AP Biology: The First Step by Kayleigh

AP Biology: The First Step by Kayleigh - August 2016 Scholarship Essay

I was the only sophomore to take AP Biology during the 2014-2015 school year. Going into this class, I was nervous to say the least. During the previous year everyone, including my teachers, tried to dissuade me from taking this challenging class as an underclassman. They told me only the exceptional did well, and that underclassmen didn’t have the skills or experience to excel in an AP class. They only recommended taking it if I was seriously interested in pursuing a college degree in the sciences. For a while I listened to them, and I didn’t sign up for it. However, after thinking about it, I decided to meet with my school counselor and I signed up for it. I had excelled in my freshman classes, getting all A’s, and my Honors Biology class was not challenging for me; I needed something at a faster pace. After discussing my decision with my teachers, I was allowed to take the class. Walking in on the first day was daunting. I didn’t know anyone in the class, seeing as they were all seniors and juniors. I had worked for weeks on my summer project and we were presenting. I watched others go, and sized my presentation up to theirs in my mind, worrying about the level of detail and information in my presentation. When we got our grades back, and I got a 99/100, I was elated. I knew I belonged here and that I could succeed in this class. It was the boost of confidence I needed. With every A on a quiz or test, I gained confidence in my abilities as a student, which has helped me later on in high school. It gave me the confidence to take other AP classes junior and senior year. I believe in myself and have faith that I can do anything! It felt so good to prove to myself that I was capable and able to make meaningful contributions to the class while learning about a subject I love.
This challenging course didn’t just make me block out my self-doubt, it taught me important skills like studying and time management. Chapters and sections were due every day. I learned how to effectively take notes that worked for my learning style. I learned to how to write down only the most important information and facts. These sections took time to read and understand, so I had to effectively prioritize my time. On top of this class, I was taking all Honors classes and Honors Chemistry as an elective, so I had a full schedule. I had to find time to do my AP Biology reading and the homework for all of my other classes, along with my extracurricular clubs, sports, and volunteering. This class forced me to focus and compartmentalize so I could get all of my work done in a timely manner and retain the information.
Learning about varying topics in biology, including cellular biology, ecology, and plant biology exposed me to many different perspectives and information I wouldn’t have learned about in other courses. My favorite unit was on the human immune system. I was fascinated by all of the different designated cells and reactions that occurred in your body, and how that related to disease and medicine. I immediately fell in love with it. If I hadn’t taken this class, I wouldn’t have found what I am passionate about and enjoy. Before this class, I knew I was interested in a career in science, but I wasn’t sure. After this class, I knew what I wanted to do, and had a plan for the rest of my high school career. I took and signed up for AP Chemistry as a junior, and am taking Honors Physics and Anatomy and Physiology. I’m applying to colleges that have strong Biology, Microbiology/Immunology, and Biomedical Science major programs. AP Biology was the first step to discovering my passion and career interest.
My fellow peers and my teacher taught me so much about the future and science, and I would’ve never learned these things otherwise. Many of my classmates were seniors, and I watched them apply to colleges and scholarships. I watched them stress and scramble to meet their deadlines for applications. I listened to their deciding process to try to figure out which college they would spend the next four years of their life at. Through our class discussions I learned which schools had strong programs in certain areas, and got a feel for the price of college, financial aid, and student loans. I was given countless words of advice regarding dorm rooms, majors, and college visits. I took all of this to heart and used it to get a head start on my college search. Furthermore, my teacher told us about her experience going to college and the field of science. She told us about her experiences in college biology classes, and we learned from the few mistakes she made.
From her story, I learned about balancing the price tag of college with the quality of education, and that biology was hard work. It entailed late night labs and analyzing data. It wasn’t for the faint of hearted. This doesn’t intimidate me; I learned more than just biology in this class and from her—I learned about myself, and that having perseverance, a strong work ethic, and dedication are essential to achieving my goals.