[font="times new roman"] It’s a widely known fact that your teenage years shape the rest of your life. That these are your best years. The habits you create will carry on throughout the rest of your life. What you do as a teenager will dramatically affect your later years.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] I didn’t really have that great of a start. My sophomore year was fine, but it was nothing fabulous. I had good grades – but no challenging classes. I wasn’t involved with anything I had been the year before. I lacked drive and motivation. I didn’t know what to do with the rest of my life. It just stretched out before me like a desolate road crossing the land for miles. School was boring and I couldn’t wait to get away. I was grown up – or so I thought.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] In the spring of 2005, I received a letter that changed everything. I would be attending Graham-Kapowsin High School, the district’s newest school. I’d be leaving my friends behind. I would be leaving all the teachers I’d befriended since September. I’d be leaving the school that I’d become familiar with. I’d be leaving behind everything I thought I knew.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] At first I was opposed. No way did I want to switch schools. It was too big of a change to go through. I’d never before switched schools and didn’t really want to experience it, either. I discussed the situation with my mom a few times and after a while I began to realize that maybe it would be a good thing. Maybe it would give me the chance I needed to grow. To learn how to start over. Maybe I could learn to like school. I would be leaving high school in a few years anyway, so what would be wrong with taking a chance and learning how to start fresh right now? In the remaining months, I found plenty of reasons. I flip-flopped with my decision a few times, but by that time, school was approaching, and there was no turning back.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] I started out my year hesitantly. I was in leadership, but I was shy and rarely spoke up. I had an AP class, but I seriously doubted my ability to pass it. I took my first art class, but I found it lacking in the structure that I craved. I randomly chose to take Anatomy and Physiology – mostly because I already knew the teacher and I didn’t know what other science to take.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] To my own surprise, I slowly found myself changing. I participated a lot more in leadership, and even led several committees. I found that art was fun and let me open up my creative side. I did great in my AP class. I realized that my anatomy class was perfect – a career as a doctor was something I’d always wanted, but never thought I could have. Suddenly it was like I was a whole new person.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] My proudest moment, though, was when I finally beat my fear of public speaking. At the end of my junior year, I ran for office. Winning the spot as Activities Coordinator for the soon-to-be senior class wasn’t what was important – I more wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. I needed to believe in myself. No more being walked all over. No more letting decisions be made for me.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] I rallied, I campaigned, and finally, on the day before elections, I stood up in front of the entire junior class and talked. I listed my qualifications, I threw out a joke or two, I promised them that I would be a fabulous Activities Coordinator. What felt like an hour was really no more than a minute. I didn’t win, but that didn’t matter to me because I’d conquered my biggest fear: speaking in front of my peers.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] Throughout the year I achieved so many things that I never thought possible. I truly grew up and matured. It was the most important, most revealing, most amazing year of my life.[/font]