Fifteen by Raquel

Fifteen by Raquel - November 2014 Scholarship Essay

As I reminisce of my first day of high school, I remember once again of how lovely it is to be fifteen. One only truly realizes this mere fact when a pile of bills are laid on the table, rent must be paid, and other adult responsibilities must be achieved without the help of mom and dad. My teenage self, however, would not necessarily agree, as at that period of my life those four years seemed an eternity. Since graduating high school two years ago, I strongly believe my whole high school experience would have been more pleasant if I had not taken it too serious. The truth is that those four years go by incredibly fast and if one successfully balances the academic and social life, high school will become one of your best four years.
I remember very vividly the first morning I walked through the hallways of Doherty Memorial High School. Unlike my junior high, I had just moved to another city while also starting my high school career without knowing a soul. Remarkably I woke up two hours earlier just to straighten my hair, and dress to impress. I feared I would be the only girl sitting in the far corner alone, the one that the upperclassmen would bully and joke on. This fear unfortunately caused me to ignore my individuality in order to be part of a group. For three months straight I tried to ignore my creative self, and all the preferences that made me into the person I am in the present day. If I had not taken the concept of popularity so seriously, those first months would have not felt like hell. The people that take part in your high school experience can truly change your overall view in life and particularly the way you perceive high school ten years from now. Rather than being part of a clique, finding pride in your own individuality will overall help you in establishing genuine friendships.
At the same time, during high school many freshmen either end up slacking in the first year or star their four years overstressing each moment. I was part of the latter, the type of student that would memorize every single information in order to get that A. High school, however, is meant to enrich your being and help you become a thoroughly intelligent citizen regarding different aspects of the world. In fact, after my first test in engineering I came to the conclusion that memorizing destroys one’s imagination and creativity. Unfortunately it took me till my junior year of high school to use this concept in my academics. Not taking a certain class too seriously does not mean slacking in school; rather it takes off the unnecessary pressure in order to bring out your creative self.
On the other aspect, taking high school too seriously can cause one to be involved in many clubs, sports or organizations. One of the best parts of high school is the various organizations one can participate in, however it has its downside. During my freshman year, I feared the idea of having no friends for the next four years. Due to that mentality, I participated in several clubs with the goal to make many friends with similar preferences. For the first half of the year, I tried balancing soccer, engineering club, environmental awareness, and student council. Attempting to participate in all of these organizations equally was a failure, as it was impossible to give the same attention and care to each club. I then realized that one must prioritize and choose the time wasted wisely; hence I came to the conclusion that soccer was the one activity I could not give up. Not only did prioritizing in simply one organization help me excel in soccer, but also it also drastically impacted my grades and stress level.
Whether it is through academics, friendships or extracurricular activities, it is fundamental to take high school for what it truly is. If I had the chance to be fifteen once again, I would make sure to live each moment as the very last. Go to the football games, make friends that teach you to be your better version, educate yourself on topics that will become relevant in your life in the near future. More high school students need to be aware that although high school has its challenges and obvious struggles, one will feel more content when a balance between academics and social life is created. The day will come when you look at your yearbook picture, and wish to relive that time once again.