Fully Indulge In High School by Sanyu

Fully Indulge In High School by Sanyu - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

When I was a freshman, I had no idea how many events and activities I could get myself into. Although I made great friends throughout my high school career, and excelled academically, I didn't take full advantage of the clubs and ASB events that were available to me. As a senior looking back on all the years when I should've went to those football games, those Spanish club meetings, those plays, and those homecoming dances, I realize how much I missed out on. Freshman: Take advantage of all those things, because time does fly and you will not get any of that time back.

I do admit that I picked and chose a few different things to be involved in. I was the secretary of the Multicultural Student Union, I helped organize the Martin Luther King Jr. assemblies, and I wrote for the school newspaper for two years. The thing about me however was that I was too picky. Whenever my friends wanted to join an interesting sounding club, I would make excuses not to attend, simply because I wasn't willing to go out of my comfort zone and be a part of something new. As a senior, I now understand that in life I will thrive much better if I don't get so scared to try something different. I will thrive much better if I decide to step outside of my comfort zone, instead of getting too comfortable with something "safe." This goes for all things in life. In high school particularly, my comfort zone was going to my 7 classes, going to cross-country practice, and going home. Although some years I tried just a few different things to change up my schedule, most of them were things I was 100% sure I would love, excel at, or knew they'd be easy.

The thing about high school, and life however, is that we cannot always stick to the safe and easy things. We must go for everything, the easy, the interesting, the different and the strange. How will we learn as human beings if we don't fully indulge in all life has to offer? For me, I did not fully indulge in everything that high school had to offer. I thought I was perfectly fine sticking to my very comfortable routine. Three and a half years later I realize that I should've been more like the girl who made it a goal to go to a different club meeting a week, and meet new people there. I should've been more like the guy who volunteered to speak at a veteran's day assembly. I should've been more like the two best friends who volunteered to do a group of girls' makeup for their prom.

Although I look back and see how a lot of opportunities passed me by, I know that I don't want my entire life to look like that. I want my life to be full of opportunities and chances that I've taken with open arms and an open mind. As an underclassmen, there are so many things that will be offered to you in terms of academics, social events, clubs, sports, and the list goes on. Take advantage of it all! Try doing something you never thought you would do. Make a memory with a stranger, they might turn into your best friend.

Overall, the high school experience is all about what you want it to be, and what you make it. It's always great to try something at least once, and get a feel for something you've never tried before. Indulge, indulge, indulge in all high school has to offer, they're four years of your life that are surprisingly fleeting.