More handpicked essays just for you.
The role of self-identity in the adolescent life stage
The role of self-identity in the adolescent life stage
The role of self-identity in the adolescent life stage
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
“What a nerd.” It’s a repetitive criticism used when tests are returned, and its use frequently works as a puzzle that confuses one’s view of their identity. I, consequently, have suffered greatly from the ridiculous use of this label. Since the beginning of my high school career and possibly even beforehand, I have continually kept with me a persistent impulse for triumph; it has never originated in my mind to disappoint. Throughout my junior high days, this biological compulsion of mine demonstrated itself in a large array of ways: obsession with archaic objects, reciting pi to the 26th decimal place, replaying The Dark Knight on my iPod, checking my grades hourly, and over analyzing numerous things. As my identity shifted, my fascination with science and math flourished, and I found in myself an undeniable pride in being distinct and a desire for pursuing out unusual new ways to define myself. With the fulfillment of my brand-new passion, my distinctive qualities were confined in, and I began high school minus the typical freshman anxiety about getting labeled or categorized. T...
I lived a simple, normal childhood in the company of my family and friends. But I had what one might call “abnormal:” my obsession to finding answers to questions on my own. I refused to listen to what people told me about the world or how they answered my questions. It was not enough. I preferred to seek the knowledge of why the answers were the way they were. I thought that would help me find a true purpose in the simple actions we do throughout our lives. In school as a child, the teachers would struggle trying to keep their patience with me. Through every integral concept we learned in class, I would continue to question my teachers because I was never concerned with “how” we do something, but more about “why” each step in solving a problem is important. Through this process of searching for
Entering my first year into high school my mind was juvenile I was not yet adjusted to the high school atmosphere. At the time I was still worried about the little things in school such as friends and associates. My first priority was never my work; it used to be entertainment over all. Along that came with my priorities came procrastination and that led to me delaying my assignments hoping for a teacher to give me a "second chance". Forthcoming, at the end of the second quarter my ninth grade year I received a rude awakening.
Eighth grade was the year where I wanted to finally create a better work-ethic for myself. Even though I had the purest of intents, everything did not go as planned. Of course, a drastic change such as the one I wished to achieve wouldn’t happen overnight, but I had to start somewhere. In the beginning of the year, I would try my best to get a head start on projects whilst putting forth my best effort. I had already started to have a more positive outlook on the year than I ever have before. New opportunities would arise and, for once, I would be able to take them. Along with this, I started to stay true to myself and delve more into my newly formed interests. In the beginning of seventh grade, I had discovered a new passion and eighth grade was the year I finally decided to take some action. Sixth grade me would have never stepped anywhere near a stage, but eighth grade me jumped at every opportunity to help out our theatre department. Having signed up for theatre classes, I was very anxious, but that didn’t stop me from establishing my own confidence to put myself out there. I am most grateful for this change because I have made so many new friends and have shared wonderful experiences with all of them that I will cherish forever. Of course, some friends came and went, but those few who have stuck with me through everything mean the world to me. I still have friends from sixth grade, and I have friends that I made just this year, but they all deeply care for me. I wouldn’t be who I am today without them, as cliche as it sounds. Even though my friend groups may change, all of them have changed me for the
Imagine the Daytona 500 race event. Racecars roaring past the spectators on an oval-shaped raceway at a rate of what feels like two-hundred miles per hour. This phenomenon describes how fast my four years of high school have approached. Graduating from high school reminds me of graduating from the Math and Science for Minority Students Program/the (MS)2 Program. When I graduated from the (MS)2 Program, I left behind great friends who all had the same insight as me. We all wanted to prove people wrong by attending college and making something of ourselves. As minorities, we understood that we had to work twice as hard to compete with the “top dogs,” and we all were willing to accept the challenge. Although I am looking forward to life after high school, I will miss my friends, the Choctaw Central Winterguard group, and my sixth period band class.
As unhealthy as it seems, it’s almost fostered in schools today. Where students in honors classes are held to a higher standard, separated from everyone else who didn’t make the cut. We are a class divided. Walking into the lunchroom, I often feel like a stranger in a class I’ve been a part of since kindergarten. From there I ask myself how I’ll be remembered when I graduate. A superb class ranking? A solid score on a geometry final? My answers were insignificant. What I had been defining myself as throughout my school years had no meaning to the odyssey that is this life.
My first day as a “high-schooler” was also my first day not going to a Jenks Public School. Transferring schools during possibly one of the most important transitions of my life? Nerve-wracking. But my new school, Holland Hall, quickly became my new home. I was blown away by my unbelievably engaged classmates and supportive teachers. The friends I made there were open minded and creative, and I am proud to say that they have rubbed off on me. Holland Hall taught me how to be engaged both in class and out as well as how to actively seek out the help of my teachers.
Despite the jobs that students may have outside of school, their main job is to go above and beyond academically. From visiting their teachers at lunch to spending countless hours studying to pass their next test, being a student is a full time job. Students are expected to not just pass, but to excel. After a long rehearsal or practice one’s first instinct is to relax, however, being exceptional students the grind never ends. High School is the time when students discover the classes they find more interesting and begin finding which careers pique their interest the most. Teacher’s inspire students daily to find a topic they are passionate about and allow them the space to discuss current events. To give them the forum to think critically
Amidst all the recurrent pandemonium, I usually attempt to sort out seemingly basic questions on who I am, what I believe in, and what matters to me the most. In high school I felt like a drawing without color and I had begun to entertain the idea, that perhaps in college, I’d have more initiative to flesh out my blueprint with shades I’d feel personally content with, not what most may find flattering. In my recent opinion, college is the perfect place to immerse yourself in self-discovery. It’s a brand new start. You can wear what you like, pick the classes you’re truly interested in, and take risks that will shape your future. You don’t have to sport a mold that seems to fit others, let your major define you, be a stereotype, or prove yourself to anyone other than you. It’s this sense of newfound freedom that will contribute to the beginning of my identity confirmation. The achievements and the distressing regrets I’ll make as a young woman and a student in college will guide me on my soul search as I wade through the murky waters of self-discovery, and that in itself makes college worth a
My parents’ first priority was enrolling me into the greatest and foremost high-class school for my further studies to be continued. Moving to America, indeed creating a far more successful future for me, several fears stayed crossing my mind day and night as I thought about my classmates, and how accepting each one would be regarding the “new girl” and her differences. Never ending questions in my mind led me to over think about how well things would go on the first day, carrying on the first year of school. “What will the academic level be like? Will people value my presence or will I be another invisible soul, wandering the halls, catching no attention
Over two years ago I was a naive, hopeful student ready to enter middle school. As I was going to be with my friends, the ones I’ve known since kindergarten, it was an exciting point in my life. My education felt like it would be the same as it had always been, easy, and I would fly through it quickly. People asked me what my plans for 7th grade year were, and I always replied with “I’m going to Steller!”, with the kind of enthusiasm you expect from someone so confident. Optimism was uncomplicated when I knew there were no challenges ahead.
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself” (Unkown) High School is a place where many students are classified into different types of cliques. We all have seen different cliques throughout high school, and even in the movies. The different types of cliques in high school would be the popular girls, the jocks, the goths and the nerds. There’s also the thespians and the rockers. Each high school clique has a characteristic that makes their group unique compared to the many other cliques.
Going through grade school, achieving ‘A’s meant relying on studying rather than my intelligence. Though not staffed “gifted” like fellow classmates, I was still driven to gain the approval and attention of both my teachers and parents. This motivation kept me focused on completing homework assignments and preparing for tests. In other words, I had no room for slacking off. This challenge to be a superlative scholar is similar to Eudora Welty’s trial of going to the library: “I was willing; I would do anything to read.” She illustrates her commitment to the challenge of reading. Likewise, I was willing to put in as much effort as it took to pull off straight ‘A’s. Moreover, receiving report cards with straight ‘A’s only furthered my ambition. The recognition gained from repeatedly accomplishing that feat proved that hard work did pay off. Continued success as a student has fostered my dedication to maintaining zealous work habits.
You know, it is really strange how quickly time passes, after spending my whole childhood wishing I was an adult, now here we are and it's a little hard to grasp. It feels like just yesterday I was standing here in the same position at eighth grade graduation. Ahh, middle school, such a joyous time for all of us, free of maturity and not a care in the world. The biggest decisions I ever had to make then was deciding which group to stand with at passing time and choosing which shirt from my extensive collection of Stussy and No Feat apparel to wear. We were all naive to the danger that lurked just around the corner. We were unaware that the carefree world we lived in was about to come crashing to the ground in a blazing inferno of real school work and responsibility ... otherwise known as high school.
Graduation: the last day that I would unwillingly set foot on the fields of Horizon High School. I could feel my heart beating out of my chest, and tried so hard to keep my feet moving one after the other in order to maintain my perfect stature. After the two hour wait of opening speeches, class songs, and the calling off of the five hundred plus names that were in front of me, it was finally my turn. As my row stood up and we walked towards the stage it had set in at last, this is it, I am done. My high school career ended on that night, but it didn’t close the book that is my life, it only started a new chapter, and with it came a whole slue of uncertainties.
Having spent twelve years of my school life in just one small red brick building, the years tend to fade into each other. But the year I remember most clearly and significantly is my senior year of high school, where I finally began to appreciate what this institution offered to any student who stopped to look. Before, school had been a chore, many times I simply did not feel motivated toward a subject enough to do the homework well, and seeing the same familiar faces around ever since I was 5 years old grew very tiring soon enough. But I began to see things from a different angle once I became a senior.