I’m a freshman in high school. I just got my final grades and ended up with a C+ (83 percent) in Honors Algebra 2. I guess I have had some stuff go on this semester that definitely affected my grades (my mom went to jail and a psychiatric hospital, I had to move schools, depression, coming out as trans) but I can’t help like feeling that I really messed up this semester. How can I keep going and do better next semester?
First at some schools that would be a B (80-82 B-, 83-86B, 87-89 B+ here). Your school will include the grading scale and colleges will convert it their way. Can you talk to your math teacher to help determine if there are specific areas in algebra 2 your weaker at so you can review them a bit this summer?
I know it may take time and it will probably still sting after a while, but like @momtogirls2 it is good to determine areas of improvement. Also think of it this way… you are very ahead of many other people in math. At my school I did not take honors Algebra II until sophomore year, and I was on the “advanced track.” That means you will already have taken calculus by junior year, which is pretty amazing. I also received poor grades in math, probably also C’s if I remember properly, but I got into college and everything. So it’s not the end of the world, and plus you are a freshman this year, so the only place to go from here is up.
@momtogirls2 I will email him to see what he has to say- thank you!
@shawnspencer Thank you. I appreciate the kind words! I had an A last semester and have had As/A+s in the rest of my math classes so I wasn’t expecting a C+. I’ll look at my worksheets and tests and see what I messed up on.
Don’t be too stressed over this. It is more important to find the areas that you didn’t grasp well and fill in the holes over the break, as I assume you will be doing pre-cal next year. Solid foundation in algebra II is important. Upward trend is also what most colleges are looking at when they see your transcript. You had a rough year in your life and I hope you have some close family members/friends that you could talk to as well. Good luck!
A little unrelated–congrats on coming out! I hope it went well!
@makemesmart Thank you! I will do that- I mainly struggled with logarithms and conic shapes, so I’ll make sure to put effort into learning those better this summer. I really hope upward trend matters- I can guarantee that I’ll do better next year due to a more stable environment.
@awesomepolyglot Thank you! It went alright! 
Keep moving on, and you should keep doing your best! Adcoms are humans, and they will understand that people have struggles. Make sure to mention it on your CommonApp, and you can also tell you counselor, if you’d like, to include it in your letter of recommendation.
With all you had to deal with this semester seems to be that a C+ in Honors Algebra 2 is the least of it. Please be sure to take care of yourself first and foremost.
When the time comes to apply to colleges you might ask your guidance counselor to note some of the issues you had this semester in his/her letter of recommendation (this information is better coming from an independent person so it comes off as factual and doesn’t seem like “excuse making” ). In addition, recognize that there are tons of amazing colleges and universities out there which can give you a great 4 year experience and get you where you want to go in life.
@ab2002 Thank you- my counselor already knows everything I went through cause when I moved I guess I was like seen as a borderline student with mental health issues. I will write that down on my Common App, thank you!
@happy1 I’m feeling a lot better nowadays. Thank you, I really have put my self-recovery in first place lately. As I said earlier in this comment, my counselor knows of my situation. And while I want prestige, I know that there are great schools that aren’t super selective.
Glad you are doing better.
To reiterate one point, it would be better for the guidance counselor to note your challenges in his/her recommendation as opposed to your writing them as it would come of as independent fact rather than making excuses.
It is great you want to do well in school, but don’t get too caught up in the prestige trap. When the time comes, focus on looking for schools that will fit your needs academically, financially, and socially.
@happy1 I’ll ask for him to write them when the time comes. Also I understand- fit is best.