William+L.

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==== Sitting here, trying to recall everything from the past four years, it’s unbelievable. All of the places, people, events; where did they all go? Freshman year seemed so long ago. I remember being “Wild Willy,” the incredible freshman who was smarter than the seniors and had a show to prove it. To me, it was the highlight of that year because I suddenly became known around the school and the nickname has stuck. It makes me feel good since I am, to be honest, socially passive and this name-recognition gave me a boost in popularity. For the most part, I enjoyed my high school classes such as World History and Percussion, but the important thing is that I maintained a strong academic record. My parents always stressed “doing your best” when it came to school; for me, that meant making A’s on everything because I had the potential and they knew it. They know I am a smart student and a hard worker. I owe it to their nagging and oversight, as well as my own talent. ==== ==== Sophomore year was huge; I managed to pull out All-A’s, I earned my Eagle Scout Award, and I attended the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama. Going to Washington, D.C. to witness a historic event was exciting to say the least. It was cold, but being there was worth it. I have been to D.C. multiple times in my life, and yet, the feeling of being there, bearing witness to the transition of power was awe-inspiring. But the biggest achievement of my life happened around the same time, which I must include. I became an Eagle Scout in December 2008. Earning the rank of Eagle Scout is the highest honor a Boy Scout can achieve, and that has been the case for me. It took more than four years of dedication to Scouting and a lot of assistance from my dad to receive this honor. Being an Eagle remains with you for life; as the old scoutmasters will tell you, “You never //were// an Eagle Scout, you //are// an Eagle Scout.” Since then, I have continued to be an active Boy Scout, even though I predicted I would become too busy with school to participate in Scouting anymore. ==== ==== One thing did come up in Junior year, though: Green Hope Cross Country. Before joining the team, I had never participated in an organized sport in my life. I was encouraged to join because the requirements to participate were straightforward and the number of members was staggering. So I subjected myself to the most intense physical activity of my life. At the start of the year, I almost quit the team because I was so nervous about my AP course-work, but that changed after my first 3K race. Every workout felt challenging, pushing me beyond my limits to make myself a better person. I remained on the team for Senior year and I am so glad I ran with the best. Now, I consider running 3 miles to be a piece of cake; 5 miles is a good workout. ==== ==== Senior year has been a blast; there is no other way to describe it. I have made it through another tough academic year with a good record. Those AP classes have been tough, and yet, it was worth it all the way. Prom was truly a night to remember and I am grateful that I went; there aren’t many events like it. The feeling of being accepted to the University of North Carolina is overwhelming, especially since I have made a transition from an NC State fan to a Tar Heel. All my friends and acquaintances have been superb, and I’m going to miss everybody. No matter what you say, Green Hope is a great school with great people and I wish everybody the best. ====