About Struggling in School: My Expirience

During High School, you learn a lot about yourself. You meet new people and can create friendships that will last a lifetime. You have the opportunity to meet notable teachers that can become the biggest mentors in your life and direct you into your future with guidance. Throughout my High School experience, I have learned that my time here builds the foundation for my morals and work ethic later in life. It’s important to try to be the most successful person you can be because you need that to get into a good college, which you need to get a job, which you need to live well later on. High school is a time to find out who you are, what you’re capable of, and what you envision yourself to be as a college student or young adult in the workplace. As my senior year starts to come to a close, I look back at my twelve years in school with hatred toward one subject- math.

We struggle, fail, and persevere as we work together in a society of learners. I have had my fair share of setbacks, but I do know that I never let them get the best of me. Last year, I found myself struggling in my Algebra 2 class. I truly didn’t find math the least bit enjoyable, so I tended to not try. I dreaded each assignment and test as it took a toll on my confidence and positivity. It was incomprehensible to me and I would get so frustrated that I could not grasp the topic. I ended that semester with an upsetting D. I knew in myself I could do better and that grade did not represent my work ethic or who I was. I signed up for our summer school program for students who were behind in their studies or wanted to retake past classes, like me. It was a 4-week program, which meant everything was taught at a much accelerated pace. I was ready for a challenge.

On top of that, I also attended one on one tutoring with an amazing former teacher at Royal, Mr. Shuster. I needed his guidance to help me better understand the material taught. I knew that with faith in myself, I would become successful. After the short 4 weeks, we received our final grades. I was ecstatic and so proud of myself. Turning my D to a B was a major improvement for me, especially since it was in Math (not my most favorite subject). This struggle made me realize that no matter how hard something is that you’re going through, there’s always a way around it with hard work. After all; as a child, Albert Einstein didn’t start speaking until he was four, reading until he was seven, and was thought to be mentally handicapped! He went on to win a Nobel Prize and completely transformed the world’s approach to physics.

Against all odds, there are numerous stories of prosperous figures who turned their life around with a positive mindset. I used to think that you’re defined and that you’re judged by your failures. We often hear stories of other people’s successes and we yearn to be as they are. However, we don’t seem to understand how they got there. The only way to truly know who you are as a person is to reflect on your struggles. Did I let them drag me down or did I overcome them? Once these blind spots are revealed you can act on them and improve upon them. If you can build on your failures, you can use them as a stepping stone. I learned that I was capable of more than I thought because of this.

High School has shaped me into the intelligent, confident person I am today. My struggles have given me so much insight that I wouldn’t have gotten without them. I find trying to improve my mathematics skills a bit difficult, but I never give up trying. Practice really does make perfect. I am so eager to apply my work ethic and creativity to a school where I can build my knowledge and become the most successful well-rounded woman I can be. I take school seriously, I have dreams and goals for the future that I am determined to make happen, and I don’t expect anyone to do the hard work for me.

Works Cited

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