High School- Shaped Experience

               These past four years have been a whirlwind of emotions, with the highs at times being outweighed by the low moments. There were even some moments over the four-year span where I did not even think I would make it out alive. However, I seemed to pull in the positive direction and as I walk out in the following weeks; I know that I am leaving with my head held high and filled with nearly half a decade of knowledge bestowed on me. I have pushed through all obstacles placed in front of me throughout high school and I sometimes laugh to myself on how I even made it as far as I have. Each face and lesson that had made its way over to me has impacted me in some way over the years; whether I know it or not, and I am very appreciative of it all.

                Who would have thought that four years can really warp a person into the young man or woman that will go on to face the world? To me, high school did much more than teach me Calculus (despite how hard it was), it also taught me how to interact socially as well as how to study and retain information to help me later down the road.

                The fact that I had come on top of my freshman year experience where for 105 days; (including weekends and school vacations) from December 9,2009 to April 5, 2010, I was not allowed to even step foot on the school property to now graduating the on the first of June. Although that incident was single-handedly the most severe punishment I had received and one of the post painful ones to sustain; I would not change a thing. I know that may sound strange, but it is remarkably true. I know having my grade point average drop from a 4.0 that year to a 1.9 was a drastic change, but it was one that caused me to take school a little more serious. Throughout school leading up to ninth grade, I was never challenged in school and I genuinely considered it a joke; but with having to face the matter of grade recovery in order to increase my GPA, I felt a challenge. Some days were harder than others, but knowing that I was accomplishing an almost impossible feat, a strong sense of pride came over me and I knew from then on I would thrive to do better and excel at whatever was on my plate.

                As I am finishing off the last leg of high school, I know that thanks to my freshman year I have truly excelled as a student and even more as a human being. I know my transcripts may not reflect the best of grades over the past four years, but on a yearly basis I have made it onto honor roll and have maintained A’s and B’s in my classes; both advanced and regular. My GPA has risen from 1.9 in my freshman year to now a 3.0; which is almost unheard of. In the course of three and a half years, I have raised my GPA 1.1 points, which by no stretch of the imagination is an easy task, but I feel very proud in that fact and no one can take that accomplishment away from me. Although my punishment I earned at GLHS three and a half years ago, was severe and drastic; it was truly I who made the drastic change by bouncing back from that event and coming out on the other end unscathed. 

This I Believe Essay

Through Pain Comes Strength

I remember walking into the house on a normal Wednesday afternoon- at least so I had thought- with just the same old song and dance routine I had used all that week. Waiting at the door was my mother which was an immediate red flag. She was not supposed to get off work until four o’clock but today something seemed wrong and oh how I wish my instinct was wrong.

After placing my bag on the floor, I had received the crushing blow that my grandmother had passed away; the news was devastating and I almost falling out of my chair. She had been sick for a month or two with pancreatic cancer and although her struggle was long, it was a positive that her suffering was over. On the other side of the spectrum, a sense of pain and resentment for her leaving us came over me. “How could she leave? I just saw her a few weeks ago”; thoughts that echoed through my head. I knew she was in a happier place, but to me I was not and I felt pain and an overall sadness come over me.

As time passed on, the fact of her no longer being here began to sink in, but a different feeling passed over me; a sense of resiliency.

I later found that the life lessons and ideas she passed onto me were not for nothing, and after applying these characteristics to my life I felt her make her way back into my life. Knowing her, learning to push forward from this was a life lesson in its own.

My grandmother was philosophical and “deep” like that, believing always to conquer obstacles that may lie in front of goals and aspirations. Thanks to her I found that although her passing shook me to the core, it also appeared to give me the will power to come out on top.

Although her passing was unexpected, my grandmother passed down more insight to me in seventeen years of life than some people receive in a lifetime.

Thanks to her love and support, I am fully in belief that I can conquer the biggest of problems that may arise in the future.

5-This I Believe

• "Tell the Children"- Theme: Children, courage, & death

• "Monster Juice"- Theme: Children & parenthood

• "The Triumph of Kindness"- Theme: Family, goodness, & kindness

• "There is Always a Way Out"- Theme: Self-determination

• "Why Are We Here"- Theme: Science

       To me the story "There is Always a Way Out" by Morris Mchawia Mwavizo stuck out as having the most impact to me. Morris's story truly resonates with me because he describes how even though times may be rough and tasks may seem impossible to conquer; there is always a way out of it. I like how his story demonstrates Morris's resiliency and determination to be a writer, and although it took him over a decade, he finally achieved his dream profession. His determination really gives people the courage and strength to push through obstacles in their path in order to obtain their goals and aspirations, and that to me is a very admirable quality to have and transmit to others. Although some problems that people come across may not be as severe and intense as Morris had to face; however even the smallest 'hiccup' can steer a person off course and due to Morris's words, I feel that I can shrug these problems off easier and keep pushing forward. That is why, due to all the essays I read, "There is Always a Way Out" stuck with me the most; with the strongest impact left on me.