Rohit

My High School Years I can't believe it’s been four years since I first walked into Green Hope High School. I can remember being that shy and quiet freshman that could barely tell the difference between the 200 and 300 locker bays. Everything freshman year was so calculated, from the classes I take to the clubs I would join. It’s kind of funny that even back then I was trying my hardest in planning to get into college. The whole year was like a completely independent experience. In that one year I transitioned from that quiet middle school student to an individual that was starting to feel comfortable with this school.

Sophomore year was much of the same experiences. Although I was more than happy at Green Hope, I still had some drive to take more steps closer to college. So I decided to apply to NCSSM, a school that at the time, I viewed as the epitome of the early college experience. I like to think that now, I was lucky to not be accepted by NCSSM. If I had gone, I would have missed the great experiences that occurred during my next two years. Sophomore year was also the year I took my first AP class. I guess it was just foreshadow for what was to come later.

The summer of my sophomore year was probably the best time of my four years. The summer was defined by Summer Ventures; an experience that I can safely say was life changing. From its description it just sounds like some lame science camp, but it was honestly 10% learning and 90% fun. The people and the experiences were amazing, and I imagine I’ll remain friends with those people for many years to come.

Junior year was defined by one word: homework. I don’t know what was going through my head during the time, but somehow I thought it would be a smart idea to take 7 AP classes. In the most sarcastic way I can say it, it was great to go to 7 hours of school only to come home to 8 or 9 hours of homework a day. To say the least, it was a bad idea. But I guess I can look back at it now and say it paid off.

Senior year, the final push. 3 years of great experiences and a hell of a junior year, and I was just ready to leave. It’s funny, whether you call it premature senioritis or just pure laziness, all 4 years at Green Hope I’ve had the ideas of college and graduation in the back of my mind. Right from the get go, I was bent on staying in state for college, hoping I would be accepted into Duke or go to Chapel Hill. But when I visited my brother at Washington University in St Louis, I was sold. This was my school. As great as UNC and Duke can be, neither of them could compare to WashU in my eyes. The school was more than selective, and I guess I wasn’t confident enough to tell anyone that I applied early decision, in fear that I’d be rejected. But, December of my senior year, the good news came in. Since I was accepted, this whole year has been a blur. Although I’ve still been stuck with that ridiculous amount of homework, I can comfortably say that all the hard work paid off.

I’ve focused on getting into college for four years, and that day that I was accepted was probably the happiest day of my life. But now as my time at Green Hope winds down, I cannot deny that graduating is more than bittersweet. And so I ask myself two questions, both answered with the same response. Would I do it again? No, four years is more than enough. Would I change anything? Absolutely not.

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