(Almost) Falling Out of Orbit by Kaila

(Almost) Falling Out of Orbit by Kaila - August 2014 Scholarship Essay

My first semester of college was by far the most difficult obstacle ever thrown at my then 18 year old self. I found myself in a completely different city, surrounded by new people, and to make matters even worse- I was attending the second largest university in the United States. I had no idea what to expect upon arrival. My schedule included Sociology, Computer Fundamentals for Business, Introduction to Social Work and of course my personal favorite (not!), Astronomy.

Prior to my Astronomy class, I never struggled academically. I was always in the advanced programs and classes in high school without any problems. Unfortunately, I had been so versed in learning a certain way in high school, that I learned the hard way that college was a completely different ball park. One day I was a senior in high school with classes of 20 people or less, group work was "the thing" , teachers were always available for extra help, and the material was a piece of cake (most of the time!). And what felt like the next day, I was a college freshman with classes with between 100-300 people, little interaction with those around me, office hours became an explicit part of my vocabulary and college material was much more intensive than high school!

Astronomy was comparable to the Sun's unbearable noon rays cooking your flesh during summertime. It was defeating, powerful, and almost too much for one to bear at a single moment. I was faced with physics, a subject I knew very little about for the first time! On top of that, strange formulas engulfed my notes, and out of this world (literally1) concepts and theories flooded my mind quicker than a person being sucked into a black hole! I felt like I was drowning by mid semester. I had a high D in the class without any idea how I was going to turn this mess of a class around. But by October things had gone from bad to worse for my hopes of turning things around. I left class early one day because I didn't feel well and I missed one of my four exams. After I realized this, I knew my life (at the moment) as I knew it, was over. I had successfully failed my first class and I had no one else to blame other than myself.

I ended up finishing the class with a 66.7, which was a boost from the prior 62.4 average before I took the final exam! In other words, I had failed miserably and my chances of bringing my class average up to a C (passing grade) in the first place were as slim as Pluto being reunited with planet status again. Depressing news aside, I knew I had to redeem myself for my failure rather than accepting it.

In the spring semester, instead of opting out of Astronomy and taking a different science, I decided that this time around I would conquer that beast once and for all. But not only would I conquer Astronomy, I made a promise to myself that I would give every class my all and score straight A's that semester as well. And right on top of that, I decided to retire my old methods for learning and trade them in for a new updated approach that was more college friendly than high school friendly. Fortunately, I can report that I accomplished passing Astronomy with an A and passing my other classes with A's as well. I had developed new study skills, stayed after every lecture to ask questions, took advantage of tutoring and office hours! I had managed to do and learn so much from when I thought my future was for sure going down the drain. On top of everything, I even managed to receive the President's Honor roll for the University of Central Florida and as well as my Associate of Arts degree.

The moral of the story is simple and space like even. Always remember than even if you shoot for the sky and fall you'll still land somewhere among the stars.

Word Count:685