You Have Got To Be Kidding Me by Kaleigh

You Have Got To Be Kidding Me by Kaleigh - March 2014 Scholarship Essay

My parents have always expected a lot from me. The year they moved me from a private school to our local public school, I was pretty nervous. When they made me apply for the hardest program offered at the new school the following year, I was terrified! The Cambridge AICE program offered at Fletcher High School was extremely hard, according to every student who was in it! My parents did not care. They made my sister and me both enter the program, so I wasn't alone. However, since I was late starting the program (everyone else had started in their Freshman or Sophomore years), I ended up in classes comprised of primarily sophomores! Great. New kid, new program and with primarily sophomores! You have got to be kidding me!

In order to get an AICE diploma, you have to pass six AICE tests. Everyone else has three years to pass six exams; I have two years. So I took the AICE classes my junior year, all four of them necessary to "catch up." These classes, along with my honors Physics, pre-calculus and my dual enrollment Spanish, would be the end of me! How could I do all of that in one year?

When the grades came back this past summer, I found out that I had passed ALL of the AICE tests as well as getting credit for an AP Language test! How was that possible? Sure I had worked extremely hard for the entire year, but passing all of the tests was incredible! My parents were thrilled for me.

What nobody at the school knows is that I was tested in fifth grade for dyslexia. I received tutoring to help with my reading and my learning. I know that I learn differently than others. I have to physically do things in order for the information to stick. I usually end up writing things down two or three times to help me remember.

The AICE tests were hard for me, but I was able to do it! I still have to pass at least two of the four AICE tests this year in order to get my AICE diploma, but I am going for it! These four AICE classes, as well as my four AP classes, are hard. Don't get me wrong. I wouldn't suggest this course load to anyone, but I chose the courses myself. I am not kidding you! Sometimes, you have to load up to see how much you can carry.