Advice 101: New Things by Jordari

Advice 101: New Things by Jordari - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

Have you ever seen the life of a caterpillar? They crawl around on twigs and thorns looking for leaves to consume. As the weeks go by, they grow and grow, becoming bigger than Trump’s hairdo. At the point they stop growing, they start to produce a thick, silicon layer, cocoon, where they shield themselves inside and start a divine process called metamorphosis. Within that process, the caterpillar is still growing and morphing. When the time is right, the timid caterpillar will crack from his shell, and come out to the world as a stunning butterfly.
Within my four years of high school, I have experienced a metamorphosis with all the ups and downs and the twist and turns one high school student can take. However, these occasions have taught me important lessons that you and I can carry on for a lifetime.
One lesson I learned happened at homecoming my junior year, I learned that if you consume a bunch of Welch’s Fruit Snacks and a brownie, you’ll definitely have a fun time until the next morning, when you realize your snapchat is blown up with videos of you dancing with a bunch of girls and doing humiliating things. Also, the school, itself, helped me to grow with their “Five-Star” lunches, overcrowded hallways, and over sarcastic teachers. These things might sound like a high school student’s nightmare and to others, it might be. But, to me honestly, it was a blessing, even if the lunches were below par, it was a free lunch, who can complain about that? Even though I felt like I was in New Delhi, India every day, during class changes, I met all my dearest friends and closest acquaintances in those hallways. The teachers, who are more of a comedian than a teacher, have thought me to smile in a working environment and laugh at the small things.
Back in the 7th and 8th grade, when I was youthful and fat, my perception of high school and how it was going to be, scared me. I had seen television shows and movies of jocks stuffing frail kids into lockers and cheerleaders blasting you on social media. I could honestly have told myself that I was going to another hell hole that was called high school. But as soon as I stepped foot on those gray carpets at South, I was greeted nicely by the teachers and staff of the school. I’m not going to lie, it’s was HECTIC! When I mean hectic, I mean Black Friday Deals in Victoria Secrets hectic. I swear I was pushed, shoved, and even rolled around like a yoga ball across those hallways. But it was better than being shoved in a locker. I knew my fat-self would get stuck in there and probably have to call the fire department or a locksmith or something.
Anyway, I got my schedule, asked an administrator for help, and finally went to my first class. Like every first day of school, you had to introduce yourself to the teacher and the classmates. Man, when I mean I was a pug, I was a pug. I was like “Hi I’m Jordari, nice to meet ya”.
Speaking of awkward? I join the wrestling team. Ok, yes, it’s a sport that my fat-self can actually do, but the things that happen in that room are just plain weird. And this is coming from a State Qualifier. Besides the tight unitards we have to wear and touching other dudes, it taught me abstract ideas I never experienced. Like Teamwork; it took teamwork to beat the ba-Jesus out of me to be the person I am now. Dedication; it took dedication not to eat as much fried chicken and cookies to make weight the next day. Courage; it took courage to talk to stat girls during a wrestling tournament. And Determination; it took determination to get that one takedown on the Captain of the team during my freshman and sophomore year. All those abstract ideas and the goal. I set of being the First State Champion for Wrestling at South and leaving my mark where ever I stand, created the hinges and poles to the “Ladder of Success”. It sounds cheesy now, but it’s a great tool for your upcoming success in the future. I realize the smallest things I do in the wrestling room and the classroom, had made me climb hinge by hinge, closer to my goals and dreams. Setting goals are important. Trust me, it feels amazing, when you achieve a goal you worked hard for, and all the work you put in made you a better person at the end.
Another thing I want to leave with you is, to get out of your comfort zone, people, and be open to new things. I definitely know I came out of my comfort zone soon as I stepped on those black and red mats and the next second seeing my legs over my head saying “hi” to my butt. Another thing I did out of my comfort zone, was I join the swim team. I only dipped my foot in and, I was sinking more than the Titanic. Thank goodness Coach Strange had Aquaman's power because I swear she was down there for the longest holding me up. But as the season went by, I’ve become a prominent swimmer and overcame my fear of the water.