Five Points by Mattie

Five Points by Mattie - December 2016 Scholarship Essay

I like to think that i've came a long way since my kindergarten days. As a senior, I'm starting to look back at all the ups and downs that life, mostly school, has thrown my way. From bad hair cuts and fashion choices, to celebrating games won and tests aced, I wouldn't change a thing about my high school experience. Completing high school in itself is an accomplishment, and after May 7th, that will be an accomplishment that I will be able to claim myself. One of my most proud moments throughout the school year was receiving my latest ACT score.
Southside has introduced a new program in the last couple of years that the school refers to as Success Wednesday. The program is to help kids get a better understanding of what the ACT has to offer and how to prepare for it. Every wednesday, instead of going to our first period class, students report to alternative rooms and assume their positions in front of the computers. For an hour, everyone stays hard at work completing their studies and furthering their knowledge about the ACT as a whole. All that practice ended up really paying off.
College is important to me, but no matter how important it may be, that doesn't change the fact that it is very expensive. Raising my ACT score played a major role in determining whether or not I would be able to afford going to the college that I felt like was the best choice for me. As I sat down this last October, preparing myself to take one of the most importants tests of my life, I felt comfort in knowing how well my school had prepared me for this moment. As time ticked by, I began to recognize more and more of the material that my class had went over. I left the testing building that day with high hopes.
As the weeks went by, at snail speed it seemed like, my anxiety grew. Was I sure I did well? What if my score had not went up? What if it wasn't good enough? A few days later, my questions were answered. My score had went up a whole five points! I was so proud of myself and my school for placing so much effort into improving their students knowledge. The next day I came into school and went straight to the counselor's office to share the good news and thank the faculty for all they had done for not only me, but my fellow friends and students. Success Wednesday was a pain, but it proved to me that hard work pays off.
After I received my results from the ACT, time has seemed to really speed up. Just in a couple weeks Christmas will be here, and before I know it I will be walking across the stage to receive my diploma. As sad as I am to say farewell to all my friends that I have grown with throughout the years, I am equally as excited to create new friendships when college begins in the fall. Thanks to the hardworking teachers for pushing me even when I didn't want to budge, I am able to attend the college of my choice, and that is definitely what I consider to be my biggest school accomplish.