<p>Ok-
I need 'inspiration', to do well, become great, etc.
I thought hearing your-
Success stories
2.0's to 4.0's stories
Your rigirous schedules
Your after school routines
Your amazing grades
Your IVY acceptance stories
Your college acceptance stories
Your high school experinces, and stories
Your awards, ranks, schlorships
Anything you want to tell me about!! Thats good, and your happy about!
I'm much appreciate it!!!
Everyone on here is amazing and great students in their own ways, so go ahead and tell me all about it!!!</p>
<p>Haha. Just a warning - I do not want to sound like I am bragging - which is why I avoid talking about myself a lot. So ... sorry if I do, but you asked for it. <em>smiles</em>.</p>
<p>... But something I've learned ... don't kill yourself trying to be best at everything. I was a soloist in a growing preprofessional ballet company just last year (feels so far away) ... devoted my summers to intensives and took five classes a day. I decided to give that up this year, and I've been much happier and my grades have been much better. I miss in like crazy, but it's a sacrifice ...</p>
<p>Otherwise, I'm a pretty serious violinist (second-year concertmistress at my HS, founded a quartet a year and a half ago and we play at weddings and such) ... salutatorian in my class, but that is changing. Just got my second mp report card back, and my unweighted GPA (on a 4.3 scale) is around a 4.21 ... which is incredibly good for the IB school I'm at, where A+s are nearly impossible. So it seems I will be valedictorian, I think.</p>
<p>Also - I'm an AP scholar - (... I'm a junior, btw) - and I'm going to take at least five AP exams this year and go for the highest award with 8 exams. I've taken both SAT II Math IIC (sophomore year) and SAT II Writing (beginning of this year) and gotten 800's. And I got a 236 on my PSAT, which was almost a disappointment, but I am glad that I did pretty well, I guess. I just have high expectations on myself.</p>
<p>I've had a few random awards and ish over the years but that's enough for now ... I hope it motivated you in some sort of way.</p>
<p>There are tons of people out there with better scores and everything than me ... so guys, it's your turn.</p>
<p><em>bows down to lavenderdream</em></p>
<p>so, here's my story:</p>
<p>i came into high school extremely depressed. the spring of 8th grade i injured my knee during a soccer game, and i'm not able to play anymore. i had played for 10yrs and planned on playing through high school and college and major in something that would keep me close to the game once i stopped playing. well, that entire plan crumbled with the injury. so, throughout high school i've been trying to cope with everything that has been going on around me. i had been in a relationship for a year, and that fell apart after i got injured, i lost a lot of friends because they weren't supportive at all, and i made some new friends, but that also became screwed up. i mainly took refuge in academics, which is probably the only reason i've done pretty well in that area. </p>
<p>However, i felt everything else was killing me, so late my sophomore year, i decided to graduate early. I had to take a lot of extra classes to meet graduation requirements. i took a lot of summer school and an online course. with my school's gpa system, extra classes boost gpa, so i managed to become ranked first in my class, though now that i've transferred to the senior class, i'm ranked third, which is still quite good because each class has 400+ students and the top 10-20 tend to be extremely competitive. </p>
<p>my test scores are decent, and i have a decent list of ec's. one year nothing would fit in my schedule except yearbook, so i took it, became the index editor, which led me to my present position as the academics section editor. I also play the cello, but i don't play seriously anymore, i did in elementary school to middle school, but now i focus on academics, so i only play in orchestra, but i was elected orchestra librarian, so i guess that's something. something that went wrong with my extra curriculars was that i thought i'd be able to play soccer, so i didn't commit to anything so i'd have time. but halfway through freshman year, i was told i couldn't play, and by then, all the clubs and activities were in full swing and it was hard to find anything to do. i picked up a couple activities sophomore year, track (threw javelin), accepted editor position on yearbook, model un, and this year i added a section editor position along with being index editor, quiz bowl team, orchestra librarian, and tutoring. </p>
<p>i've been accepted to purdue, where i'm probably going for engineering, given some scholarship already, accepted into honors program, and now i'm just patiently waiting for graduation. </p>
<p>my story doesn't involve perfect scores, ivy acceptances, a million APs, or anything that impressive, but i'm proud of what i've accomplished even though it's nowhere near as much as other people here.</p>
<p>"Your rigirous schedules"</p>
<p>I can relate to that. Going to school from 8-3, then walking home, doing homework, only to go back to school at 6 for cheerleading until 9. Then to return to do more homework. I'll be glad when cheerleading is over so i'll have more time 2 relax.</p>
<p>I was born in a disadnabtaged background (hence my spelling of "disadvantaged") in Pusan, south korea. i lived with 2 gradmas, one grandpa, mother father uncle sister and aunt in one house. my dad finally saved up enough money to move to US, where he becamse chief flight dispatcher. after 6 years in the US, my dad was forced by his company to go back to Korea. He refused and quit, and instead picked up a restaurant business serving overworked underpaid mexican workers at a local factory, at around 15k a year. Thank God, a rival company had recognized my dad's work so we had to move to alaska. after another year in alaska, (my 6th grade year), my mom was struck with an unknown disease of the heart and died shortly thereafter. family broken and stricken with depression, i entered my middle school, intent on doing my best. my dad was working 3 jobs and i had to work with my sister to practically raise my lil brother. 2 years later, the korean community "found" a suitable wife for my dad, but that didn't work out, and they divorced rather recently. my dad was offered a job in california, so he moved there last year, and im here with my "ex-stepmom" and mu lil brother, who it is up to me to raise (for now). </p>
<p>meanwhile, my grades and scores were doing fine. i buried myself in work and ec's to try to forget about the past, but it had a even deeper effect than i thought. more than once teachers would come up to me, telling me how "cold" I was. Not "cold" as in heartless, but as if i didn't want to be around other people, and in a way, that was true. i went through a mild depression, something i weathered alone. i knew that i wasn't rich, but i just showed everyone what i was capable of. not to sound cynical, but my church was not as supportive as i thought it would be. i could feel the pressure of their eyees watching me, expecting me to fail because of my background. HA! showed them. (bitter? yes, justified? maybe.) ALthough i went through a mild depression, it eventually dawned on me that God had intended a different life for me, something away from all this stress. i applied myself more to school worked hard, and eventually was accepted to Princeton University, where i will be attending next year. </p>
<p>Now if i could get through all that and do fine in school and ec's, you can do just fine too. I admit that i am not as talented as other people, but i've accepted taht there will always be someone better than me at something. don't get too strssed out, and "when life trouble's come your way, hold your head up high and say, "hallejuah anyhow!" </p>
<p>wow that sounds like a friggin autobiography, but meh, whateva. :D</p>
<p>and then you will grow up rich and successful and make an oscar winning movie about your life, rife with drama, that we will all go see, yes? :D</p>
<p>congratulations for getting where you are now. looks like it's been a long journey.</p>
<p>wow, hobbes, thats quite a story. i wish i had some experiences like yours so i can write them on my college essay. j/k... but sincerely, after you came through all these obstacles in life, im sure you would become Someone.</p>
<p>Grew up as a 'gifted student' in a 'trailer park trash' environment until high school. My parents were separated until 6th grade, moved from NC to DE in August of 1998 when my parents got back together. My father died June 9, 2000. We moved into the first house I can remember living in, realized I wasn't as gifted as other's made me out to be (top 30 of 230). I guess it was because of I grew up in the west side of Charlotte where being gifted mean your parents didn't threaten to shoot up the school, actually doing homework, and giving two cents about your school work. </p>
<p>High school rolls around, I get my first serious boyfriend who turns out to be a psycho, begin dating a bit more, got on the drumline, got a job, then another job, and another job.
Got a better boyfriend. Boyfriend moved out of state. Saddened deeply. Still in long-distance relationship but going to be together after graduation.</p>
<p>Filled out ap for college with rolling admissions, got accepted a day after receiving transcripts, got $6,500 scholarship from them. I got $3,000 worth of Skills USA - VICA scholarships to the New England Institute of Technology (which I'm not going to).</p>
<p>And right now, just kicking it back and finishing up my high school with 3 jobs.</p>
<p>I entered high school and had a nonchalant "I don't' care" attitude. Needless to say, this attitude didn't do much for my grades. At the end of my freshman year I had a 2.83 and was ranked in the bottom half of my class. Now, however, I'm ranked 5th out of 500, i have a 4.60 for this semester and a 3.75 cumulative and do tons of volunteer work after school and have done several school plays. So yes, there's hope for all</p>
<p>awesome stories.
lets all congradulate each other. i think this would be a good idea.</p>
<p>just a little part of my success story: :)</p>
<p>middle school:
6th grade math - C,C
7th grade math - C,B
8th grade algebraI - C,D-</p>
<p>High school:
9th: geometry - A,A
10th: Algebra II - A,A (summer)
precalculus - A,A
11th: AP calc AB - A+,?</p>
<p>I have a really rigourous schedule this year
Honors Precal
Spanish IV
AP english
AP US
AP Physics
I've gone up from a 4.1-->4.3-->4.35 report card today
I play basketball so i dont get home till late then i have to do all my homework most of the night</p>
<p>HOw about this, I am better than you all. Wow it's all lat eeand stuff. why am i on here and not sleeping, i'm stupid, i need to sleep, super bowl today and crap, wow,</p>
<p>I graduated jr. high w/ a 3.83333 and was on x-country. I got most-improved in 7th, most valuable in 8th, and in 9th, I made varsity and was most inspirational. I found out about my then future high school's summer bball program (girls) and I was the only freshman practicing with mostly varsity girls and playing games in the summer. I was also the only freshman (again) to run Stanford's bleachers with them on Saturday mornings. I was a gym rat as well - I was there on MWF for a total of 10-15 hours a week in addition to my doing either x-country or bball practice. I also made straight A's and was freshman of the year for biology and spanish. I set a record in my geometry class for getting more than 110%. </p>
<p>I made straight A's again in sophomore year. Founded a club and was on the news for my fundraising efforts. I won a few awards and nominations from the local Red Cross. Hmm... I planned the first blood drive in over 2 years at my school. I also made the RC Youth Council after having been in RC for just 6 months. </p>
<p>Today I juggle CC and AP classes. I had some medical problems earlier this year and so I had to quit everything. Now, things are looking better and I am on my way to train for a few city races and chasing some long lost musical aspirations.</p>
<p>This just makes me feel like a loser.</p>
<p>I came from a white trash background and met everyone's expectations. Except I'm not pregnant. Success!</p>
<p><em>rigorous schedules</em> (you asked for it)</p>
<p>Classes (IB diploma - I'm in grade 11): Math Methods (in French), Bio SL, Chem HL, European History HL (in French), English A1 HL, French A2 (SL but they might offer HL next year and I would definetly take it), Band AM (two mornings a week), Choir AM (two other mornings a week), International Politics (every Monday after school from 5:30 to 8:30). Average = 95% in the Canadian system (so up there... average at my school is 80%).</p>
<p>Ec's:
-Violin (11 years... working towards my grade 8)
-Orchestra (violin for 6 years, viola for the last 2)
-Fiddle group (3 years)
-Flute (5 years... working towards my grade 9, recieved a silver medal in 2002 for the best exam score in the province, plus a few awards doing duets at Kiwanis)
-Band (5 years playing first flute and piccolo)
-Guitar (1 years, affiliation with fiddle group)
-Field Hockey (2 years, last year we came 2nd in city finals... practice runs every day after school for 2 hours March - June)
-Choir (1 year at school in the mornings... 1st soprano)
-Model UN (2 years... Last year I was the only grade 10 who went to Montreal for the SSUNS conference and got an honorable mention as MSF on the UNDP (one of 5 awards in my delegation of 20). I went again this year for Sudan on NAM and am going to Paris during spring break representing Canada on the G8. I was also the ambassador of Bahrain on the GA at my city's MUN competition. For MUN you have to take a course Monday nights and it counts towards your average.)
-Student's Union (volunteer as a Rowdy - selling dance tickets, being a guide for orientation days, registration, parent teacher interviews and grade 9 tours).
-Amnesty Club (started it at my school this year... I write announcements, organised Human Right's Awareness week and attended the Amnesty Arts Jam in my city. I also represent the Amnesty Club on my school's Tsunami committee in the wake of the Asian Tsunami Disaster... each club participating has an event in Febuary to raise money for victims... our theme is Children and the event (tape-music) is on Feb 16).
-Husky Steering Committee (last year only... group of student's who manage the school's relationship with Husky Oil. We had a head shave and raised 55 grand to buy a new teen lounge in the new children's hospital as well as a bio-analyser machine for diagnosing kidney cancer in children).
-Tutoring (this year... school stuff)
-Butterfly 208 class rep (not much... organized and informed my class about the B08 contest and went to a session on landmine safety and clearing)
-Volunteering (this year - at Heritage Park during the 12 days of Christmas helping kids and doing admin stuff, last year - at my greek church I helped out with the Greek Festival... raffle tickets, admission gate and stuff, also planning to help out with my city's Youth Week in may as a Youth Ambassador to my school and the media)
-PSYL (summer 2004: ok, not really an ec, but it was the BEST summer of my life... Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership... and it was my inspiration for Amnesty Club and all of my volunteering not to mention where I met the coolest people ever)</p>
<p>got a 3.8 and 4.0 in 7th grade (+ awards); got a 3.6 in the 8th grade (+ awards); 4.o freshmen year (+ awards,+ NHS, Poem publication); 4.0 sophomore year (hard classes)</p>
<p>
<p>I came from a white trash background and met everyone's expectations. Except I'm not pregnant. Success!
</p>
<p>Sounds like mine. Grew up in a trailer with busted water pipes with mice for a few years, got evicted and padlocked, moved to west charlotte to a black neighborhood for 4 years, in an apartment with no electricity until dark when my mother's 'friend' would rig it up. Went to a school where finding a white kid was like a "Where's Waldo?" puzzle, where being gifted meant not fighting all the time, not getting suspended, not bring a gun to school, doing your homework, etc (i.e. normal things). Moved to DE and laugh at the sheltered kids who've lived in a two-story house, white picket fence, 2.5 kids, both parents, dog and cat and think their rebels because their mothers drive them to the mall to shop at hot topic. </p>
<p>Very laughable indeed to see upper-middle class Americans who think their hardcore, yet wouldn't last a day in my shoes.</p>
<p>my little success and failure drabbles:</p>
<p>-i am a huge huge softball player... so basically my entire summer revolved around the sport from 5th-.... um now. But my freshman year after making varsity and working my way towards a varsity letter and maybe better... I had a hairline fracture.It was from over work because I didn't just pitch varsity, I also pitched JV (me and 1 other pitcher on both teams). So basically, I played a full game (100-300 pitches every time) every day for 4 weeks till the injury. Not only did i lose my varsity status but the injury also took over another year to completely recover from ( back problems,flexibility and such). I still can't practice on my old hs field (i transferred), not even if there is nobody around because of psychological things.
but now I am doing fine and playing on a top hs team and travel team. but it is hard.</p>
<p>another one that hasn't quite taken effect yet is that my dad flys to chicago for work and comes home one weekend a month. it's not a big deal when I'm at school, but i really never see him.</p>
<p>hope you feel slightly inspired... my suggestion is that if you need more...:
a) watch shackleton's antarctic adventure
b) read Ron Suskind's A hope in The Unseen.</p>
<p>Both the producer/author spoke at my school and they are awesome!</p>
<p>Hm. </p>
<p>I have a rough family life, being born a girl in an Asian family who wanted boys. Then my father passed away, mom and I were ostracized from the family with no money. Mom worked 3 jobs and I tottered around helping. </p>
<p>Did fairly well during school, mostly A's with a few B's tossed in with science classes. Then came the summer of junior and senior year when I got into webdesign and got a hot internship with marketing/advertising. </p>
<p>:D So now, started a webdesign business, making money, making connections and getting published at the internship. Life is pretty good to the point that for school, all I need to do is graduate. I got into college, and even if I don't go to college I know I have two avaliable jobs (one to completely focus on the business and two, to work at my internship place which has already offered me a job). </p>
<p>Oh wait. Does that count as "good student" bragging? </p>
<p>PS: And I agree with Deviant. I see these kids in my upper class HS wearing black and horrible hair dyes who think they're just SO rebellious, and I laugh when they call their moms to complain because they're late 5 minutes to pick them up from school. Please.</p>