<p>Hi, everyone! I'm new to this website. I'm a female junior living in CT who just moved to a private school, which I really like so far. I have attended public school up until now. I need some help in deciding what to focus my energies on, what schools I should be looking at in terms of selectivity and what I should do to make the remainder of my high school career better (academic, social and extra-curricular)</p>
<p>From kindergarten - 6th grade, I was known as the "smart girl", "teacher's pet". I never earned a grade lower than an "A". All of my teachers thought that I would go to Harvard or become a best-selling novelist.</p>
<p>In 7th grade, I made the wrong decision to join the "popular" group and abandon my academic aspirations. I earned C's and D's for the first time, but I didn't care. I didn't think that it would affect my college acceptances, but I was wrong.</p>
<p>I stuck with the popular group who made my life miserable and full of drama. My grades continued to plummet as I procrastinated, didn't study and didn't pay attention during class. Since I earned low grades in my science and math classes, I was placed in Algebra 1 and Physical Science in my freshman year. I was terrified.. I had never been in a class other than Honors since the 1st grade. It was then that I realized how my decisions in middle school had, in fact, affected my high school career. I left my popular group. I wanted to get serious about school again. I used to lament being known as "the smart girl" but I now desired that name!</p>
<p>Besides being freshly friendless, I had family drama to deal with at home that had been going on since I was 7. My parents are divorced and I have very rocky relationships with them both...at times, becoming quite serious (Lawsuits, restraining orders, not seeing a parent for months, etc.)</p>
<p>I came home and cried every single day that year. I earned a 3.4 UW GPA and took 2 out of 5 Honors courses.</p>
<p>I took all Honors courses in my sophomore year and I believe that I earned an UW GPA closer to 3.5. My social and family situations had not improved whatsoever. Near the end of that year, I cracked. I was in deep, deep procrastination. I sometimes didn't start essays and projects until 2 A.M, going to school with 2 or less hours of sleep (Though I still earned A's on them...mostly English assignments) As in 9th grade, I was depressed. I spent nights tossing and turning, feeling nauseous with the realization that I had ruined my chances of attending Princeton or Yale. The week before final exams in June, I didn't sleep for days. I went to bed at around 11 in the morning and woke up in late afternoon. This continued for about 2 weeks. My school decided to give me a Medical Excuse instead of taking exams.</p>
<p>Since switching to my new school, my life has become a whole lot brighter. I don't feel so alone. I've been meeting a bunch of really sweet, cool kids. Though, there are some problems. For example, this guy has been leading me on (he happens to be the love interest of my first and only real girl friend at school, so far) They dated for 6 months last year and I like him a lot. The family drama is still there and I dread coming home, but for now, I'm pushing that aside.</p>
<p>I still have a problem with procrastination - mostly with writing assignments. I'm very harsh on myself in terms of writing (I always have been). I become paralyzed with fear of writing something that isn't good enough.</p>
<p>I'm not sure of the kind of colleges that I should be looking at, in terms of selectivity. I'm not sure of what I should focus my energy on, outside of academics. I'm kind of lost.</p>
<p>If I were still attending public school, I was set to take:
AP Lang. & Comp.
APUSH
AP Psychology
H Spanish 4
H Chem
H Algebra 2</p>
<p>My parents were extremely worried about me and didn't want me taking more than one AP at my new school. AP English and AP Psych. aren't available at my current school, and I'm not that interested in U.S History, so I decided not to take any AP's this year. My current schedule is:
H English 11
Algebra 2
Theatre 1
Chemistry
U.S History
Concert Choir
Spanish 3 </p>
<p>Next year, I'm planning on taking:
AP English
Pre-Calculus
AP Enviro
Spanish 4 (Possibly Honors)
Some college-level history elective
Advanced Theatre
Poetry & Playwriting</p>
<p>I'm in the fall play. I don't have a main role, but I did get a callback for two pretty good roles. I'm planning on acting in my school's Winter Theater Showcase and auditioning for the spring musical. I started acting when I was 7 years old..I attended a bunch of theater camps and acting classes. I always got the lead roles :) I'm returning to theater now after about 5 years without it. I really missed it.</p>
<p>I also used to sing and dance (tap, jazz, ballet). I was a member of a few selective children's choirs in my city (we recorded a CD, sang with some famous musicians and sang in a well-known parade). I auditioned for the girls' a Capella group at school but unfortunately didn't make the cut. It's very competitive. A bunch of girls with beautiful voices didn't get in either. I'll try out again next year! I took some guitar lessons last year and I really want to return to it. I want to be able to play the guitar and piano.</p>
<p>I'd also like to return to ballet lessons. I took them in my freshman year, after about 8 years without dancing.</p>
<p>I really love creative writing...I'm an editor on the staff of my school's literary magazine. If I get really involved this year, I could be a Co-Editor-in-Chief next year. I'm hoping to write something great and submit it to a writing contest.</p>
<p>I was really involved with environmental protection, but I'm realizing that I don't love it. I started an environmental club at the end of my freshman year. It dissolved in my sophomore year and so I joined Recycling Club. I worked with my city's recycling department as well. I was offered by my city to work on developing a composting program for the schools in my district. This project is currently paused, since I can't decide whether I want to do it or not. I know that it would look awesome on my college application, but I think that I'd much rather be performing or writing. In addition, I was elected to serve on the Steering Committee of a sustainability-focused NGO last spring. The majority of work is done over the phone and on the Internet, which my parents find to be quite sketchy, but it's legitimate (The organization has been featured in Time Magazine.) I have the opportunity to attend/participate in U.N climate change and biodiversity conferences around the world. Other than that, I find my role to be boring.</p>
<p>Please offer your advice, suggestions, and opinions. Thank you!</p>