Personal Narrative: My Senior Year

Sophomore year was extremely difficult for me. You know how most people go through a rough patch at some point in their life? Well, that was me all of Sophomore year, everything just seemed too big and scary to deal with, and so I basically put everything off. The guidance counselors always use to say when we were going into high school that we would need to stay on top of things before they started to pile up. I just thought that they were just being dramatic to try and scare us into doing our work, but they really weren’t. By the time I realized this, however, it was a little too late, and I was faced with two options; attend summer school to regain the credit that I had lost, or face my peers when school started up again and be two credits

I honestly wouldn’t change anything about my lifestyle or how my years of high school have gone because I am truly happy with the person I have become. I might change my freshman year only because I didn’t really pay attention like I should have. I slacked a lot my freshman year and I now realize after the rest of my years at school, it really has been a struggle trying to get everything caught up. But now during my senior year I feel like I’m doing just fine and I am making it to the end okay. I have learned a lot throughout theses last 4 years of high school, I learned that high school goes by super fast and you really don’t get chances to redo any of the years. High School is a big deal and I learned to take it seriously my sophomore

It was during my Sophomore year in high school that I was failing classes like math and science. My parents and I where very concerned about what to do and what help I needed to get. So they decided to test me to asses where I was academically, and to gauge the ways to get me where I wanted. The results of this test concluded that in subjects like math and science along with reading. I was still on a middle school level, and on a fifth grade level in math yes I said fifth grade.

I made a decision at fifteen most teenagers do not have to make until their senior year of high school. I decided to venture on my own in order to better my future. Sophomore year, I started attending a residential high school for top performing students in the state of Louisiana. Over the past three years, I lived alone while my parents have traveled all over the continental United States therefore learning how to take care of myself at a young age. Additionally, in a diverse learning community such as the Louisiana School of Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA), I was able to learn how to work and live with students whose minds function differently than mine.

I didn’t really get into writing until my senior year. I had always been in Honors English (you know, the class for all the smart kids who were at a high school reading level in second grade). I had this teach for Honors 11, Ms. Mason, the coolest woman I’ve ever met in my life. My junior year wasn’t super good for me, but she encouraged me to keep trying and take her AP Lang class next year. We focused a lot on non-fiction research writing and I loved it. My senior year I also took creative writing with Mr. Day. Worst decision ever. Not only was the class chock full of freshman and seniors who don’t care, but Mr. Day was the type of person who graded you on how much you wrote like him. If he didn’t like your writing style (and he hated mine)

Imagine: a 99 lbs, 5’4, skinny, shy, ginger kid. Doesn’t seem like the athletic kind does it? This was me as a freshman, and I was really self conscious about myself, granted I was taller than the shortest people who were once taller than me about 2 years ago, I was still skinny and light. I was a good runner, placing 1st in my very first track race, but I hurt my hip during practice and didn’t say anything to the coaches because I was scared they’d say, “Wow, I knew this kid wouldn’t be able to do it, he’s so weak! Just look at him!” so I continued and placed last every race, but I still tried right?

Freshman year I took a chance outside of my comfort zone, and that risk gave me a future in a career I am extremely passionate about. Since freshman year I have been shadowing my high school athletic trainer. I have learned how to; prevent, asses, treat, tape, and rehab a variety of injuries. However, what has fostered my interest in my major is being able to see an athlete through the entirety of an injury. During my sophomore year I was responsible for treating and rehabbing a key player on the lacrosse team. The bond I built with him was something I could've never imagined possible. I had the responsibility of preparing him physically and mentally to return to play. This meant I had to support him when he felt like he would never play as

I participated in Football my freshman year of high school , I also ran track my Sophomore year of high school. I have been in AVID two years out of the four I’ve been in high school. I also have interest in weightlifting and finances. I worked at KFC and Bojangles as head cooks. I would say overall all the clubs and organizations I’ve participated in taught me the importance of organization and teamwork also the importance of high communication

Junior year has been my most challenging year because it was a time where I balanced academics, work, and extracurricular activities. My typical days consisted of high school classes, cheer practice, diving practice, and college courses in the evening or working. My goals were to be in the top ten of my graduating class, earn a letter achievement in diving and cheer, and to save enough money to purchase a car for college. It was a time of adjustment to handle all these activities and complete the tasks excellently. I pushed myself by keeping my goals in mind every day. In the end I know that hard work will pay off. I changed how I used my time and used it more efficiently. I completed homework at school so that I could put my undivided attention

When I was younger I thought that life wouldn’t hand me the very sour lemons until later on in life. However I was wrong on that account. In the middle of my sophomore year of high school I was diagnosed with epilepsy. My friends and I actually knew there was something going on before my parents did but we just had no idea what that was. That year I would have been able to accomplish one major mile stone in one’s young life which was to get their license, but I couldn’t get that until later. I had really hoped to have that license at 16 and be driving and having the freedom I wanted nevertheless that goal was crushed. For after an episode you must wait six months. I continued having seizures until July of that year. That was great to not have

I thought my Sophomore year at UCLA was going to be regular. I thought I was just going to pass my classes, and gear up for next year. I never thought anything different would happen, but, life is unpredictable that way.

Coming from a low-income family a majority of the money goes towards necessities and doesn't leave much for other expenses such as private tutors which in turn caused me specifically during my high school years to take advantage of educational opportunities offered by the school. During my sophomore year up to my senior year, I utilized the advanced and honors courses offered by the school. I started small with just one or two advanced classes but by the time it got to my senior year four out of my six classes were advanced. At the beginning, it was difficult to deal with the demanding and fast-paced courses it took me about the first month of the school year to become accustomed to them.

“Ring, Ring, Ring” that’s the blaring high-pitched sound that completely shaped my senior year of high school. Sitting in the back of the class as my teacher Mrs. James a bronze skinned woman, with short hair standing about 5 feet 6 inches stands in front of the class trying her hardest to settle the rumbling sound of student chatter and gossip; she bellows in the sweetest, subtle and most authoritative voice “Okay class let’s settle down. As the voices diminished she proceeds by saying “as you all know graduation is right around the corner” in pure excitement my fellow classmates and I cheer like we just caught the winning pass in the Superbowl. Mrs. James continues “so in honor of graduation I brought some friends with some interesting careers to help influence you

Ever felt that your best wasn’t good enough? That's exactly what I felt during my years in middle and high school. Growing up enjoying animated shows and doodling in my notebook, I had a breakthrough. Though it came to me in my first year of middle school, or at least as far back as I can remember, I wanted to grow up as an artist. As the years went by I narrowed my dream-job to be an animator, then finally to what I’m studying now (graphic design). As I grew and learned, I eventually succumbed to self pity and doubt. That went on till my last year in high school where I learned better. These days, I’m bettering myself by doing more and practicing more often with my art. I also grasped the idea of not letting the negative thoughts stop me from

Leading into my sophomore year of high school, band was the center of my life. Providing social acceptance and a sense of purpose, I could always count on the fine art to get me through the drudgery of high school. Everything seemed to effortlessly go right. I naively believed my desires would always be provided for, as I was somehow the special (albeit, shy) exception. With this idea, I felt invincible going into my first serious audition. Unknown to me, this simple, six hour event, provided the stage on which my perspective would completely change.