The Best Decision I Have Ever Made. by Jocelyn

The Best Decision I Have Ever Made. by Jocelyn - December 2019 Scholarship Essay

A.V.I.D, I have nothing but amazing things to say about it, it without a doubt has changed my life for the better. A.V.I.D is a program that focuses on helping middle school and high school students get to college by encouraging them and providing a way for them to be successful in their current high school classes along with providing opportunities for them to see college campuses and get a better understanding on how college will be. I joined the A.V.I.D program my sixth grade year, and if I'm being completely honest I only joined because all of my friends were and I did not want to be left behind. See all of my friend's parents got them set up for the path of college meanwhile my parents did not, the reason for this being that both my parents immigrated from Mexico at a young age, my mom barely graduated high school and my dad did not even get to finish his sophomore year of high school so college was never really in the picture therefore they did not know how to help guide their kids into that path. Through the A.V.I.D program I got to meet people who encouraged me in school and told me that I was smart and could do more with my life then just graduate and go straight into a minimum wage job however being in middle school, I still did not fully believe in myself. As time progressed I decided to continue with the program my freshman year of high school even though the friends I entered with did not, To say that was a good choice is an understatement, It was the best possible thing I could've done. I went into high school still taking regular classes but as I started to get more involved in the program I decided to challenge myself and take higher level courses for the rest of my high school career. I became so involved in A.V.I.D that I became Vice President my sophomore year, and now I currently hold the title of the first ever Executive President. It is my senior year and looking back throughout my grade school career I do not know where I would be without the program, not only did my academic performance skyrocket but I would not be surrounded by the most amazing encouraging teachers and students. I would not have met my current best friends who have done nothing but root for me in my school career and I wouldn't be currently committed to Grand Canyon University. Being apart of the first ever graduating class of A.V.I.D students at La Quinta High School is something I will never look down on, This program has been my safe haven for 7 years and when I go into the real world next year I will never forget that it was the A.V.I.D program that helped me reach my full potential.