Most Conscientious Reflection

At the end of every school year, my piano teacher held an “end of the year recital” where he gave out awards for various character traits and accomplishments. The award I sought after was one of his most prestigious awards titled “The Most Conscientious Award, given to the student who worked diligently throughout the year. To my surprise, when awards were presented, I had the honor of receiving the award at nine years old. Being honored with such an award made a huge impact in my life, opening a new mindset to the way I wanted to live my life from that moment on being named “The Most Conscientious”.
During my 8th grade year, I chose to apply to one of the most rigorous all-girl schools in Washington D.C., Georgetown Visitation, knowing that I would be challenged there, which is something I valued being challenged throughout middle school in my education. Unfortunately, I was not aware of how much of a challenge I would receive, but I kept my conscientious mindset through the challenges. To me, grades and “class rank” demonstrated how hard you work, and how contentious of a student you were. But I learned that my idea of how one’s conscientiousness is measured is often the

opposite.
My freshman year of high school, I had extreme challenges in physics class, although I worked tirelessly on lab reports, consistently completed homework, assertively asked questions and diligently took extensive notes, however scoring decently on a test seemed to constantly be out of my reach. Poor grade after grade, I sought my teacher’s help every morning before school, but nothing seemed to help. Because the disappointment I endured felt like torture even though I seemed to follow all of the steps that would lead me to gaining high tests scores. I was extremely depressed and discouraged, not simply because of my grade, but merely because I felt that my teacher viewed me as a complete imbecile. To my surprise, my teacher told me, that my positive attitude despite my then seemed misfortune would carry me a long way and my “conscientious spirit” made me one of his favorite students. Towards the end of the year my grades in physics increased gaining a personally drawn happy face on my last test from my teacher. That experience taught me that no matter my external situations, it is important to still work the hardest I can, no matter the given results. Throughout my high school career, despite any difficulty in a subject I have had I strive to always work contentiously, giving my best effort in every class.
Learning that lesson of what it really means to be conscientious caused me to realize that I could apply being conscientious to more than grades. With that, I began to value community service keeping my same conscientious attitude. With the passion that I than sparked of community service, I tackled each project with a conscientious attitude to ensure that whoever I was serving would have the best possible outcome no matter the project or task. Because of my attitude, I was able to be elected one of the two co-lead of the Youth Leadership Council that I am apart of where we are a part of a team of 30 students who serve through service outreaches that reach 5,000 youth. All the accomplishments I have received I attribute to my character of conscientiousness that I do my best to intertwine in every aspect of my life. Continuously striving to go above and beyond.
Striving to always be the “Most Conscientious” has pushed me to not only strive for good grades, but moral character.

Although grades are important, one’s personal character will last them a lifetime. Just as many mentors have told me, when you are older, a teacher will not remember the grades you got but they will remember your character in his or her class. With that, I always work to not only work diligently in work but assiduously in the person I am becoming. I will always strive to become the “Most Contentious” because I know I will always be successful no matter the college I attend, a job I accept later in life, or service project I participate in. Because my positive attitude and contentious spirit will carry me further in life than any qualifications I have and will

receive.