Don’t you detest having to do those boring chores, that boring research paper, or attend that boring class?



During my freshmen year of high school, I was a dreadful student. I wasn’t averse of all my classes, so I ditched school and, I never did my work. I was seen as a lazy “bum” without a future. My classes were each 40 minutes long, but I felt like I was in there for years. Seconds went by, but they felt like hours; minutes went by and they felt like years; I couldn’t take it. School was just not for me. The classes were dull and arid; they weren’t fit for a learning environment. The walls were pail white, ceilings were rotting, teachers were mean, lights were always dimmed, and tiles on the floor were missing. I felt like I was in a jail cell. For not attending classes and not doing my work, my grades dropped to the ground in an instant.



At the end of the school year, my parents received my grades; they were disappointed and furious at me and my attitude towards school. My parents decided to enroll me at UNO, an academically successful neighborhood school, to try and change my habits.



A couple months went by and UNO called my family to let them know I had been accepted into their school. The news instantly brought me felicity. I knew that UNO was a rigorous school, and they took education serious. This for me was a chance to turn myself around and prove everyone wrong about my future.



As time neared, I got more and more anxious to start school. I didn’t know anyone there but it didn’t matter to me; I was going there to try my best and get the best grades I could.



It was finally time to start school the next day. I became frantic, and I couldn’t sleep that night. I woke up extra early, took a warm shower, I put on my uniform (tie, shirt, shoes, vest, blazer, and belt), got in my car, and I was on my way to school. When I arrived to school everything was very different. Teachers and staff were all swathed in professional suits as well as students. From that moment, I knew I wasn’t in a place to mess around. The staff’s and students’ uniforms instantly showed that they were professional and serious about their jobs. I entered the school building and I felt like I was in a hospital. The school was spotless, the ceilings were clean, the tile floors were intact, the classrooms were full of color, and the teachers were very respectful towards everyone. Everything at UNO was fit to a learning environment.



A new beginning for me was important. This was my only chance to turn my education around and I had to do it. My only goal from the first day of school was to like and do the best in any classes I was placed in. Throughout the year, I followed my goal; after receiving numerous progress reports I was able to see substantial improvement in my classes. I turned in all of my work and I studied every day. By summer, I received my report card and I had doubled my GPA. I was happy to have turned my self around at my new school, and I was even gladder that I now had a positive future ahead of me. When I returned to school this year for my junior year, I also was given the news that I had been promoted to honors classes. The news astonished me; I never thought I would make it so far. I am proud of myself because I went from wasting my life and not having a positive future to becoming a pretty smart individual that was promoted to honors classes.



Throughout my two years of high school, I have acknowledged that by loving the things I do, I won’t ever feel like I am working.