The (Academic) Life of a High Schooler

     My name is Briana Long and I am a sophomore in high school. Unlike some of the people I grew up with I do not go to a regular high school. For the past two years I have attended Lorain County Community College through an Early College program. I take all my high school classes at the college and I will graduate high school with an associate of arts degree. During my high school experience I have encountered struggles that I have overcome and accomplishments that will hopefully help me reach my aspirations.
     High school is not the easiest four years of a teenager's life. Through the first two years of Early College I have faced many struggles. Studying was very hard for me because I never truly had to study during middle school or grade school. I did not know how to study and I also struggled with time management. Homework was never an issue prior to Early College so I had to rearrange my schedule and stop procrastinating. The last thing I struggled with was worrying. I was very hard on myself every time I got a C on a test or quiz and stressed myself out over everything that I thought was inadequate. Though I had a hard time in the beginning of freshman year, I overcame those struggles and accomplished many things.
     I am proud to have accomplished so much during my time in high school. I was very excited to have graduated freshman year with a 3.466 grade point average. I have also done HIV research with Dr. Kestler's Research group in an Early Scientist program that started the summer of freshman year and will continue until my graduation. Finally, I have been able to overcome my struggles with time management and worrying with extracurriculars. I was a Lorain High School Varsity Cheerleader freshman year and a part of the Early College High School dance team along with the Early Scientist program during sophomore year. I continue to hope that these accomplishments will assist me in reaching my goals.
     I have set many goals through the course of my high school year. One of my goals is to maintain the 3.6 grade point average that I have earned this year. Another aspiration that I have is to present at the American Society of Microbiology convention in Denver, Colorado on May 18. Finally, I hope to get in touch with colleges and start making a plan for my future.
     In recent years I have faced struggles, I have achieved accomplishments that I never would have dreamed possible, and have set new and improved goals for myself. From freshman year to the present I have almost overcome every struggle that I had to deal with throughout the years. My accomplishments with time management and my worrying have given me confidence I never knew I had. My aspirations have pushed me to do my best and to work hard. In conclusion, high school is difficult and different but a person learns so much throughout the journey.