Refined Rough Draft Essay

When I was younger, I’ve always done well in school. I got things done and did them well, got high scores, and that’s how I got into the gifted program. Only a few months ago I started questioning my efforts.

In my family I am the youngest of 5 children. I was able to learn a lot of things from my older siblings. I learned that reaching out to those that are younger than you or different than you means a lot because you are showing love in a way they didn’t expect. I have tried to implement this as I have gotten older and become leader, example, and even sister-figure to younger people at school. I look forward to reaching out and serving a different set of people and friends as I go to college. I also followed one of my brother's examples and started running. Running cross country is one of the most valuable experiences of my high school experience because it made me work hard, learn to love others, and helped me to learn about how to deal with

My academic abilities can trace back to my days in high school. As an early high school student I displayed a subpar ethic towards school and the value of education. I had

Most people pursue a career in medicine to fulfill their family’s wishes or for the money associated with the work, but I am attracted to the medical field due to it having grown to be an integral part of me. One of my most profound memories is a Sunday afternoon while my Nonna Great Grandma and I are waiting in our car. We are carrying on small talk when I notice a sudden shift in the atmosphere as my Nonna turns to my Great Grandma and inquires “Do you know who I am?” To which my Great grandma replies aghast “Of course, You’re my sister!” I note the tears that well up in my Nonna's eyes. My heart shatters and for an instant pure terror floods through my veins. How does it feel to not be recognized by one's mom? The same person who carried

Everything I did in life was to either exceed my brothers accomplishments or at least try to do what he did. I felt like the attention given to my brother by my parents and the piers around us wasn't shared with me. Every time I did something, if it wasn't as good, or better than my brother it felt as if everyone was disappointed in me. This became apart of my life, living in his shadow. When I started my high school wrestling career my freshman and sophmore season, I was constantly compared to my brother and how well he did those years. I felt I was never good enough and my goals were never set high enough. I wasn't as physically fit as he was. I felt like he was the golden child and I was the younger sibling that was just okay.

“It’s not counted for anything so why should I try?” This was my state of mind during Junior High school. I was getting C’s and D’s, at the time; it was fine I was getting by. But what I wasn’t learning is how to study and do homework like a good student.

When I was 10, I first heard from a teacher about college and the need to do well in school. My fifth grade teacher briefly mentioned the idea, one that I was to become very familiar with over time, whilst annoyed at a group of boys who were acting out in the class. I constantly heard from middle school teachers about how they were “preparing me for high school” and how those teachers “were going to be a lot harder on [us].” I was told that my grades, even in middle school, would be vital to gaining entrance to any college. In early high school I was introduced to the idea of needing top grades and extracurricular activities to make one well rounded. Thus, my work ethic was established from a young age. At 10, I had no idea what I wanted to

From the very beginning of my academic career, I have always valued my school work and its importance. Throughout my life, I have constantly had to deal with people underestimating my work ethic and just assuming that I do not have to do anything for the good grades that I receive. Although my hard work and effort goes unnoticed by most, it is important to me because it is

Growing up I was always told that good grades were everything for me to get into college. Over time, I realized, they were important, but not the only thing that mattered. I realized finding something that I am passionate about and enjoy was a bigger concern. I realized that my passion laid in illustration and writing, I wanted to write

With a two year gap between my older brother and I there was a lot of comparison between the two of us. But naturally, I was compared to dakota (my older brother) more than he was compared to me. I had push myself to be like him when in reality I was so focused on being like him, I never really learned how to be myself until he went to college. And honestly I think that is what made me who I am to day. With all of the people not necessarily wanting me to be like him, but just thinking I would naturally grow up to be like him, it gave me a mind set that I didn’t want to be like him at all. That is not a bad thing though, as my own individual I learned to how my own personality and it gave me the self confidence I

When I was younger I always looked up to my older brothers. I was envious of all the exciting stuff they could do that I couldn’t, especially when it was riding our bikes. Being the youngest didn’t help any either because I was constantly competing with them and trying to out do them. But for some reason I had trouble with that when we were riding bikes, i just couldn’t keep up.

But then I realized that this relief was only temporary; it was distracting me from facing reality. Academic success would help me pave the way to a more permanent happiness. From my father’s passing, I could only find that joy by being the barrier between diseases and families now that I have the goal of becoming a doctor. I often viewed academics as an expectation to repay the sacrifices made by my immigrant parents. However, the idea of being a perfect student changed. I began to love learning. It was not a goal to fortify the family name anymore, but something that I truly wanted for

“School is tedious and insignificant” was a phrase I said everyday. In my freshman year, I scored well in the first semester. Maybe it was because it was my first semester of high school and I wanted to excel. My grade point average was a 4.3 and I was walking down a good path with a bright future up ahead, but in the second semester, I got bored of school. I simply lost all the motivation to work. I would procrastinate in finishing my assignments, and at times leave my assignments incomplete. My grades started to decline and I started to become a lackadaisical student. The second semester ended and I received a “B” on my report card. This was the first time in my life to score a “B” in a class. My grade point average dropped to 3.8, and my freshman year marked the worst school year of my life.

The characteristic of self-determination and the ability to exceed preconceived standards are how we, as a society, are able to continue moving forward. My personal drive is what has given me the capacity to perform well in my academics as well as all other aspects of my life. There are several factors which have contributed to my academic performance including sibling rivalry, academic organizations, extracurriculars, and past job experience.

School is a place filled with tests that determine whether students adequately know a set of material. One test decides if they understand and can proficiently apply curriculum. A single test can affect my future forever. If I fail one test it can make the difference between an A and a B; one B affects my grade point average, and my grade point average in turn affects what colleges accept me. One failure creates a massive domino effect. If I do not perform my best, I risk disappointing both my parents and myself. School is not a place where students can succeed by giving perfunctory work. There is a constant fear of not meeting the expectations others have set for me.