<p>The prompt was to briefly explain a time when hard work has paid off. Here is my essay. Constructive criticism/opinions would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>I have worked hard my entire academic career. I recall one B in fourth grade, and if I remember right, I cried. While I accept the fact that I overreacted a bit, I have gotten nothing less than an A since then. My senior year of high school, I took a notoriously hard physics course. At first, I did not understand the material, I needed help on everything, and I was barely passing homework assignments. I even got a D on our first test. Instead of crying like a fourth grader though, I changed my study habits. I began studying physics for at least two hours every night, whether I had homework or not. On the day before the second test, I studied for eight hours. All the studying sounds insane, but it paid off. I got the only perfect score on that second test. I began racking up the perfect test scores, and before I knew it I had an A and people coming at me left and right for tutoring. I left that class with the only A, and the only physics award given out. Thanks to my hard work in that class, I also graduated with a perfect GPA and honors. More importantly, however, I found something that I love. I am majoring in physics in the fall. I have found my passion in life, and I cannot imagine what could be a better reward for all of my hard work.</p>