Undergraduate / "to get good grades" - Personal statement on academic performance [5]

My word count is 375 while limit is 250 /: Need a way to shorten it down a bit. The prompt was provide information that will help us better understand your academic performance.

Maintaining an above average GPA had paid a toll on my mind but if you learn from it, you'll eventually overcome it. Throughout my years in school, I've stressed myself to get good grades under no circumstances but what I lacked was memorization. I had a poor memory in remembering certain things I've learned and had a tendency to forget what I learned easily, making me look back at the previous notes. My weakest subject might've been history because of it; I couldn't remember dates of historical events and forget the sequence of events. One day I looked at my world history teacher's list of recommendation for AP World History, my name was nowhere to be found. I expected that because I was an average student for history but that gut feeling made me want to give it a try, so I asked the teacher, and there I was, in AP World History. The course was interesting but soon enough, my poor memorization started to take its action that no matter how hard I studied, dates and sequence just wouldn't budge into my mind. Not surprised, I failed the exam with a 2. It was devestating at first, but I knew I shouldn't let that one grade bring me down and I gave myself another chance by taking AP Biology while learning something valuable while taking this course. I developed a passion for Biology because of the way my teacher explained every piece of information and preparing materials for us to get a better insight of it which helped me improve my memory. I wasn't the best student in the class and felt way below because everyone scored so high on their class exams while I scored within the median. The feeling of no hope struck me again but I pushed myself to study, to memorize, to rewrite and reread notes as much as I can to remember. My expectations weren't high and remained a 3 but when the AP exam came around, compared to my history exam, I felt more confidence and more potential in myself. All that work paid off when scores came in the mail in July. Without hesitation, I opened it, and in front of my eyes, I saw a 4.

Undergraduate / "Maturing from your mistakes" Topic of choice essay [3]

Just finished my essay finally! Would appreciate some grammar check. And any criticism, insights, changes would greatly be accepted ^___^

Being at work after school has become a daily routine that nothing spectacular ever happens while sitting on this white chair. Delivering prescriptions within walking distance without much interference or trouble was as simple as putting biscuit into a basket until that one afternoon which felt like the end of the world, made me realize a valuable life lesson.

"Thank you, that would be $5.09," I said as I handled the money and she signed off her prescription. The day felt never-ending and energizing as I walked back to the pharmacy only soon to find myself in misery. I walked in with a delightful smile and gave the pharmacist the signed paper till that one question struck my mind. "Where's the money?" Anxiously, I rambled through my pockets endlessly searching for it only to find myself in distress. I bolted out the door and backtracked my way through - no luck. The pharmacist told me it was okay and that just don't repeat the same mistake again, learn from it. Even though it was a small mistake, I just couldn't let it go at that moment for it was such a simple task that shouldn't be mistaken.

I sat there, emotionless, and the images kept repeating itself that I couldn't manage to bring it to a stop. Abruptly, I reminisced of my childhood. The time when falling off staircases was almost like a hobby for me. Tumbling down a one story high, metal-like staircase, and effortlessly crying was a challenge. Falling off a stone, cemented staircase earning myself scraped knees, elbows and a nosebleed made me realize crying won't get me anywhere. But rather to stand up, learn from what you did wrong, and don't dwell over your mistakes. And so I went straight back to work and did what I needed to do because mistakes are obstacles in life in which you must overcome to better yourself. I continued being hardworking everyday, to show the pharmacist and myself that I'm capable of overcoming problems and not muddle over it.

Maturing is what helps build you into a stronger person because you'll know your rights from your wrongs. Having this job definitely helped me for not only did I learn to stand up from my mistakes, I learned to handle money and that money doesn't come to you, you have to earn it. But because of this job, I grew to love helping people in which will pursuit me in my goal of being a nurse.