Your Beginning by Riley

Your Beginning by Riley - November 2014 Scholarship Essay

High school seems to feel like the final leg of the race. Incoming freshmen have been going to school for at least eight years, that would be over half of their life time. During this time these students could have been star students, students that fall behind, the disruptive student, or unfortunately more often labeled in a way that is less favorable. I want all of these students to know that this is their time to start fresh if they want to. If they want to leave the labels behind them, they can.

Too often students are molded into what they have been told they are or should be by others. I want these young adults to realize that they now have the opportunity to choose to break any labels they have been given. High school is about finding who we all want to be, what we want to do with life after high school, and exploring our options in life. This is a new school with new teachers and a lot of new peers, many of whom have no idea who you are. I would want the freshmen to know that they can use this opportunity to evolve and explore who they want to be. It takes a brave type of person to explore and break the labels after being told for over half of their life that they are a certain way. High school can be whatever they want it to be, it is up to them now to choose to use it to their advantage or not. I would strongly advise that these freshmen come into high school head strong knowing that they are given a fresh start and use this fresh start to better their school, society and self.

Freshmen year can be a scary thought, with many doubts running through these young adults’ heads. If they keep the idea of freshmen year being a fresh start for them, it will not seem as scary. They can be who they want to be, they can start over or choose to carry on, there are no limits. High school seems to feel like the final leg of the race, but really it is a new beginning.