Bad Kid free essay sample

Bad Kid It was 7:45 a.m, geometry, second hour, dark outside, and I was facing the biggest ethical dilemma of my freshman year. Ninth grade†¦what can I say. It’s vital to the adolescent psyche, and yet we all want to forget it as soon as it’s over. I wanted to fit in, but be unique. I wanted to avoid the Garbage Can at all costs. I wanted to survive. And here, sitting on my right, was my chance at survival. Scottie and Brad were older, smarter, cooler sophomores who needed a freshman’s aid in geometry. Unfortunately for me, this assistance was required in the middle of the unit test. I remember I was working on an algebraic proof when I felt a nudge on my elbow. Brad passed me his sleek iPhone. For a moment I just stared at him, unsure what he was asking. Then he whispered, â€Å"Take a picture. We will write a custom essay sample on Bad Kid or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † And it began. In the span of seven seconds, I weighed the pros and cons. Or, more accurately, I tried to calculate the chances of my getting caught versus the benefits of possibly getting into this friend group. I looked at Scottie- that tall, tan, dark haired kid, peering around Brad with not the faintest clue on the planet, a small smirk pasted on his face. And I snapped a photo of my work. And I passed it to Brad, who was back for more within one minute. I took three more for them. I finished my test and passed it in; oddly, I couldn’t make eye contact with Mrs. Hartley. There was something pulling viciously at the base of my heart, making it hard to breathe. I had a dull pang in my core. Somebody out there is reading this right now and thinking I exaggerate the physiological symptoms I had. All I can say is this: when one makes eye contact with a parent (the â€Å"scarier† parent) right after committing a childhood crime, one feels that awful sinking feeli ng because the parent is telepathically berating the child. Think back to that feeling. Got it? That’s how I felt after that test. Rock bottom had been hit. Houston, we had a big, BIG problem. But it hadn’t been stretched to the max yet. Nope. There was more torture to come. At 9:02 the bell rang and I gathered my binders and I walked out from behind my desk and I made one step towards the door before she uttered my name. I turned, hands trembling. Without looking up from her desk, Mrs. Hartley motioned me to her desk. I approached with the distinct feeling I was rolling a giant rock in front of my tomb. â€Å"Do you have something you want to share with me?† Without waiting for a reply, she held up mine, Scottie’s and Brad’s papers. â€Å"The exact same errors, on the exact same problem. I can see Scottie and Brad doing something like this, but you? You know I can call the office right now and report you for academic dishonesty.† I felt t ears at the corners of my eyes and was horrified. I was already in trouble, and I was going to cry on top of it? I held them back with a barbed wire swallow. There was a pause that lasted approximately one third of an eternity. Then she sighed. â€Å"I’ll let it go just this once. If it happens again, your parents will find out. I will talk to Scottie and Brad about this separately.† There was a resigned look in her eyes that killed me. I had gotten off, and I could feel that slide off me, but†¦I was no longer in that category, that trust category, that golden kid territory. She didn’t trust me, and had, I believed, written me off. So I thanked her and went to my next class. A few nights later, I was standing next to my dad, surveying the insulation work we’d done that day. He was tapping in a few screws that weren’t flush with the studs. The bedrooms were being redone, and it was a project that took time and effort. I wasn’t feeling th e triumph. As I stood there, I went through the other feeling that is familiar to anyone who’s ever been a kid. To tell or not to tell? That was the question. This time, I made the right decision. I told my dad about that morning. He didn’t say anything at first, just held his hammer. I wondered if he was considering using it on my head. Then he said, â€Å"Why’d you help them?† Well, there was a core answer to that and there was surface answer. I went with the surface answer first. Just testing the waters. â€Å"I†¦felt bad for them, I guess, I don’t know, they seemed so lost and it was like†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (insert unintelligible mumbling). I received that sardonic eye roll/glare which New York natives are gifted with. Dad was not impressed. â€Å"Why’d you help them? It wasn’t because you felt bad for them, you know that. You’re a freshman and they’re sophomores. And they’re ‘cool’.† â €Å"I kinda†¦wanted them to like me, I guess. I wanted them to talk to me, so I’m not- alone.† There was the core answer. I wanted to fit in, to be like the kids everybody else emulated. This particular sentiment isn’t just felt by freshmen†¦it continues. Everyone wants to blend, to be accepted. After that test and after I talked to my dad and after I finished geometry with an A and as I write this essay, I understand this urge. I also understand the effect it has on people in general, and on me. Why is it that we feel the need to follow the pack, be a white sheep, blur the lines that make us individuals? It’s simply human nature. We’re like wolves, mustangs, chickadees: social creatures. Zebras, when being stalked, shuffle together and turn their hides into a living mirage of black and white until the lioness can no longer distinguish one to attack. I think people are the same way; I think we band together because we are afraid to be picked out and hurt. It’s not a bad trait- the only problem is that it can translate into our daily lives and the choices we make. So what makes a black sheep? After that experience, I started to form what would become my high school persona, what has carried me through stress and pressure. Who am I? I’m the kid at the back of the classroom who speaks to the teacher with respect. I’m the one who takes AP classes and doesn’t flaunt it, the one who tries to keep her mouth shut so she doesn’t eat her words later. When I do say something, it’s been mulled over for a few minutes. When I hear someone express a thought, I consider it from every angle and never denounce it. Slow to anger and quick to forgive, I make friends quickly, yet I don’t actively seek them. I’m not there until I speak or am spoken to. This is who I am, and I’m comfortable in it, for now. I may be outspoken in a few years. I may be loud and energetic. I’m open to change in myself, and I believe that is one of the keys to being unique; I will never try to fit into something I’m not. Experiences like the Failed Morality Test of Ninth Grade will shape me. I am quiet, intelligent, strong as all hell and tough as nails. I learn from my mistakes. And†¦I never ever cheat.

The eNotes Blog Pro-Tips to Make the Most Out of Your High SchoolYears

Pro-Tips to Make the Most Out of Your High SchoolYears Back-to school is upon us and, for many students, entering/returning to high school can be an intimidating and overwhelming situation. But the reality is, its a place where we spend four vital years learning, making new friends, and finding ourself. As a high-school graduate in 2012, I have some fresh perspective  so you can make sure your high school years are nothing short of rewarding, stress-free, and memorable. Freshmen Keep your mind open and try new things. Its hereand youre probably freaking out.  You might be  entering  a new school  with at least 10x the amount of people than youre used to, and thats scary!  Initial thoughts might be I hardly know anyone, but see  this as an opportunity to befriend new people who might  become life-long friends. How? Join an extra curricular activity or sit at a new table for lunch once a week. Youll quickly find people with  similar interests and passions,  who enjoy the same activities that you do. And your classmates are  probably as nervous as you are, even if they put on a confident face. Taking the initiative to introduce yourself and learn more about your classmates will probably be met with relief and excitement.   If your school doesnt offer a club or activity that you think would be successful, start your own! In fact, colleges look for students who are willing to be involved and have a strong role in leadership. So you could chalk it up as a friend  and  resume builder. Sophomores All-nighters are unnecessary evils and if youre the first to get a car, you just became a chauffeur. Classes start getting more intense  this year, and its important to start honing good study practices. Youll quickly learn that working on assignments in advance or studying small bits at a time, rather than cramming it all in, is more beneficial for you (and your grades) in the long run. After experiencing  an all-nighter (which usually happens from poor planning), youll likely find yourself exhausted the next day and not retaining a lot of last nights cram session.  Reviewing (not cramming) your notes and flashcards the night and morning before  a test is a great way to keep  the high-level concepts fresh in your mind. Youre also at the age where your parents are probably tired of driving you around. You may think youll want to be the first to get a car (freedom!!), but youll quickly realize being a chauffeur isnt all that great. Getting a car means endless  texts of Do you want to go to_________?  (Translation:  Do you want to go to _________  and  drive us there?).  Its not the worst idea to hold off a few months on getting a car right away. Youll thank yourself later when the majority of your friends have their own, and you can be that aforementioned texter  (just maybe offer to chip in for gas every now and then). Juniors Senioritis is a real thing (its coming) and college rejections arent the end of the world. Youve heard everyone talk about senioritis, but youve yet to  experience it. Key word: yet. If youre unfamiliar, its  this horrible affliction  where you slump around with absolutely no motivation to do just about anything; you know how much  work you have to do and how much time you have  to do it, but the motivation escapes you.  Start to ward off bad habits now. Use a planner to keep yourself  organized and on task. Get in the habit of  doing a little bit of an assignment here and there so you dont find yourself easily overwhelmed. Practice realistic time-management and give yourself the proper time it takes to focus on your  assignments. Speaking of time management: college applications can be very demandingand once youve turned them in, its just as stressful waiting to hear back. Sometimes the news isnt always ideal or what we had in mind, and thats okay!  Have a back-up plan  and youll soon realize, as you progress through your career, that your hard work and experience will outweigh  your alma matter. In my anecdotal experience, you will find yourself loving your attended university a lot more than you thought you would.  As they saywhen one  door closes, another opens! Seniors Prom is definitely worth it and you only graduate from high school once. Believe it or not, prom does lives up to the hype, but the thought of asking someone (or getting asked) to prom can evoke a case of the butterflies. Its important to be confident  and, ladies, it is perfectly okay to be the one to ask someone to Prom (take it from me!). You dont need to wait around stressing yourself out for him/her to ask youjust do it yourself! After I finally got the courage to  ask my date to Prom, I was SO thankful I did. Not only did he say yes, but I was getting to go with who I really wanted to, and thats what makes prom night memorableenjoying your company. Graduation is the cherry on top of your high school experience.  Its an important milestone in your educational journey, and you made it. Now youre probably asking yourselfwhat comes next? Maybegaining more independence? Prepping for college? Starting a full-time job? Determining what happens after graduation can be overwhelming and stressful (just like it was entering high school), but the possibilities are endless. This is now your time to shape the life you desire. Youre gaining additional responsibilities and arriving into adulthood. But youve made it this farwhere will you go next?