Career-wise, high school experiences only matter so far as they get you into college. However, I would like to remember mine as more than that, considering that they shaped my attitudes toward adversity and success.
As such, here follows a brief account of my high school activities. Much is left out here–such as winning Best Cursive Handwriting in New York State in 2006, and a hundred other awards from earlier ages–but I imagine that this is as far back as anyone may care to read about.
Varsity Tennis
I am proud to have been on an incredible team from 2011 to 2015 that saw Marcellus’ first regional win in 25 years. I also received Scholar Athlete status for every season played, competed to success in two tournaments, and won Most Improved my first season. From doubles to singles, from below-freezing tournament weather to sweltering summer practices, the experience was unforgettable and solidified some true friendships as well as my personal values of perseverance and graciousness.
National Spanish Exam
I competed twice as a high school student, winning first a bronze medal and then honorable mention. Both are something to be extremely proud of, given the sheer number of students who compete nation-wide and the relatively few who earn any recognition.
Science Olympiad
I competed with our school’s Science Olympiad twice as well, traveling to a nearby college and earning medals each year. My first experience was with forensics, taking the equivalent of a chemistry lab and solving mysteries with our findings. In the second, more seasoned now and a little too sure of myself as a senior, I walked in with no preparation for my main chosen competition (entomology). My teammate and I worked extremely well together though, and pulled through to great success!
Yearbook
As an editor and a student spending large parts of my day in the computer lab, I more or less ran the creation of my high school’s 50-year anniversary yearbook. I designed the theme and format, chose fonts, wrote headlines and copy, worked on photos in Photoshop, and even implemented the use of augmented reality app Aurasma to include further storytelling. The end result was incredible, tying together the history of Marcellus and its current graduating class in an award-winning design.
Mock Trial
Though our mock trial team was very small, often with barely enough members to qualify for competition, we were mighty. My acting abilities shone in my chosen position of “witness.” More than that however, this activity honed my wit until I was such a quick thinker that one of the last guys to cross-examine me had to catch a teary breather in the hallway halfway through. We never advanced far, but it was still a very rewarding experience that taught a lot about the legal system and morality.