Personal Reflective Essay: Hig High School

The impact both reading and writing have had on me throughout my school years has always been changing. While I have always struggled with reading comprehension, and anxiety in putting my thoughts into words when writing, I have found some relief when I am able to connect to a character in a book, or given freedom to find a topic I am interested in; which makes me excited and passionate about sharing my thoughts through writing.

I believe a good reader is what makes a good writer. But because I lost my interest in reading, I’ve struggled with writing throughout the years. It wasn’t that I had trouble learning new skills but because I was pushed away from what I wanted to learn, so I decided to pursue other interests. Despite being eager to learn, my writing suffered due to my lack of interest in reading, however my skills in writing have increased as my drive to read has rekindled.

I think Vassar first came on my radar because of my Latin teacher. Along with being my eclectic Latin instructor, Mr. Gnolfo was also my softball coach for two years. After observing that he wore his Vassar baseball cap almost every practice and listening to many of his anecdotes about his old days on the baseball diamond on the way to the field, I just felt like I had to research the school a bit. Now, I come from a very small, independent school in Rhode Island. With only a total of thirty-four kids in my graduating class, I’ve certainly learned the benefits of a small school community. Obviously Vassar has much a much larger enrollment, but still I believe that the small community and class sizes that your college offers would be very beneficial

Before I started Oakland Unity High School, I thought that I was going to be very nervous and I thought that I won't be able to make new friends. I also thought that I was going to hate this school and I also thought that getting good grades in this school would be easy. I also thought I would be lonely because I was the only Asian student here. I now feel that, I was able to make some very good friends and acquaintances that I am able to talk to with no hesitation. I now believe that this school is not that bad and I am somewhat comfortable with going to everyday. I now know that I am not alone since there are a few staff on this campus who are also Asian. I feel that achieving grades here at Oakland Unity is somewhat easy but yet pretty difficult

Not being adequate is a tough pill to swallow. For me wrestling was my life in high school. Nothing was more important being on the mat. Wrestling knowing at the end of the day that only you could stop yourself. It wasn't until i reached college and tried to make the leap for high school to college that reality sat in. I applied to San Francisco State providing film hoping to insure a scholarship. In return they told me that my skill weren’t at the level they need.

Welcome back to Northrop High School, Population: 107 teachers who manage 2,097 students in the open yet welcoming atmosphere according to the DOE site. The predominately white staff will help pass almost 99% of their 95.7% average attending students which consist mostly of white, black, and Hispanic students. Half of the students who attend have free or reduced lunches and students are rarely monitored by any other authority such as police officers. When you walk in you can see the place is neatly kept and faculty is genuinely happy with their work place. The sophomore students and above are accepting of their school as they are all respected and acted in a positive way by the teachers. Overall the DOE site reflects Northrop High School very well on their website compared to going into the school.

It all started freshman year, I’m so excited for high school I thought to myself, I’m going to do so well. I walked into those doors on top of the world. Nothing could bring me down I thought, I was in high school now. Being in high school makes you invincible right? No, that’s wrong being in high school is like walking on broken glass, with each step you bleed more and more until you can’t keep walking. High school breaks you down until you have two choices, stay broken or rise up.

Transitioning from reading books for enjoyment to educational advancement didn’t stimulate my interest at all. I consider my reading habits pathetic for a number of reasons. The first reason is that throughout my combined seven years of junior high and high

Some people believe “ignorance is bliss” while others believe it is better to know everything. If I had continued the last month of my seventh grade year in ignorance, I would of been better off. Seventh grade, the middle of middle school. Some people did not like middle school at all, personally I loved middle school, especially seventh grade. The reason seventh grade was this magical year is simple a boy was talking to me. Not just any boy, a boy with beautiful amber brown eyes, fluffy brown hair and one of the most confusingly interesting personalities ever. In my opinion, he was the most swoon worthy boy I had ever met, and my longtime crush, who we will call Bob to save both of us the embarrassment. We have been friends for a while, but after kindergarten we lost touch because of that “awkward cooties phase”. Finally after eight years of the “pretend I do not know you game” he was showing some interest in me, but not for the right reasons.

The core belief that defines me is hard work. That wasn’t always the case. I spent the majority of middle school dawdling around ignoring due dates and refusing to study for tests, which culminated in almost straight C’s my 8th grade year. The reality of my attitude was that I simply wanted to put in minimal effort every day and go home and sit around in front of a television. That would only come to a change my sophomore year, thanks to a teacher.

“Finish the review sheet, and at the end of class come pick up the answer key. And yes you may work with partners.” Mr. Ruiz told us, before dismissing us to work on the review sheet. Everyone in the room moved their seats and once they were happy, they started talking to each other, typical. I shook my head before turning to work with Holly, a friend of mine. The whole class knew to come to us if they had questions. History was my best class this year. Holly had nineties in every class and was on the school’s varsity academic team.

I can’t remember when I first heard about the University of Pittsburgh; I’ve lived in Pennsylvania my entire life so Pitt was always in the discussion when in came to colleges. I do, however, remember when I started seriously consider Pitt as somewhere I’d like to attend. In the Summer before my senior year of highschool I was working a pizza place and one of my coworkers was attending Pitt in Fall. Whenever we had shifts together all she would ever talk about was how excited she was for school to start. Being that I was still in highschool and hadn’t done any of my Summer work I didn’t share her sentiment While I was initially a bit annoyed by her enthusiasm eventually through osmosis I started to absorb some of the information and it all sounded pretty good. As the school year began and I started to get into the thick of college visits I added Pitt to the list of schools.

A prestigious school that was formerly exclusive to girls, has become open to both boys and girls alike as of last year. Many students hope to come here in order to pursue the best education possible, improve their athletics, or in the case of most of the males, enjoy the sights of many beautiful girls.

High school is an educational and eye-opening place for adolescents and young adults, and is ultimately the last checkpoint some people have before they transition into the adult world. After high school, students are often expected to completely fend for themselves. The transition for many students is complicated and confusing. For this reason, one series of high school experiences I have had that stick out clearly in my mind as a step away from my childish behaviors to my more adult-like ones are my interactions with my tenth grade history teacher, Mr. Hadaway. Mr. Hadaway was one of my greatest teachers, and without his inspiration and motivation, I probably would not have achieved much of what I have managed to accomplish today.

To some, four years seems like a long time, but for me the past four years have flown by. In these fast four years, so much has changed and yet so much is exactly the same. You still go to school with most of the same people. You walk into the same familiar building and say hello to the same teachers (give or take a few). During these four years I have lost some friends, but I have gained real ones, which is one of the most important things to me. My outlook on life has changed. I have become a more open and understanding person and I have learned many valuable life lessons. I have made many great memories and I have learned to appreciate everything I have because nothing is permanent. My journey through high school is like a plane ride. It takes off freshman year and I go on a long, and sometimes bumpy, journey to get to my final destination. Even though in many ways I am still the same person as the one that walked through those school doors as a freshman, I have also changed in order to try to become the best version of myself and get to my final destination.