Experience by MIkayla

Experience by MIkayla - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

Experience

Experiencing high school only happens once and for some us, probably most of us, that one time happens in the blink of an eye. Being a senior, finishing up my last few weeks of high school, I’ve come to realize that if I wouldn’t have come into high school thinking it was a joke, I could have been a lot more successful and got opportunities that I now can’t get because I didn’t have the right mindset. Knowing what I know now, I would love to tell future students to try your hardest. You must challenge yourself to succeed not just do the bare minimum to get by. Always try to be at the top of your game. Don’t feel bad to put yourself before others, and don’t feel bad trying to outdo others because when you succeed, when you finish high school at the top of your class, you’ll be thankful for those times that you went over and beyond what was expected of you.
When I came into high school, the tiny freshman that I was, I thought it was all a joke and didn’t matter. I thought to myself “well I don’t really have to try it doesn’t matter much. ” With that mentality, I started doing badly in classes because I would have rather spent time with my friends then at a desk. I preferred playing sports over getting my school work done and I know now that was the worst idea I’ve ever had.
I finally started to get my act together at the end of my sophomore year/beginning of my junior year and I’m more then happy that I did. But, as my senior year comes to an end and I see those words that everyone can’t pronounce, cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Summa Cum Laude I know that I’m at the edge for getting one of those distinguished honors, but I won’t because I messed around the first half of high school. Knowing that if I would have gotten one more A, my family would have heard my name along with Cum Laude, and would have been so proud.
Knowing what I know now, to all future students, yes, live the experience of high school but challenge yourself with hard classes, go above and beyond for your studies, manage well but keep it a challenge. All the tedious hours will pay off in the long run. Over achieving leads to success and I’m sure that when you hear one of those three distinguished honors at your graduation, you’ll be extremely proud of what you’ve done.