Personal Narrative: The Year That Changed My Life

At the beginning of the year I was not sure if I would make it to graduation. I attended Elkhart Memorial my freshman, sophomore, and first semester of my junior year, which was not the best experience with high school. When I was in junior high, I had a completely different visualization of what it would be. In reality, it was entirely the opposite of what I had pictured it to look like. I was not always the brightest kid in school. I would say that I was above average for my age up until my freshman year.
Once I got to high school, everything changed. I never really seemed to care about my grades because I did have three years ahead of me so I decided to mess around and hang out with the wrong group of people. Skipping school and hanging out with friends seemed like it was the

right thing to do at the time, but looking back at those times makes me regret all of my poor decision making. If I had the mentality I do now back when I was a freshman and sophomore, I guarantee I would have really good grades. The teachers at EMHS never really seemed to care. Whenever I would ask for help they seemed to have given up on me thinking I did not care about school. If a student does not care much about school then there is no hope in even trying to help him, is practically what all my teachers thought.
Once my junior year came around, I was brought down by my counselor and she told me I was missing a lot of credits which were a requirement for graduation. I then started to worry. My sister graduated from that school and if I did not walk that stage my parents would be very disappointed in me. By the time December came around my parents bought a house in Jimtown which then, I had to transfer schools. Finally, I was able to leave that hell which I attended for two and a half years. I never wanted to go to Memorial, I just never liked the students, or teachers. The academics were trash, athletics are even worse. I had always wanted to just move away from Elkhart schools and coming to Jimtown was perhaps the best decision I have ever made in my entire life
That first day of school, I was nervous, due to the fact that I was shy throughout most of my school years. I was unaware of how I was going to be treated. The whole atmosphere was just completely different. Coming in was surprising because of it being so small you get a better connection with the teachers. I made friends on my first day, which was great. I had to make a name for myself and start all over again, which I have to admit was the change that I needed to get my life back together. My mom was even surprised that first day when I got home because I told her I liked school and she thought that she would never hear those words come out of my mouth. Everything was so much better and the teachers actually seemed to actually care, even if they do not, they are really great at pretending to do so.
As soon as I came in Mrs.

Yoder gave me a talk regarding my grades and what I could do to catch up on all those credits that I never attained. She enrolled me in apex classes, which were a major help for me. She knew that I was really behind, but would do everything she could to help me graduate. Day after day I was working my butt off to achieve the impossible. I have to admit, a year ago today I was not expecting to get this far in my life. Many people such as teammates, coaches, and teachers from Memorial doubted me, but I am proving them wrong and that is the best feeling in the world. If only I had known about Jimtown earlier in my life I would have maintained solid grades. Despite the fact that I started out doing terrible in school, this year has been one of my best by far. I plan on being the first in my family to attend college because even most of my family doubted me, but here I am, proving them wrong. My grades are currently not the best, therefore I have to continue to work hard and never give up on my quest to achieve success and reach my goals of graduating from college. I have to do whatever it takes, and I know I will do it no matter what obstacles are put in my

path.
I want to thank all of the teachers and students who have helped me push myself to further my knowledge. Coaches who knew I had the potential to be something better and let me prove it on the fields. Without people encouraging me to overcome the doubts that were running through my head, I would have never reached this point in my life. Typically, many people do not like to brag about school, but I love Jimtown. I did better one year here, than three years at Memorial. I will only continue to better myself and help others the way I was once helped. At the end of the day, I always look back and reflect on my past which truly does disappoint me, but I am moving on and living life one day at a time. I know that some days I missed school, the reason being was I was unable to get transportation here. I wish I would have had these teachers at EMHS, but nobody ever cared or pushed me to be someone better. I do admit that I was a screw up, but now I am in full control and will not be happy until I make my friends and family proud and fulfill my dreams. To obtain what I want I must not only think about myself, but for everyone around me.