My Greatest Academic Achievement and How it Has Impacted Me by Marissa

My Greatest Academic Achievement and How it Has Impacted Me by Marissa - March 2014 Scholarship Essay

My greatest academic achievement was getting a high enough GPA to earn my academic pin for high school dance team. I was on the high school dance team for three years, and each year starting my sophomore year I was the only one that never received a pin. I felt like the biggest disappointment, not only for myself but for my team. In order to receive an academic pin you had to have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. I was never that smart girl who knew all the answers in chemistry class, or could tell you the square root of 59 in a heartbeat. I always struggled with school; it was something I really needed to work at because it never seemed to come naturally. I thought I would never reach that level of smartness, but it wasn’t until the middle of my junior year where things started to turn around for me. I started to work extra hard in school, I took my tests and quizzes more seriously, but I became an overall motivated person.

After years of slacking, being in dance and wanting to prove to myself and others that I was capable of getting to that point of accomplishment helped put me put myself on the path towards success. Each day all I could think about was how I could get an A on the next test, or how I could improve my horrendous math skills. With each grade and harsh red penned comment, all I could do was tell myself that, “I can’t be the only one not standing up in front of our parents showing off our pins.” Having that constant reminder of how embarrassed and ashamed I was of myself, kept me on track.

Finally senior year came around and dance season was over. The dance banquet arrives, and shortly into it awards get handed out. With each girl getting there named called to be handed her freshly polished golden academic pin, there I sit waiting to hear my name called. Of course because we went in alphabetical order I went last, but surely enough my name was called. Without a doubt I knew that all my hard work had finally paid off for this moment.

I honestly think that without dance team, and having a goal to drive my dedication towards, I wouldn’t have become such a determined individual that I am today. I think it takes a lot to understand and comes to terms with yourself about needing to become better, but eventually I did. Receiving that academic pin was my greatest academic achievement.