It has been two months since I arrived in America.
As an exchange student in 12th grade of high school, I attend a variety of classes. I participate in various clubs and play sports as many other seniors do. I, too, was brimming with optimism about colleges like my classmates, dreaming about being accepted by a great school, fantasizing about the next four years in the United States and learning about this new culture that I am already so enamored with. Then, I leant that I have not completed the graduation exams required for my current high school; moreover, I cannot graduate from Viet Nam because I chose to finish my senior year in America. I was a little discouraged because everyone implied that there was no chance for me to attend college since I cannot get a high school diploma. I refuse to accept that, however. In the Land of Opportunities, there must be some other ways for someone like me to follow my passion.
As a matter of fact, recently I have been told that GED is an alternative choice for me as I can obtain an equivalent certification as a normal high school diploma. An idea starts to form in my mind. I research everything I could concerning GED. My counselor and my homeroom teacher, although are very helpful in many aspects, did not know much about GED due to the lack of college-bound students interested in that route. They gently advised me to think carefully about this: do I really want to go through a whole year of high school only not to receive a diploma at the end? I was petrified. My dream will not come true. At that moment, I looked back to what I have achieved so far; I have done rather well. My GPA is good, and my SAT and TOEFL scores are not too shabby. It is not worth quitting my effort.
Many of my friends have told me that diploma is not everything; I have to try my hardest because good thing might happen when I put my best into something. I send many emails to different colleges. After a while, I received a reply from a reputable college, saying that it is fine for international students like me to apply to their college and that I have to give them all the transcripts for four years in high school from both Viet Nam and America. I am so excited. My exertion will not go unrewarded.
More positive answers from colleges come rolling in. I now know that I can take GED and combine it to my accomplishment in high school when I apply to their colleges. Though of course now I have to work even harder than before to finish my senior year and succeed at taking GED, I can from now on be confident to approach my goals as I always aim to do. I know that mine is not a mindless optimism, but one that has faced many challenges; it is a sense of optimism that has triumphed over obstacles and will continue to do so in the future. After all, mere iron would never turn into steel if it has not been tempered through fire.