Undergraduate / UF Application Essay-8th gradefailure turns into high school academic excellence [8]

This is my UF application essay. Feedback, comments, input, etc. would be greatly appreciated! This is due Sunday-Monday so help as soon as possible would be so beneficial! Thanks in advance! (And I'll be sure to read your essays, as well)

Prompt: In the space provided, please write a concise narrative in which you describe a meaningful event, experience or accomplishment in your life and how it will affect your college experience or your contribution to the UF campus community. You may want to reflect on your ideas about student responsibility, academic integrity, campus citizenship or a call to service.

My heart pounds as I open the envelope that conceals my fate. Shaking fingers grasp the card within and eyes hastily scan its contents. French III Honors: A, U.S. History Honors: A, Physics Honors: A, AP Language and Composition: A, Statistics: A, Religion Morality: A, and Drawing/Painting I: A. My report card falls from my hands as I begin to jump ecstatically and exclaim from the top of my lungs, "First Honors! I finally have First Honors!" After three years in the making and close calls concerning borderline B-A grades, I finally accomplished my high school goal: to achieve First Honors.

Three years ago, I sat in the audience as my classmates were each called to receive Honor Awards during my Eighth Grade Graduation. I sat alone as the principal called name after name to the sounds of applause. Seeing their ecstatic faces made me realize I wanted to experience their excitement. I wanted to achieve Honors and be recognized for my hard work; I wanted to excel academically. At that moment, I set a goal for high school: to work relentlessly hard in my academics and one day hold the title of First Honors Student to my name. Moving onto high school in a new state (I moved from New Jersey to Florida) allowed me to start anew and focus on the goal I had set for myself.

Freshmen and Sophomore years passed, each containing their own accomplishments. Each quarter, I received Second Honors after being on the borderline of a B or an A in one class. In Freshmen year, my academic demon was Biology; Sophomore year, it was Algebra II. Come Junior year, I prepared myself for an academically challenging year. Rising Seniors had bombarded me with horror stories about Junior year being the most academically difficult. I entered Junior year with a bit of dread and fear, but overall a sense of anticipation. Would this be the year I finally accomplished my goal?

Amongst balancing Presidential responsibilities of the French Honor Society, being a Peer Leader, being active in my youth group, participating in Drama club, applying to be an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, and finding time to volunteer at UF & Shands Hospital and St. Francis' Soup Kitchen, I managed to uphold my grades and finished the Junior year with all A's. I kept my eyes on my goal and never strayed away from what I wanted best. I worked and studied relentlessly to achieve the academic recognition I had always dreamed of. The year certainly was difficult but it tested how well I was able to balance all the responsibilities in my life- an attribute I feel will benefit me once I join the University of Florida. As a college freshmen, I know I will have challenging academic classes, but my high school experience has prepared me to take on those challenges, overcome any obstacles, and succeed. As a part of the Gator Nation, I want to be active in Student Campus Life: I want to join many student clubs and organizations, maybe play some intramural sports, become active on campus, and express my Gator pride at different sporting events. I believe the various group responsibilities I held throughout my high school career has prepared me to balance my Student Campus Life with my Academic Life. I believe moving onto college, as I moved onto high school four years ago, will set the stage anew and allow me to complete another successful chapter in my life.