A Twist in my Story by Kiersten

A Twist in my Story by Kiersten - November 2013 Scholarship Essay

High school customarily consists of seven courses during a seven hour school day. I am currently in my senior year and have enrolled in honors and numerous advanced placement classes. Throughout my high school career, I have memorized and comprehended a plethora of facts and lessons: some that I will carry with me for the rest of my life, and others that I only remembered for the test. In my United States government class, I learned about the origin of the Constitution and how it still plays a vital position in our nation today. On the other hand, in my anatomy and physiology class, I was given the opportunity to dissect a dogfish shark which assisted me in recognizing the structure and purpose of the different systems in the body. All the information I have accumulated over the years does not compare to the lessons I learned that shaped me into the person I am today. I can happily say the most valuable lesson I have learned during my four years in high school is simply that "life goes on."

My freshman year marked the one year anniversary of the passing of my grandmother who raised me since the moment I was born. We shared an incredibly strong bond and her death was the most devastating event in my life. Although this was an awfully difficult time for me, I was able to cope with it through the guidance and love of the teachers, faculty, and friends I met in high school. Slowly, without notice, I realized that I had accepted the death of my loved one and I was finally continuing on with my life the way I used to. On a different occasion, due to continuous discrepancies, high school was the time I lost my best friend I had since childhood. Having to manage the most confusing time of a teenagers life without my best friend was an extraordinarily arduous task that I believed I would not overcome. I depended on her for emotional stability and happiness and therefore did not know what it felt like to live without a best friend. Fortunately, high school taught me that true friendships last through everything and that I would eventually grow from this sad experience. On numerous occasions, I made minor issues in my life bigger than what they were such as: a single bad test grade, disputes with a family member or an undesired seat in class, but I eventually recognized that it was not the end of the world.

With each of these atrocities, I realized one thing: life went on. After each of these events, I still woke up the next day breathing, with the birds singing and sun shining, whether I was prepared to face the world yet or not. I learned how to pick myself back up after traumatic events and learn from my life experience. As famous author Stephen Chbosky stated in his novel 'Perks of Being a Wallflower,' "things change, and friends leave, and life doesn't stop for anyone," and I truly believe that high school taught me that.