Every success starts somewhere. The person I am now is not the one that I used to be. Throughout my four years in this school, the people I have chosen to surround myself with have allowed me to open my eyes and become the leader I never knew I was.
After a year of being online, my tiny 5’2 sophomore self walked into UACHS. As I read my schedule I went down the list, however, the first class I had to report to for the first period was 223. Journalism. Before high school, I would sit all the way in the back, and away from the teacher as they stared into my soul waiting for me to answer their question. However, once I walked into my first-period class, I knew I had to be different from who I was in middle school. So, I sat right next to my teacher and have not once regretted it.
Geisha Nolasco, our very own sophomore English and Journalism teacher has been someone who would push me to never give up since the second I stepped into her classroom. She is someone who gave me every ounce of confidence that I put into the work that I do.
Prior to taking journalism, I never knew that I was a talented writer. Oftentimes, I
would beat myself up saying it was not good enough and that no one would like it. However, all I needed was someone to believe in me so that I could believe in myself. Nolasco truly helped me become the person I am today.
I tried to lock in but my classes were scattered. There were AP classes, some were honors classes and others regular classes that I was not always a fan of.
Most of the classes I took were easy for me. I got the work done fast, but the AP classes and math classes gave me a rough time. It began to take a toll on my mental health. I acted out and gave up in school at certain points. I thought school was just a game and did not realize how bad it would affect me in the long run.
Of course, I would still do my work but my grades did not look as good as they were supposed to. I knew if I came home with anything under an A I would never hear the end of it from my parents. I was so burnt out I did not care. I was in the hallways a lot with my friends, and all we did was fool around and get in trouble. Whenever there was drama with one of them I would immediately put myself in the middle of it thinking I could protect them, but in the end, nothing went in my favor.
I got suspended. Which will forever be on my record. It led me to miss a lot of work that I had to make up. This was on top of the work that was assigned. My grades went down, and so did my mental health even more.
I would tell myself so many things like, “you are going to get left back…once again,” “You are not good enough.” However, I found myself an outlet. Softball has been my life since I was five. However, due to my actions I was afraid that I was not going to participate in sports. However, Bruce gave me a chance, and I had to prove myself.
I finally chose myself over others. I locked in on my school work. I distanced myself from the people that were bringing me down. My grades of course went back up…because I AM HER! HAHA Just Kidding, but it showed me that doing things to make me look “cool” or “bold” was not the wave, it was just bringing me down in the dirt and no one but me could take myself out of it.
The past few years have not always been the easiest. I was not always confident, I was not always cool, calm, and collected, but the belief my teachers had in me and the one I gained in myself over time have led me to where I am today and that is a real come up.
