For a lot of us, high school is coming to an end. We're leaving this building soon and moving on to a number of different things:
During my first two years of high school, school and grades were my last priorities -- I was much more concerned with my social status. I struggled in class, but my lack of focus never registered with me until I was diagnosed with ADHD during tenth grade. Up until then, I had thought that my inability to pay attention was just an extension of my social life. After I was diagnosed, however, I realized that it went much deeper. I saw myself as a completely different person. Since it was summer,, I didn’t put much thought into my situation for a couple months. As I walked into school for the first day, it dawned on me that I could be successful in school. I needed to work harder. I got organized and improved my time management skills, both of which enabled me to better focus in class. Even with all the changes I had made, it still didn't come naturally-- I had to force myself to get through class. I had to put in more effort at home in order to really absorb all the material I had taken in on a given day. My ADHD used to inhibit me. Now I see it as the reason for my success. Whether it’s school or athletics, my ADHD pushes me towards greater heights. -Alex DeSatnick
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While we're in high school, the future always seems just over the horizon, but considering that some of the tutors in the Hawk Writing Center are seniors, the future is must closer than it appears. This cements itself in the form of college essays:
It’s 4:00 a.m. and I am rudely awakened by my alarm. Usually, I try to pick an alarm that’s “happy” so that getting up before the birds won’t seem so bad, but over time, I begin to resent it. No matter the ringtone, I still struggle with feelings of disdain. Even though the only thing on my mind is turning off my phone or throwing it out the window, I finally put my feet on the floor and convince myself to get out of bed. It’s time for swim practice. Having been involved in swim for most of my life, I feel that being a swimmer is who I am. It began when I was five years old and joined our community pool’s swim team. My parents, always encouraging me, love to remind me that I was always the first kid to jump into the water. I took to swimming right away and quickly moved up the swim team ranks becoming a real competitor -- not necessarily because I was fast, but because I was one of the few who could make it across the pool! Eventually, my lack of speed became an issue, especially when I joined a relay team whose three other members depended on me. I didn’t want to hold back my team, so I worked even harder. That’s when it all clicked for me -- at eight years old -- that in order to do better, I had to dedicate myself even more. Eventually my hard work paid off, and I made it to All-Stars, an important Northern Virginia regional meet. What had begun as a few days of swim practice a week at the local pool had evolved into a couple hours of practice early every morning and regional competition meets year round. During the 2015 swim season, my ultimate goal was to qualify for a national meet in the spring. I missed my first opportunity to qualify at our mid-season championship meet, gaining time in every event. Following that disappointing performance, I had two months to prepare for the State Championship. So, I channeled that “never say no” eight-year old inside me and worked even harder. I rarely missed practice and improved my work ethic in and out of the pool. Once State Championships came around, I achieved more than I had hoped for by qualifying for the national meet in two events rather than one, breaking one conference and two school records, while representing my school in a way that I had always dreamed of as a kid. It turns out, those early mornings crawling out of my warm bed and jumping, feet first, into the pool helped mold me into a person with discipline, determination and an appreciation for a strong mind and body. Though you might also find me playing soccer, managing my school’s Writing Center, or emceeing school-wide pep rallies, in the end, you will always find me in the pool...at 4 a.m. -Alex DeSatnick |
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We are the tutors of the Hawk Writing Center! See more under the 'About' tab. Archives
May 2017
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