Personal Statement

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.

Coming into high school was amazing because it was nice to experience, a whole new school setting. But in reality my first year was the worst year. I lost my grandfather along with three uncles, and it shook my whole year. The fact that i am still in school is outstanding, when i look upon it. The most difficult obstacle for me was getting back on track after what i went through my freshman year high school.

My transition into high school was as easy as taking a breath. I had always found school quiet easy and I never had to put much effort into getting promising grades. Before high school I had my whole life figured out, or at least I thought I did. I had planned that I would attend a law school or major in English. After a while of being in high school I started to realize many things. My parents did not have the financial stability to send me to a law school, I was not as smart as all the other kids, little by little I began struggling with a negative mentality about myself and my future. I slowly let go of my dream of becoming a lawyer and decided to join the Health Careers Academy. Soon enough, I began to have a deep interest in the medical field but then again I continued to have the same question; how can I afford going to a medical school? I did not know much about college or what it took to get into college. I assumed I just had to have a pretty transcript and that was all it took. My self confidence began to lower as I saw how other students cruised through their high school years so effortlessly. I never wanted to ask for help because I did not want to seem “dumb”. I would bite my tongue and hold in all the unanswered questions I had. My junior year, I was having a very difficult time. I had a tight schedule which consisted of almost all AP or honors courses. I slowly began to give up because I did not believe that I could do it. I let my grades slip failing almost

As an incoming EOF (Educational Opportunity Found) freshmen attending Rutgers University this fall, I had the mindset that if I did well academically, the transition from high school to college would go by smoothly. Unfortunately, college isn 't that simple. The transition to college is much more complex than people perceive it to be, in my case, it’s the most difficult obstacle I’ve ever encountered. Therefore, my aspiration is to conquer this transitional period as quickly and fluently as possible. When I had to changeover from middle school to high school, I was terrified. I didn 't know what awaited me and how much different things were going to be. It turned out high school was exactly the same, with the exception of the grades being ninth through Twelfth. There was nothing to be worried about. On the other hand, that wouldn 't be the case in college.

Growing up I learned about financial trouble by my parents telling me that Santa’s workshop is under construction, so he’s limited on supplies. I got told that at a young age and at the time I didn’t understand. Once I got older and started following financial situations and saving money, I realized what they meant. Looking back at it now, it isn’t a big deal because I understand what happened. At the time I was upset because I knew I wasn’t going to get everything on my list.

The summer of 2012 was the start of the downward spiral into my high school career. This ass hole guy decided to dump me and my dumb ass kept going after him when I know I shouldn’t have so I got hella drunk one night (as a 14 year old) and made this hilarious video with my bff that people hated apparently even though we looked hot. And so we got kicked out of cheer lol. Stupid mrs hatfield even had the vid on her phone like wtf lol. So yeah great start to high school.

Going into High School I didn’t know what to expect, I was nervous but I knew what classes I wanted to take and get over with. World Geography was an option and I was discussing it with my sister, she did let me know that there would be mostly all sophomores in that class because it was a sophomore class. That did get me a bit nervous because I only work well with a certain amount of people. The first day of school I was a little calm because when I walked in, I already knew most of the people in my class. Somethings that I will take from World Geography is how I somehow managed to improve on my time management skills, with the help of Mr. Brubaker and DJ, I got to see what I needed to improve in my writing and I took what I learned in this

When I was in eighth grade, I was tentatively excited about moving on to high school. I loved my small Montessori school, and sometimes I still wish that I could slip back into the small group of students and just start my old classes again. Still, I had gone from an average student to an A/B student in my last couple of years, and I was feeling good about a new challenge. I was cagily optimistic about the move away from my small school, which had become a kind of second home for me, to a totally foreign and much more demanding environment.

Starting high school is always nerve wracking. New people, new responsibilities, and it's a step closer to gaining your independence. Normally students just move to the local high school within their district, but not me. While I was preparing to move to Bayard Rustin High School my parents had other plans. In the summer of 2013 My family and I moved from West Chester, Pennsylvania to Hummelstown, Pennsylvania. The new house was only an hour and a half away from the town I grew up in, but it was foreign. I didn’t know anyone, or where to meet people. It took the entire summer before I finally made some friends.

Growing up as the son of a rural Iowa veterinarian, I got my first experience in a medical field while riding along with my dad on calls, and from an early age my interest was piqued. It was the first of multiple experiences that pointed me toward a career in physical therapy.

When I took my USC tour before my freshman year, I fell in love with the campus and became very interested in exploring all the opportunities presented by the ambassador. I fell in love with the beauty of the Horseshoe and greatly appreciated the generosity and politeness of the people I met. I want to inspire prospective students to fall in love with USC as I did. I would also like to explore this opportunity to develop as a person and make good friends in the process. It gives me great pride to tell people I attend the University of South Carolina and cheer on my team at every football game. When people ask me why I went to school so far away, I generally stick to three answers. The weather is great, the sports are amazing, and the people who comprise the University are fantastic.

Four years ago, we, the students of the class of twenty seventeen, began our journey - a journey filled with ups and downs; a journey filled with positive and negative emotions; a journey filled with success and failure. It seems like it was just yesterday that we began this difficult yet rewarding journey through high school. I remember the days when we were all freshmen, and we could not wait for this moment to come. We were impatient - continuously counting down the days, weeks, semesters, and years until we would graduate.

It was only four years ago that I was transitioning from middle school to high school, and at the time, this was an enormous deal: not only did the coursework increase in difficulty, but the grades we earned counted for college. Although there were greater academic expectations and standards that we had to adjust to for high school, there were hardly any other notable changes. I still caught the city bus to school, my mom cooked dinner for our family, I continued my ath-letic pursuits, teachers shoved knowledge down my throat (some of which I regurgitated), and, perhaps the best part of it all, I hardly had to worry about anything except for taking care of business in the classroom.

Looming in front of me was something new, a fresh start. Despite being this, it seemed cold and trying, something that sent shivers down my spine. Mixed emotions of uncertainty and optimism had filled my first day of middle school; and as my final year is drawing to a close, I realize that this place-this transitional time in my life- is something that I never want to leave. I created a home away from home, and a family, over the short three years spent learning here. Each school year, from first to concluding, brought new experiences in which have altered my life. These are the things that I am hoping to carry over into high school-my next chapter. Every experience in which middle school has brought leaves me changed indefinitely, shaped for the future ahead.

At the beginning of my high school journey, it was scary. Just the thought of a new school, meeting new people, and the fact that this would be my last years before becoming an “adult” and getting closer to college, was unbelievable, yet scary. My high school journey had many ups and down. These ups and downs vary because I experienced them in my academics and socially. I can’t forget that  I learned a lot and met many different personalities, with people whom I trust and had many great times. Also as growing up throughout high school, I’m slowly seeing who I am. I know this is not the end of life, just a great piece of my life will end and everything will soon change again.