Be Gentle by Samantha

Be Gentle by Samantha - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

As a freshman in high school I aspired to be in all AP and honors classes by my senior year. Have a 4.0 GPA, near perfect test scores, top five percent, and be involved in every club I wanted to be apart of. By my sophomore year I was placed in therapy and almost hospitalized for my obsession with perfecting myself. I had pushed myself so much that it ruined me, and created crippling anxiety attacks. Striving for perfection almost ruined my high school experience, and coming to the realization perfection is not possible saved me.

Students enter into high school wanting to be the best they can be in academics, but sometimes push themselves to far. Or expect so much from themselves they forget that high school is supposed to be fun as well. That's the advice I wanan give to my incoming freshman, that it is ok to take the non-honors classes. It is ok as well to only take the one honors class that you enjoy, and say no to your teacher that you do not want to take that honors class. Or that that you would rather take College Math over Pre-calc, or Government instead of AP Government. Since you know you also want to have fun, and not spend six hour each night on HW. Since, you want to go to rehearsal or practice instead of multiple study sessions. Do not push yourself to a breaking point to achieve a goal that is nearly impossible.

That does not just apply to just grades or academics, it goes with your job or extracurriculars. You do not have to consume yourself with just a job, and give up having fun. Or absorb your high school career with just one activity, join multiple ones to learn somethings. Since, the last thing you want is to lose the love for something or the passion. Due to an over exposure or over working yourself in that field. Since what you love to do should stay that way and not change.

In the end, the academics of school are import at but you have to remember so is your mentality. Do not sacrafice your well being to achieve a goal that may be unachieavable. Once I stopped trying so hard I was happier at school, home and just in general. Now as I finish my junior year I have maintained my 3.8 GPA, top 25%, and involved with the actives I love. I took a step back my sophomore year and decided what was important, my health or school. I chose my health, and that' is my advice to freshman coming in, to try hard but not at the expense of your well being.