accept a variety of grades as long as I am proud of what I accomplished, and I’ve learned how to advocate for myself when I need help, even when others around me seem to do it all themselves. Most of all, I’ve learned to value my own work and effort, and I can’t wait to see what I’ll be able to accomplish in the future whenever I think back to that red “F” across my geometry quiz.
Today, as I continue through the last stages of high school and press forwards into the whole new world of college, I continue to use such a simple lesson and philosophy to inspire my drive for success. At that time, I didn’t know it, but those few lines of red pen changed my view on self-improvement, and I know that I will need this perspective both academically and professionally as I continue to grow as an independent thinker with my newfound viewpoints. Be proud of what you accomplish, never settle for any less, and embrace both success and failure—they’ll both teach you how to improve.
I never thought I’d say this, but to be completely honest, I’m glad I got that F. It’s taught me how to fail with grace and succeed with honor, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything—not even an extra two points on that geometry quiz.

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