In my life, I have had a myriad of experiences, met a handful of influential characters, and overcame countless obstacles. Choosing one experience, character, or obstacle is a difficult task. However, one experience stands out above the rest: skipping a grade. In first grade, our school’s first real academic year, I began to stand out against the other students because my comprehension of the subjects was more advanced than everyone else’s. I had an advantage over the other students, I was-and still am-able to teach myself whatever I wanted to learn. By second grade, I was taking classes with the advanced third grade students. Not only was I taking classes with the third grade students, I was doing as good as the best students in the class. Towards the end of the first semester of second grade, the school decided that it would be better for me to skip a grade. After much conversation about the advantages and disadvantages of skipping a grade, my parents and I decided that I would skip a grade. I was …show more content…
In second grade we were just starting to learn subtraction of numbers with multiple digits. I had to teach myself multiplication in order to catch up to the other students. It helped that I had already started teaching myself multiplication through any resource that I could obtain. I excelled at all subjects. In fact, not only did I catch up to them, I soon surpassed their abilities in multiplication. Mathematics wasn’t the only subject that I was advanced in. The first subject that I was classified as gifted in was reading. This is when I learned that I had a powerful ability to learn on my own. Not only could I learn on my own, but I could learn very rapidly and almost effortlessly. Though I could learn on my own easily, it was still challenging catching up to the level that the third graders were at. I enjoyed the challenge though. I still enjoy any challenge I can accept
“Education is not the preparation for life; education is life itself.” - John Dewey. Every year, as we enter a new grade, new challenges approach us. Eighth grade is no exception., and will be very different from 7th grade. As I enter my eighth grade school year, I will be bombarded with a variety of new experiences and challenges such as buddies, academics, and being prepared for high school. One of the most important tasks that is thrust onto me is buddies.
In early September the students of Sherwood Middle School and parents were shocked. When it was announced by the the district that Sherwood Middle School would be getting a new vice principal. The school board announced that Sherwood Middle School’s vice principal for the last two years, Mr. Kevin McIntosh. Would be leaving and would be replaced by a young man named Marc Jolley.
My father had fallen ill and was in the hospital for 2 weeks. Coming from a Latino family, I knew it was serious. Men don't go to the doctor unless they really feel like they're on their death bed. And this was my father's turn. But, he is not to blame for my failures because every night that he would call me, his first two questions were always "How was your day?" followed by "Did you do all your homework mija?" As always I told him yes when I really hadn't even opened my backpack. 2.32. The number that signified my first real academic failure. I blamed everyone and anything except for the real culprit. Finally, I realized that this was true all my own fault. If my father had died, I would've had to see him on his death bed knowing I got a 2.32. Yes, I know a 2.32 isn't failing, but the look of disappointment I got from him shattered my world. He told me I shouldn't let things get in my way, school is all I have going for me in my life. He was right. Although he still struggled with his health, I made it my #1 goal to never fall below a 3.0 GPA. I realize that my life doesn't revolve around a number, but it pained me to disappoint my
It was the fourth year of my school carrier. In other words, the year of truth if I would make the cut to the higher education track. I was nervous because I knew that I would be capable of going this route, but I the feeling of concern was stronger because I haven’t had performed very well in my fourth year so far. At the end of the school year, I received the shocking news that I didn’t make the cut to go to the school which would have had allowed me to go to University later on in my life. I was sad, disappoint in myself, and lost self-esteem in my educational abilities. At this time, I was more embarrassed then able to realize the real benefit of a system which early on tracks children’s
Seventh grade through ninth grade was problematic because I was more interested in my friends than what book I was reading. I remember struggling with the fundamentals of writing. I would love to say I worked really hard and overcame my struggles at this time. Unfortunately, I was not interested, and felt I had better things to do. I genuinely have no idea how they let me pass these grade because I was not participating. If I had a student like this in my classroom I would try to find out about a topic they were interested
On my first day of 6th grade, it was fun, but I was very nervous about the lockers and going to all of my classes by myself. On the other hand, 6th grade was very fun and was a good time with lots of my friends.
Being accepted into the four year, signature Honors Magnet Global Ecology Program was quite an accomplishment. I thought my strengths in both math and science would help carry me through this rigorous academic curriculum. I was wrong! I hit a brick wall and I hit it hard. Having a parent who was a special educator and dyslexic as well kept me afloat; however, I needed to use the resources available both inside and outside of the school to begin my journey to academic success. It took me until my junior year of high school to understand just how and what I needed to do to be all I could. I learned this the hard way on my own; it cost me admission in to the National Honor Society, being recommended to AP Biology and AP US History. I needed to begin to take charge of my life and set the goals necessary to get back on my feet. I needed to prove to myself that wanting to go on to a pre-med major in college was a possible dream.
My aunt always told me that if you do it right the first time you will never have to do or see an assignment or grade over again. But guess what I didn’t do, I didn’t listen to her and I ended up failing my freshman year and I had to do summer school. You shouldn’t ever slack off in school no matter what grade you’re in because it can decide your future.
I didn’t want to be the girl of my group of friends to fail a course. I struggled tremendously in this process, I was taking six academic courses and doing extra credit work to fix my mistake. I was also working my first job at the movie theater which gave me no weekends off and I worked really late during the week from 5-11pm. I got a
Grade retention, better known as “staying back”, “being held back” or “repeating”, has been the topic of much debate within the educational system. The controversy which surrounds this long-standing issue has been reinforced by such topics as the recent endorsement of academic standards. Research indicates that “the rate of retention has increased by approximately 40% in the last 20 years with as many as 15% of all American students held back each year and 30-50% held back at least once before ninth grade” (Dawson, 1998). These discouraging statistics pose copious problems within a school system. The difficulties can be appreciated at the organizational level, as well as inside the classroom and, most troubling, within the individual students. The consequences, both positive and negative, reverberate throughout the school system. Grades retention is an issue which requires a prodigious amount of examination and should be considered carefully and thoroughly.
My enthusiasm and the strongly committed teachers I have encountered in my life have attributed to my success in math and science. Prior to going onto ninth grade, my Math classes dating back from middle school were never mentally straining. Math appealed to me because in eighth grade, my math teacher, Dr. Christopher, would encourage her class by recognizing our achievements with small rewards such as candies and ice cream passes during lunch. Her actions sparked my interest in math. I have a natural regard for math and science. By breaking down math problems step by step, I can better understand them. ...
After all of that you would think that I would act better but I just got worst. I would go to class and talk back to my teacher. I felt that if she didn’t care about my education then why I should care about other people education. I was spiraling down a path, where I thought there was no return. I even thought about dropping out of school because it was a waste of my time. I felt like that was time I could be finding a job making money instead of sitting on butt playing one my phone and not learning nothing that is going to better
Last year I read an article that summed up the reality of missing class. I cannot remember the exact math, but it was something like the amount of money you pay to attend college is almost 50 dollars per class. Plus, going to class is a part of my job as a student. I should thank my parents for making me go to go to class everyday in high school, and punishing me if I skipped class. They made me realize the importance of going; I never fell behind and hardly ever had bad grades. The one class that I did miss this semester was due to my own irresponsibility, when I went to bed the night before I set my alarm for 8:30 pm not am. When my alarm did not go off in the morning I slept right through class. My attendance, in my opinion, should not affect my grade. Not only do I come to class everyday but I pay attention and involve myself in class
Every year people are flunking out of high school and college. But what causes a person to do that, they either miss too many days, couldn’t make the grades, or just didn’t want to go anymore. School sometimes just isn’t for some people, some people out there prefer just to work and earn there own money rather than spending a lot of school. There are some that can’t afford school so they are forced to drop out. That is just a few reasons, these examples will be told with some more detail.
Growing up, I never imagined to be a drop out. When I was young my dream was to finish school, college and everything. Something so little can easily change causing hopes and dreams to crumble, even if it was not your fault or decision in doing so. During my sixth grade year the housing owner, my grandfather, was getting old in age. He had one of the most common forms of dementia, Alzheimer. While going to school every day my mother was slowly getting fed up with having to take care of my grandfather and our two dogs, Susie and Lucy. One day she made the harsh decision while drinking her twelve ounce Red Dog, beer, to pull me out of school even if I was only in the sixth grade, even if I did have an older brother that could help. All of her