Make a Difference by Brandon Etchison

I started my high school education at Southwest Dekalb, so I didn’t have a freshman year here at Cedar Shoals. Starting freshmen year is really no different at any other school because it’s really up to you whether or not you end it on good terms. Many people, from my point of view, start off their high school year with good intentions. Ninety-percent of the people that start high school make their grade, but carrying that same state of mind throughout the four years of high school usually fails, which is my story.
The beginning of my high school quest was filled with success. I was on top of my game, making good grades, involved in extra-curricular activities, and everything. I even started off my sophomore year on good terms, well at least the first half anyway. The second semester was when I became blind-folded and not focused on my future. I’m not going to blame it on me moving from Atlanta, but I’m going to blame myself for not taking the initiative to continue the trend I was well known for.

To start it off, I didn’t even start the second semester of my sophomore year until a month or two after it had started. And to make things worse, I put my books down and picked up fashion. I spent all my time trying to look good instead of learning something that is going to last. Truthfully, I don’t believe that one year is more important than another. Of course, teachers and administrators are going to make your freshmen year look like it’s more important than any other year mainly because they want you all to start off good, but honestly every year is evenly as important. I even entered my junior year with the same state of mind, causing me to fail my algebra II and French classes. If I could start over and do it all over again, I would. Don’t be like me, don’t be one of the people saying I should’ve, would’ve, could’ve, but didn’t. Make that difference now. Be someone who has no regrets about their high school life.

Upon concluding my junior year, my failure reached its peak. I was given way more freedom than what I was use to. I started going out; GIRLS. I even had over thirty absences from school. Now that I look back, it didn’t take anybody’s help to change me. I mean counselors are useful but the way I figured it was that I made the failure, so it was up to me to fix it, which is what I did.

No matter what I say it’s up to you to make that difference. Being able to carry that “Imma be the best” mentality throughout all four grades of high school separates the greatest from the great. Somebody once told me “Don’t be scared to be smart” and I agree.