I am proud to say that I was the first high school graduate in my family. Since my brother decided he no longer wanted to go to school and dropped out his senior year of high school. My brother was always thought to be responsible, mature and bright; no one expected him to walk away. On the other hand I was a social butterfly, Hyperactive and could care less about my future. My mom had already assumed that I would not graduate from high school, since I was too preoccupied with my social life. When a situation became too difficult my first instinct was to walk away; however, the day I walked into Mr. Smiths English class my attitude toward my education changed forever. He gave me the confidence to face my fear of failure, and motivated me to persevere. Mr. Smith he has completely transformed my perception on education. He inspired me to believe in my self, and unlock my full potential.
English has never been my strongest subject in school, but I would always manage to get by. When my senior year in high school came around I was attending my third high school; moving all the time really affected my grades. The first day of school I sat down with my counselor, and he began to go over my previous classes, grades, and credits that I had accumulated over the years. He looked up at me and said, “you failed junior English; without passing junior English you will not graduate.” I felt like a failure, I had been slacking off throughout all my high school years and not realizing it. Senior year was around the corner, and I was disappointed in myself. The thought of graduating felt unachievable and impossible. The counselor gave me some hope he said, ‘’ you can still graduate, but you have to work hard.”I decided to take his advice, and we worked out a plan.
I spent all summer vacation in summer school; determined to pass my classes, and I did. The first day of school; I picked up my schedule and I took a look at it. I had two English classes Senior English and junior English, since I failed junior English the previous year. Great! Two English classes the pressure was on me now. When I meet up with some friends I had made over the summer. We began to compare classes hoping to have some classes together. I asked my friend Nancy do you know who “Mr. Smith is?” .The expressions on her face when she heard his name; “Mr. Smith is the meanest English teacher in school; he failed 95% of the class last year.” I was horrified. I quickly found another English teacher, and had her sign the transfer form.
As soon as I walked into Mr. Smith’s class I had the transfer from in my hand. I headed towards his desk; he already knew what my intensions were “sit down” he said. He was an older man; he had a strong and firm voice. He was the type of person that you would see hunting on his spare time; he was very intimidating. He introduced him self to the class, and right away he began to assign loads of homework and gave us the heaviest books to carry. All I was thinking of was getting out of the class.
After class was over I headed over to his desk, and asked him if he can please sign my transfer form. He looks up at me and said, “No I am not going to sign that transfer form, because you are staying in this class. All you need to do is work hard and you will pass.” I was so upset, and like always when a situation becomes too difficult my first instinct is to walk away. I was doomed; passing this class would determine if I would be graduating or not.
The next day I decided to go back to Mr. Smith class, and talk to him. I explained to him how I needed to pass the class to graduate; and what I had to do to pass. He began to explain to me, how easy and simple it was to pass his class he said, “You will pass the class all you have to do is work hard, in spite of what the students say. I’m really not that bad at all.” Now that I had maid my self evident to him; it felt as if he was watching me like a hawk from then on. I decided to give it my all, and dedicate as
much time as I could to homework and studying. The result of my hard work payed off, I excelled and aced all my papers. At the end of my senior year I received an A in the class; I had the opportunity to walk with the graduating class of 2006.
Before Mr. Smith I had no motivation to perceiver in my education. Mr. Smith has inspired me.
He gave me the confidence that I have today; when a situation becomes to difficult I recollect about the day I walked into his class. My instinct is no longer to walk away, but to try my best and never quit. I now believe that I can do anything I set my mind too, and it can be accomplished with perseverance, determination, and inspiration. Because of Mr. Smith’s commitment, I am proud to say that I am a high school graduate.