The transition from middle school to high school is often
considered one of the most trying times of a kid’s life. It is when most kids leave
behind the safe environment that they have grown to trust throughout the years
and it is replaced with teachers that no longer hold their hand through every
assignment and peers that gossip about their insecurities and embarrassments.
These changes are amplified when you switch from a private school to a public
school. For nine years my single mother was able to scrounger up the funds to
provide with the type of educational foundation that would last me a lifetime,
but she knew with the current rise of college tuition, she would need to use
high school as a time to save money.
For years I had seized the benefits of small class sizes,
increased individual attention from teachers and learning in an environmental
filled with an eclectic group of diverse people that all shared a set of common
goals and ideals. This was a place where people seemed to honestly enjoy coming
to school for learning’s sake, rather than to just get a good grade in order to
escape the scowls of parents. Accompanied with lavish offerings in
extracurricular activities, and freedom from the school district to take
interesting trips to places such as Costa Rica and New York that all aid to the
learning and development of a child, this was undoubtedly an ideal environment
to grow up in.
My high school may not be the traditional public school. It
has helped me hone several important skills such as inquiry, research and
leadership. However, in one year all of my cushy surroundings were taken away
from me. My current science class has 35 other students it – more than the
maximum amount required by the district. Last month, the government officially
put a number on the amount of cuts the school district will be facing due to
the recession: $465 million. This will severely limit – if not discontinue – a
large amount of extracurricular activities and opportunities my school is able
to provide.
I, in no way, consider myself an elitist, but I have goals
and I refuse to let anyone try to guilt me for being an “over achiever”. Why do
we live in a society that discourages hard work? What can we do as a society to
ensure that we continue to progress? These are the questions that have plagued
me throughout high school. My transition to high school has definitely been a
culture shock for me. In many ways I consider this the toughest academic challenge
that I have had to endure, and I am committed fixing this issue, helping people
realize their true potential. I once received a strong piece of advice from a
teacher that I strive to live by: “Everyday, just make sure that you strive to
be the best version of yourself and everything else will fall into place.” By
living by these words, I believe I am fostering the type of environment that I
wish to live and play and learn in, and I sincerely believe that dedication
will benefit others.
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