It seemed like everyone knew what they wanted to do after high school and I was too afraid to try to make that important of a decision. Not all classes were boring to me. Math, Science, and other classes were the only ones that seemed practical to me and helped me realize that I did enjoy learning when the subject interested me. I went to great lengths to complete the assignments for these courses. For example, I eagerly participated in the Mole Day activities for Chemistry even though it meant arriving at school at 6:00 am; activities like this made chemistry fun and practical for me.
After graduating from high school, I realized that the time had come to decide what I needed to do in life, and going to school became a choice rather than a requirement. I looked back at the experiences in classes that I liked and decided that I needed to have the same outlook to succeed in all of my future classes. Since being at ECC, I have finally learned the importance of applying myself and getting good grades. My work experiences have also taught me to apply myself in school. Working part-time since my junior year in high school has helped me build self-confidence and has helped me develop a strong work ethic that has carried over into my entire life. I found that a part-time job took valuable time and left me less time for school work and participating in family activities. Having to balance work, school, and family taught me valuable skills that helped me mature and learn how to balance time commitments. Unlike most teens, I have had only two jobs in the last three years and have been recognized by management as being a strong leader, a self-starter, and a person who strives to provide the customers with the best service possible. I have been discouraged at different points along the way, dealing with demanding customers, critical bosses, and inefficient co-workers with bad attitudes, but I have never given up, and I always try to find ways to make things better and maintain a positive attitude.