<p>I am currently a junior in high school. In my freshman year, my main goals had been to maintain high grades, to participate in the sports I enjoyed and to have fun doing whatever I decided to do. However, it wasn't until last year (my sophomore year) that I gave serious thought about getting into the college I want to go to. I didn't understand much about what I needed to do to get into a good college and after learning more about what it took, it didn't seem TOO hard. However, now, with so little time remaining, I feel a bit disappointed at my chances. While my ventures are many, I feel as if the quality of everything I do is not at the level of which would impress. The thing is, I've enjoyed almost everything I've learned and haven't been particularly good at one thing. I've set goals for myself in what I want to do (whether it will impress colleges or not), but none of them have really been accomplished yet.</p>
<p>In the area of the arts
I've played the Piano and Violin since elementary school
I am currently in first violin, but am easily considered "amateur" to someone who is actually good
My goal in playing instruments was to become good enough to record good renditions of pieces I love to play and post them on Youtube to share with the world
However, it is very hard for me to play a decent piece perfectly and so I have only made one recording.</p>
<p>In the area of Academics
- I am smart, but I'm more of a "worst of the best" type of guy. I may be smarter than many, but when compared to the truly elite at my school, I do not seem to compare. I often have to work very hard in order to keep up with these "local geniuses". I do love to learn however, and enjoy facing any challenges that I may face.
- I took the NCHO last year because it was a test grade for our AP Chemistry course and because I am very competitive, so I studied hard (did every practice test) but didn't even make semis (missed it by 4 or 5 points)
I plan to take the Bio and Chemistry Olympiad this year and plan to study mostly Bio as it seems to favor people who are willing to grind hours reading the textbook.
I also wish to participate in a Siemens or Intel science research competition, but I only wish to research in a topic that I am genuinely interested in and I have little idea of how to find such a mentor available who would share my interests. (also, I am worried that I have started too late; is there still time?)</p>
<p>In the area of Athletics
I have never been an exceptional athlete and thus was never really passionate about any sport in which I participated because I would be discouraged when I didn't perform well
- I started playing baseball in the 3rd grade and played for 5 years or so. I was only outstanding in the outfield which was usually where the position the lesser players would play. I did well in practice, but never seemed to perform well in games and I didn't have many good friends who played baseball so I decided not to continue playing in high school.
- In high school I joined the waterpolo team because I heard waterpolo was a cool sport and because my friend was joining too. Because I didn't have much talent, I didn't really commit myself to practicing. I was a great defender on the JV team, but because I wasn't fast enough and panicked on offense, I didn't have much playtime.
- I used to hate tennis as I only played it because my sister played it as well. However I eventually started enjoying it more and more and in my freshman year, joined the school team. After a year of practicing hard, as I got better, my friends wanted to play me less and less as I was the worst of them and so they didn't enjoy the idea of "losing to me". I became discouraged and didn't play as much. I now continue to play after I was re-inspired by videos of great tennis pros.
- After seeing someone who graduated from my school in my freshman year participate in a triathlon, I've gained interest in doing so myself as it seems exciting. I would participate... if I find the time to prepare.</p>
<p>Summing it up:
Many people advise others asking for advice to just "follow your passions and do what you enjoy doing". However, I enjoy doing everything I do, and can't seem to decide what I enjoy doing more. As a result I can't really decide what to commit my time to therefore don't have any specific things I am "passionate" about. The result is that I am mediocre at everything I do, but this does not really impress. I wouldn't be surprised if I am rejected by all the elite colleges I wish to go to; I'd merely be disappointed. However, I still really want to get into the college that I want to go to and I am looking for any advice on what I can do to impress.</p>