hec2019
Oct 16, 2018
Undergraduate / 'I can't take it anymore I want to quit!' Common App Essay for University of Michigan [2]
I decided to write about my transition from home school to public school but is it too bland? how can I make it more unique and really grab their attention?
That's it I can't take it anymore I want to quit!" I stammered half in tears over my seventh-grade math assignment. Pushing through my parents, I ran through the house back to my room where I cried myself to sleep; convincing myself that I will never amount to anything. I regretted my choice to attend public school. My mother told me "once you start there's no going back, are you sure?" and of course I exuberantly exclaimed I wanted to attend public school.
My family moved a great deal when I was young. Once we finally settled into a forever home, I decided to make the biggest decision of my life. I told my mother I wished to attend public school. The night before my first day I had everything set out, my first outfit, my purple messenger bag filled with brand new school supplies, I was ecstatic. When the morning finally came my mother walked me to the middle school we said our goodbyes just before the crosswalk, as I strolled across the street into my new adventure. I knew it was going to be a strenuous day when the crossing guard yelled at me for crossing the street incorrectly.
My first day was terrifying, I had no clue as to what the curriculum contained, there were no familiar faces, I didn't even know how to unlock a simple combination lock. Finally, the dreaded time had finally come, lunch. Meekly walking into the lunch room with my new thirty-one lunch bag, I gazed around the cafeteria. All eyes were on me. I sat with my shadow, Shelby, she introduced me to her friends and they continued about their normal routine of gossip and horseplay. I, being too shy to start a conversation with any other student, opened my lunchable my mother packed me and ate quietly. While the cafeteria was bursting with vitality, I was not.
As the marking period came to an end the students received their report cards. Standing in the kitchen, I nervously opened my report card. My avid expression turned to animosity. To my dismay, I received my first ever C. Prior to public school I was doing math at the sixth-grade level. It was extremely grueling attempting to catch up with my fellow peers. My mother, with a look of disapproval on her face, hung my report card on the fridge saying that I should do better next marking period. I was crushed, I joined public school so I could become my own person and make my mother proud of me.
Ever since I can remember I was always following in my sister's footsteps. We would do everything together; when my sister wanted to ride horses I had to as well, even if I didn't want to. Enrolling in public school was the biggest step in my life. I was so happy yet so nervous I had always been with my sister, I had awful social anxiety making it difficult for me to make friends. Though, after receiving my first C, I realized I wanted to be more than an average student. I tried harder and became an A student. After entering high school it became clear to me that I wanted to do more with my life.
I challenged myself, became more active within my school community, and overall improve myself. I finally realized who I wanted to become. I stopped trying to impress my mother and started doing the activities I was interested in. I have never felt like college was an option for me until I entered high school and realized I could do great things. I never would have pushed myself to become the leader I am today without making the most treacherous decision of my life.
I decided to write about my transition from home school to public school but is it too bland? how can I make it more unique and really grab their attention?
realization that sparked personal growth
That's it I can't take it anymore I want to quit!" I stammered half in tears over my seventh-grade math assignment. Pushing through my parents, I ran through the house back to my room where I cried myself to sleep; convincing myself that I will never amount to anything. I regretted my choice to attend public school. My mother told me "once you start there's no going back, are you sure?" and of course I exuberantly exclaimed I wanted to attend public school.
My family moved a great deal when I was young. Once we finally settled into a forever home, I decided to make the biggest decision of my life. I told my mother I wished to attend public school. The night before my first day I had everything set out, my first outfit, my purple messenger bag filled with brand new school supplies, I was ecstatic. When the morning finally came my mother walked me to the middle school we said our goodbyes just before the crosswalk, as I strolled across the street into my new adventure. I knew it was going to be a strenuous day when the crossing guard yelled at me for crossing the street incorrectly.
My first day was terrifying, I had no clue as to what the curriculum contained, there were no familiar faces, I didn't even know how to unlock a simple combination lock. Finally, the dreaded time had finally come, lunch. Meekly walking into the lunch room with my new thirty-one lunch bag, I gazed around the cafeteria. All eyes were on me. I sat with my shadow, Shelby, she introduced me to her friends and they continued about their normal routine of gossip and horseplay. I, being too shy to start a conversation with any other student, opened my lunchable my mother packed me and ate quietly. While the cafeteria was bursting with vitality, I was not.
As the marking period came to an end the students received their report cards. Standing in the kitchen, I nervously opened my report card. My avid expression turned to animosity. To my dismay, I received my first ever C. Prior to public school I was doing math at the sixth-grade level. It was extremely grueling attempting to catch up with my fellow peers. My mother, with a look of disapproval on her face, hung my report card on the fridge saying that I should do better next marking period. I was crushed, I joined public school so I could become my own person and make my mother proud of me.
Ever since I can remember I was always following in my sister's footsteps. We would do everything together; when my sister wanted to ride horses I had to as well, even if I didn't want to. Enrolling in public school was the biggest step in my life. I was so happy yet so nervous I had always been with my sister, I had awful social anxiety making it difficult for me to make friends. Though, after receiving my first C, I realized I wanted to be more than an average student. I tried harder and became an A student. After entering high school it became clear to me that I wanted to do more with my life.
I challenged myself, became more active within my school community, and overall improve myself. I finally realized who I wanted to become. I stopped trying to impress my mother and started doing the activities I was interested in. I have never felt like college was an option for me until I entered high school and realized I could do great things. I never would have pushed myself to become the leader I am today without making the most treacherous decision of my life.