Greatest Academic Accomplishment by Kynna

Greatest Academic Accomplishment by Kynna - March 2014 Scholarship Essay

Academically I have been very blessed. Throughout my high school career I have maintained a 4.04 GPA and I will graduate with 23 college credits. I attended the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Convention (HOBY) and the Boise State Honor’s College Camp. I am also an Idaho Science and Aerospace Scholar (ISAS) and I participated in the ISAS summer experience as well. All of these experiences are important to me; however, none of them would have happened if I had never gotten my first straight A report card.

At my elementary school they didn’t give grades on an A, B, C, D, and F scale they gave grades on another scale that made all grades seem good no matter how you were doing. Then when I got to middle school in fifth grade they switched to the normal grading system. At that point I didn’t know how important grades were so I just went through school doing my best because that’s how I am. Then, when we got our first report cards I had straight A’s and I didn’t think it was all that impressive. Then, my teacher explained to the class how this “new” grading system works. When he explained the GPA system I still didn't think it was a big achievement because I am the youngest of three children and I didn’t think it would be anything that would impress my parents.

I then took my report card home to my parents I was expecting underwhelming results, this was not the case. My mom looked at the report card with amazement and she was beaming with joy. She then told me how proud she was of me and that what I did was very impressive and a great accomplishment.

Ever since then I have wanted to continue to get straight A’s and continue to make my parents proud. Without this first encouragement I don’t think I would have tried as hard to maintain a 4.0 or higher and this ambition has evolved into a piece of my identity. Without this drive to succeed I don’t know who I would be. Getting my first straight A report card has definitely changed who I am as a student, daughter, and person.