...My experiences in high school are my most vivid of memories when it comes to reading, writing, and communicating. My freshman year of high school I had an English teacher that had a big personality and made English class interesting and often unpredictable. She would break out into a song or dance in order to explain things such as a hyperbole. She was the first teacher to peak my interest in reading and writing. Sophomore year was also a turning point for my writing because I had to write a lengthy research paper on Macbeth by William Shakespeare. I learned that I have trouble staying focused on my thesis at times and my wording can often be awkward. I was thankful that quite a bit of drafting was involved and my final paper was a huge improvement. Junior year was a great year for my interest in reading because I read East of Eden by John Steinbeck, which was a great book. Reading East of Eden made me realize how important annotating is and that rereading the text may be necessary if you did not pick up a good understanding the first time around. Senior year was an interesting one because of my expository reading and writing class. One of the hardest things I did was writing a group essay. We were in a group before we started the essay then when we started to draft we discovered we had different opinions on the topic. Communication was key and we had to figure out a compromise so that we could all get our point across. High school had a huge contribution to my literacy narrative...
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...High School Years Those four years of high school can be quite difficult. They can either be the easiest years of your life, or the hardest. It all depends on how you make it out to be. High school is so complicated when it comes down to your social life. Nowadays teenagers are bullies. They try to fit in with the “in-crowd”. They usually don’t care about hurting someone’s feelings, so that can cause a teenager to feel out of place. No one wants to go to a place 5 days out of the week, if they feel as if they are unwelcomed and are going to get made fun of. Nowadays, high school is driving teenagers overboard. High school can also make you feel out of place by your grades. Making D’s and F’s can make you not want to come. You feel as if the teacher takes you as a joke, doesn’t think you serious, as if he thinks you don’t want to succeed. Most kids that make bad grades tell their parents it’s the teachers fault. They always use the same lines that every teenager that’s failing terribly says; “My teacher doesn’t like me” or “My teacher doesn’t even know anything” when really it is the teenagers reason they are failing. The teacher doesn’t give you a grade, he or she gives you what you earn. Feeling out of place in high school can also have a positive effect; not wanting to go all the time can make a teenager work harder to graduate, strive harder to get all their credits, and even graduate early. Maybe even make straight A’s! High school is very stressful at times, so...
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...Aim High Allison Reid Saint Joseph’s College William Zinsser’s essay, “The Right to Fail,” is a dangerous article for young people to read. It discusses how he believes that children and adolescents have too much pressure on them to succeed by attaining an education. Zinsser goes on to send the message that it is okay to quit and become a free thinker. He states, in the beginning of it, that, “for the young, dropping out is often a way of dropping in” (Zinsser, 1967). I think that to encourage the youth of tomorrow to not pursue an education is irresponsible. I disagree with Zinsser because I have been that “drop out” and it is a hard road to follow. This great country we live in provides everyone the opportunity to succeed. Zinsser is trying to downplay “go get ‘em” attitude that Americans are so well known for. He is encouraging people to be just average. We are nothing without a dream, a goal, or a vision of our future that is better. Zinsser says, “We need mavericks and dissenters and dreamers far more than we need junior vice-presidents, but we paralyze them by insisting that every step be a step up to the next rung of the ladder” (Zinsser, 1967). This statement from Zinsser says to me that it is more important to dream than to do. I think it is important to dream about what you want to do, set your goals, and go out and achieve them. An education is a great way to do this. From the day you start kindergarten, a framework for success is being laid...
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...High School Imagine this… You forget to set your alarm, so you wake up late. You rush to get ready. As you are driving out of the driveway you realize you are low on gas. You finally make it to class, but you are late. One more tardy and you have Saturday school. Your second period class has a pop quiz which you are not prepared for. When you go to the restroom you over hear two of your friends making fun of your outfit. You are wondering if this day could possible get any worse. And then it does. Your boyfriend of nine months picks this day to break up with you. At one time or another every high schooler will experience a day similar to this. This is an illustration of why the high school years can be the most difficult times in a young person’s life. For example, peer pressure is something every high schooler will face on frequent bases. In an article in the current issue of Parenting Magazine, Katelyn Smith reports that an increase in the number of high school students have been exposed of the common peer pressures in today’s society: drugs, alcohol, and sex. Have you ever been put in a situation where all eyes are on you and you felt like you have to say yes or you will be ridiculed? Studies from the Adolescence Association indicate that roughly 80% of high school students experience peer pressure throughout their high school career. My parents have always told me to,” Say no to peer pressure!” The second most difficult time of a high school student is dealing with...
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...credits, community service, and better grades runs many high schoolers ragged. For many anything but the best is simply unacceptable. In a society that constantly tells its youth they must have the highest pay check and newest car to be happy, why wouldn't this be the case? A fifth year of high school would give students more opportunity to take classes they would enjoy, take stress off of teenagers, and give the youth of our nation a chance to develop good priorities. Schools are always adding new and interesting courses, but for many, like the college bound student, there just isn't the time. Though an arts and crafts class might sound like fun, something like AP Music Theory would probably look better on a transcript. Since there is no time to take both the student will probably take the harder class even if it is just to keep up appearances. Fifteen years old seems too early to start making "career" choices over things that would be fun. But it happens and it causes stress. Teenagers in the country have an ever growing load of stress being placed upon them. Starting before high school teens are faced with the questions: Where are you going to college? How are you going to get there? What are you going to be? All these questions are extremely daunting and often stress students out. Also, with the price of college so high many students take on a job during high school which only adds to the stress. With an extra year of high school not only would students have time to think...
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...while I had graduated from my high school and I feel privileged that I am standing in front of you students and parents to make my speech. I had been going through the same process when I was undergoing all my graduation. I had many questions and concerns when I was graduating at the time. I was thinking about where I am going to be at after graduating from my high school because I didn’t had any idea what majors to select and what school to go to. I have learned a lot from my past experience. And I will love to share all my knowledge with graduates and parent. To be honest I wasn’t a good student at all I used to bunk my classes and I used to listen to music during my class timing but still managed to graduate. As you guys specially students might be thinking that I was really a brilliant student that’s why today school have invited me to be in front of you guys. But really isn’t true. I am just an illumine of and got successful after graduating from the high school but before that I didn’t had any direction where to head on. You wouldn’t call me successful as I don’t own mention or classic car but I earns a descent salary and live a decent living. According to you guys the most successful person might be Lil Wayne or Lebron James but let me tell you not everyone possesses that kind of talent. High school was the best time of my life I met so many people of my age group and I consider my high school friends still my best friends because they after high school every person I meet...
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...There is much discussion about whether a high school curriculum should be career based or geared more towards college preparation. In the USA the educational system is organized in a way that allows students enrolled in high school to get the education that will mostly suit their ambitions and goals. If students receive a majority of their curriculum in their core courses to help for college preparation, plus have the opportunity to take a few career based courses then they’ll be fine. However, if schools allow students to focus more on the training of a career that interests them at the moment rather than focusing on college preparation they may not comprehend the core subjects such as math, literature, science, and history, and the students will not have the strong basis that colleges require in order to be successful. High schools mainly focus on grades, attendance, and behavior and as a result, surveys consistently show that many high school graduates do not meet employers’ standards in a variety of academic areas, as well as in employability skills such as attendance, teamwork and collaboration, and work habits. (Hart) Having to take classes such as health, culinary arts, and apparel only help in the homemaking career. Advanced students have the opportunity to take harder courses however they aren’t necessarily getting you ready for college; there seen more as a challenge. Even though public schools offer college courses, the students are treated differently from how...
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...The High Life In high school peer pressure is stronger then ever. Students are critically judged by their peers and are forced to either compromise one’s own moral values to fit into the group or face being ostracized and out casted. Students sometimes feel backed against a wall and following the group is sometimes easier than going against the grain. It all started a few years ago on a blistering summer day towards the end of the school year. Class was, like usual, long, boring and unbelievably tiresome. All day long I had been thanking God, more than usual, that it was Friday; earlier that day I ran it an old friend, Deiondre Howard, we made plans to hangout; he said he wanted to introduce me to a few friends and chill with a few girls. So with the possibility of meeting and flirting with a couple hot girls, I droned through last period, counting the seconds go by on my English teacher’s old handmade wooden clock. Suddenly the bell rings, I sighed with instant relief, “Finally”. I darted out of class like a bat out of hell, excited, I immediately ran into the jam packed grid-lock traffic of Bayside High School’s hallways. As I pushed, shoved, and fought my way through the human blockade I slowly but surely made it closer to the courtyard. Bayside’s courtyard is like a crucible filled with every type of spice you could imagine mixed together. With that said, like any other high school, Bayside still had its moments of segregation based on popularity. For instance, there’s...
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...High School Graduation Speech Now that we are graduating I believe this time that we, class of 2014 fine tell all the people cheering on tonight but most importantly our parents three words we swore we will never say you were right. Now today, class of 2014 I challenge you to reflect on your past four years, remember who you are, where you are from, and what you represent. There’s this rumor that high school changes who you are and truth is I agree. Four years can really change a person just as Miley Cyrus because when we are freshmen she was a Disney star who was Hannah Montana riding horses and singing hoe down throw down, but now she rides wrecking balls. Although were change has been a drastic we are the naïve freshmen we once were when we first walked in as 15 year olds very awkward looking forward for the best years of our life. However, we seem realize that high school was not like High School Musical and all these singing and dancing and laughter usually ended as with crying on the way that IBCA everyday and trying to hide behind the bleachers to avoid the dreaded mile on PE. And not even next to classified school survival guide can prepare us for the horror of math excel. Since freshmen year we even change our styles and let’s take a moment to apologize to our parents for having to walk to that headache trap we called abracrombi freshmen over year. And now it’s instagram, twitter, and snapchat and if you don’t update each of them daily people will question your...
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...Jamie is a junior in high school, and she has a part time job, attends school for seven hours a day, take college classes as a high schooler, maintain good grades and keeps up with her school work, and currently in a relationship. America’s society is in a big rush to have teenagers mature and grow up before they reach adulthood. Many adults in today’s generation expect high school students to have all their eggs in a basket by time the student is eighteen. High schoolers are only young once, let them be teenagers and enjoy it. The stress of a high school student is too high because America’s society expects students to keep up with course loads, participating in extracurricular activities, have a job while attending school, maintain relationships, and testing and...
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...Hard work eventually pays off, so why give up before success is reached? Graduating from H.S. promotes the continued path of education; and greater job opportunities. Public school, online school, and private school have valuable time management for each student. Earning a diploma has a positive influence for kids. The opportunity to attend college is available regardless of a diploma. Finishing core and elective classes throughout all four years of high school establishes the main goal of college and career readiness for all students. By completing high school till the end, it provides students with a range of career options in all kinds of occupations. Higher wages are found more often with those who obtain a H.S. diploma and continue...
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...Most students have a difficult time transitioning to high school, however isolating them is unimportant and can instead have a negative impact. This method is inconsequential since the freshman will lack the upperclassmen’s aid and it may alter their growth and establishment. When the ninth graders are set apart from the high school community, they won’t receive the assistance provided by the upperclassmen. Many high schools have programs such as “W.E.B.” and “mentorship” to assist them in entering high school through the upperclassmen’s guidance. In addition, the freshmen can rely on them for help or to answer any questions they have. Dr. Linda Stern states “students entering high school- just at the time brains are in flux- still have the...
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...If you are planning to be an optometrist, in high school you should take plenty of math and science classes. For example, courses in biology, chemistry, physics, calculus, and some AP classes as well. 2. In high school, it is key to build communication skills in English, drama, and speech classes. 3. It is also smart to learn a foreign language so you can communicate with patients that know different languages. For example, Spanish is a common second language to take. 4. It is also a good idea to sign up for business and accounting classes, so if you are managing your own business you will be able to take care of the needs of your business. 5. In high school make sure you have mastered the computer, so it will be...
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...The Beginning is Not the End Everyone knows moving can be very crucial when kids are in high school. High school is when everyone has formed their own little group of friend and most have found their best friend. Some people look at moving as new beginning or another chance to start somewhere new. Others such as certain teenagers thinks it’s the end of their life and nothing is ever going to be the same again so they don’t try to adjust to this big change. I found out new beginnings could seem really bad at first but just giving the situation a chance changed my whole perspective. The move started when my house burned down in late September of 2013. We moved in with my grandparents until we could find a new house to move into. My mom said that we would probably have to move schools but I never took the situation into consideration. The typical teenager never thinks that they would ever move schools until they go off to college. My parents started looking and they found builders who were building new homes in Summerville. My mom told us that we were moving during winter break. We moved and my while life changed in just that quick second. I must admit I was very furious with my parents for moving me in the middle of the school year but more importantly I was nervous. I never liked having to start...
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...High school, is extremely important step that will make a difference in your life. I will work hard in high school which will help me get into college, find connections for power, and get a full time job which will make my life better. I will need to graduate high school before I can do any of these things in the future. Life does not just start in high school it starts with your skills you get before starting college. The skills you already accumulated can have a critical impact on your future in high school and even in your entire life. For me my skills are video games, babysitter,and I play piano. All of these skills help with my high school and post goals. If I am good at babysitting I can be good socially. Video games helps me with concentrating,...
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