Mr.Elia to the Rescue! by sophia

Mr.Elia to the Rescue! by sophia - July 2014 Scholarship Essay

As a student of the Bronx High School of Science, stress is unavoidable. Finding the balance between maintaining high grades, attending extracurricular activities, and finding time for yourself is difficult. To avoid pulling all your hair out, visit Mr. Elia in the guidance office!

Mr. Elia entered Bronx Science when I was a sophomore. I was reluctant to go to his office because I was afraid of someone telling me I had no potential. However, I gradually visited his office more and more to talk about classes, standardized testing, my course selection and to just chill. He mapped out my junior and senior classes, and reduced my stress levels by reassuring me that I was doing fine. We discussed my courses and he encouraged me to take on what ever I could but to make sure I wasn't overloading myself. The guidance office became the place I felt safest at school.

During my junior year, Mr. Elia and I sat down to discuss which colleges I should be applying to. We discussed fields I would want to major in and which schools were best suited for me. While I was worried I wouldn't be good enough for certain schools, he reassured me that I fit the criteria. Near the end of junior year, SAT, SAT II and ACT scores were released. My scores did not fit what my colleges were looking for. Panicked, I emailed Mr. Elia. He quickly emailed me back telling me that I still had time to retake these tests and that I would definitely improve.

In the short time that Mr. Elia has been at Bronx Science, he has definitely been the most helpful faculty member I have encountered. Many students do not bother to visit their guidance counselors, however, Mr. Elia is one of the few who reach out to students. He has helped me realize that I have potential and with hard work and effort, I can reach the maximum.