Strive to excel
When most people think of high school they think of the memorable football games that would embrace the zesty flavored hot dogs, and the beautiful cheerleaders. They also think of the tasty school lunches that would make your nostrils flare with desire, and possibly maybe the cute guy that you “accidently” sat by each math class. Though, this seems ideal, my high school experience wasn’t quite that pleasant. High school was very difficult for me. My complications began with my full time job at McDonald’s that took effect on my school work. Than, proceeded with my family thinking that I would follow my mother’s footsteps that supposdely led to failure on my end of the rope. Finally, ending with me being constantly harassed in school. Regardless of my many issues, I still managed to graduate on time.
My very first job was probably like any other teenagers first job. You hated going! But, with friends being there it might have made it worth-while or at least easier to commit to. This was the complete opposite for me. The grease filled, and musky smell of the burger joint killed the insides of my stomach like drinking bleach would do. The laughter and the phony smiles of my coworkers hurt way worse. The biggest was having to work 30-40 hours a week. The dirt filthed attitudes of my coworkers, manaic McDonald’s Managers, and the soda pop stained counters was like a horrid Freddy Krueger nightmare. I
To many freshman the first day of high school is the opening chapter of a new novel, a fresh start to a sometimes embarrassing middle school experience we would all just love to erase from our memories. August 13th, 2012 was the beginning of my four year long narrative at Cypress Bay High School. Despite my desperate desire to grow up, become an adult, and move far away from my parents for college all that did not seem possible because I had never previously attended a public school. I was struck with fear that I would not be able to adjust to the fast pace dynamics of a large high school.
I’m sure many have shared stories of their high school experiences and can relate when I say those four years have taught me many lessons. During this time, I’d come face to face with the fraudulent friendships, temporary romances, and other high school dramas that my parents once warned me about—those of which I simply brushed off as myths. It wasn’t the 90’s anymore— times have changed and people are different—or at least, that’s what I thought.
Throughout high school, numerous students have obstacles that they go through that end up affecting their educational journey. For myself, my hurdle was learning to cope with having a job, playing sports and being a part of school clubs all while sustaining worthy grades.
I recall the beginning of my freshman year when I was thrown into the chaotic and hectic mess that is high school. Not only was I given a much harder course load than ever before, but I also started the year off with volleyball. This made my life so incredibly difficult. As if getting home from a game at 10 o’clock was not enough, I typically still had about an hour of homework to complete due to my honors classes. That season felt longer than a giraffes neck . From the long nights of homework, to the complete mental breakdowns, Freshman year was one of the worst experiences of my life.
Going through high school makes a dominant impression on most teen’s lives. It’s a rite of passage that goes along with making mistakes and
Walking into school on my first day of high school, I felt out of place. My face covered in acne, my teeth covered in braces, and the callicks in my hair stuck up through the abnormally thick layer of hair gel that coated them. My middle school social anxiety still ruled over me as I could barely speak with any member of the opposite sex. Yet, I still had an odd confidence about me. I had always been one of the best students in my class, even without ever studying for a test. I viewed high school as a slight uptick from the curriculum I had easily passed in middle school. I was wrong. High school exists as a microcosm of society, in which I originally failed to acclimate myself to the challenges posed to me in a setting of increased
Let’s jump ahead again, this time to my first day of school. Morris Knolls High School is one of the top high schools in the US. Their curriculum is rigorous and their standards are sky high. Also, this was a completely new environment for me. I didn’t know how high school worked and this wasn’t the type of town I was used to. Living in suburbia and attending a school with different demographics than I was used to scared me. I now lived 30 minutes away from everything I grew up around. But the thought of having a fresh start excited me. No one knew me, I was a nobody and therefore free to completely change myself.
My sophomore, junior, and senior years of high school were not normal. I was in and out of hospitals and doctors’ offices with health problems. Those three years of my life were the hardest times I’ve ever dealt with. My high school hated that I missed so much school and they even tried to kick me out. They forced their hands over mine and pushed as the pen began to hit the paper that was my existence.
Was high school the best years of your life? Many people say that it was for them; however, it seems to be more stressful for this generation. In today’s society, it’s grueling to manage the full time challenges and stress of being a student in high school. More often than not students are dreading to get out of bed and come to the classroom. There are some deeper reasons for this lack of motivation rather than just being lazy. Some of the key problems for high school students are social anxiety, ostracism, and depression. These issues caused by attending high school are commonly not recognized and need to be addressed.
There were students from all around the world who had different cultures, religions, and hardships. I perceived that high school is a race, a race where I can run at my own pace and my goals are the prize. I entered an environment where the opportunities were endless and I was allowed to accomplish whatever I want. My confidence began to flourish. I started involving myself in school work and began to participate in class. During my sophomore year, I engaged in numerous group activities such as the school play, science competition team, and advanced arts. I earned respect and developed a reputable character in school. I reached a milestone in my journey during junior year when I was inducted into the National Honors Society, played varsity tennis and became class
It was the first month of my high school years, I was as nervous as an incoming freshman could be. I had no idea how long and strenuous my years at Bensalem High School would feel. As many others, I had a hard time adjusting to the transition from middle school to high school. Unlike others, though, I struggled about twenty
High school was never really easy for me, or school in general. I’ve never understood how people take it in strides, leaping from one perfect grade point average straight to an ivy league school. When you grow up in a small household with little money to offer you, school is never your main priority. These circumstances never kept me from trying to get an education, but they never proved to help me. I watched these children go to school in their shiny new sneakers, a lunchbox in hand, and a bouncing ponytail that screams “My parents take me to ballet practice every Saturday.” These children get perfect grades because they never have to skip school because their mother needs someone to watch the baby again. They race to the playground with their friends when the final bell rings, never worrying about how if they didn’t get home right away, they won’t get to eat that night. They moan when they have to go to soccer practice, never second guessing the price of the uniforms. To emphasize my point, perfection is a circumstance that I was never in. Perfection is an idea,
My experiences with High School have been increasingly good. I started the year in agony. I hated everything about it. I didn’t have hardly any friends in lunch with me. I also didn’t like a lot of my teachers. I struggled with getting around the school. Thankfully, that has all changed. I’m starting to realize my opportunities and experiences are bigger and better than last year. I’ve met so many new people and made countless friends. I’ve learned more about myself and who I am.
Now, I am doing well, feeling challenged in my classes and have a lot of lectures who truly do care about their students. I am on a campus that offers the help I need when things get rough. It took a lot of time and years of struggling, but I made it through. Even though I hated high school and all the I experienced in those years, I’m thankful that I had those experiences to help me get to where I am now. A lesson to my teenage self: You’ll find yourself looking back on experiences when things didn’t work out and saying, “That is who I was, and this is who I am now.” High school isn’t for everyone, and it certainly wasn’t for me — but without the experience, I wouldn’t be where I am
My high school experiences have become imprinted into my memory and parts of me. I changed entirely from the first day I walked in as a freshmen to the last day I walked across the stage with my diploma. Not only do I look different but I act, think, and understand differently. I realize now that an individual’s character is largely constructed by other people’s opinions, unwritten rules, and a subliminal hierarchy. The reality of high school makes it difficult to escape the ideal image of a perfect student, friend, respectful significant other, and model child. With all these different forces pulling students back and forth, the primary goal is to be accepted; despite how much change one must undergo. From my high school experiences I know how to deal with labelling, peer pressure, alienation, and cliques. Thus my former high school social lessons and knowledge allow me to reshape my perception, values, and self-image to this day.