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Reflect on how you felt at the beginning of the year compared to now

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Reflect on how you felt at the beginning of the year compared to now

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I was greatly anxious and nervous before the start of the academic year. I always felt like I was alone and hardly spoke to anyone. Now finishing the year, things started to improve. I started opening to others over time, and I gained some new friends who helped relieve my anxiety associated with school. Along with improving my stress management, I grew more confident in my skills and ability. Looking back, though, I see how much I have developed. Although it wasn't easy, I'm happy I stayed with it since I'm glad of how far I've come. For what is ahead, I feel far more hopeful.

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Reflect on your hopes for junior year and beyond

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Reflect on your hopes for junior year and beyond

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I want to get more concentrated and committed to my goals in junior year and beyond. Both in life and in the classroom, I wish to keep on top of my responsibilities and raise my grades. Though I am aware that life will not always be simple, I am ready to challenge myself and keep inspired. I refuse to settle for less, I want better for myself as I know I am capable of more. My decisions now will determine my future, so I intend to treat things more seriously. I want to develop personally as much as intellectually. Above all, I want to keep going ahead and be happy with how far I have gone.

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Describe a project, topic, or assignment you're especially proud of

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Describe a project, topic, or assignment you're especially proud of

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My STEM project, "Zombie Restaurant," is one of which I enjoy thinking about. This project blended psychology with creativity by creating a special "Brainy Bites" menu fit for a zombie customer with a strange taste for brains. Inspired by a gourmet dining experience, I designed an educational and aesthetically pleasing restaurant menu using Canva, but with a twist including many areas of the human brain. Every menu item stood for a certain brain area and its purpose, therefore augmenting my knowledge of brain anatomy in an interesting manner. This project let me combine art with science, therefore transforming learning about neurology into both fun and instruction. It forced me to consider closely how best to use design and narrative to express challenging topics.

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Write a brief review of a book or text you read this year that impacted you

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Write a brief review of a book or text you read this year that impacted you

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The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
“You gave me a forever within the numbered days.”

The Fault in Our Stars touched me emotionally earlier this year. John Green's book centers on cancer-stricken teenager Hazel Grace Lancaster's love affair with ill Augustus Waters. Although the story mostly centers on disease, it is really a celebration of love, purpose, and the beauty discovered in temporary events. The book helped me value the time we have with people we love, the characters felt surprisingly real. It showed me that great influence can come from short lives.

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Reflect on a personal or academic challenge

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Reflect on a personal or academic challenge

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My Biology EOC exam was one of the toughest academic challenges I have faced. I found it really hard with the subject. I struggled to understand so many complicated subjects including ecosystems, cell functions, and genetics. More specifically when I didn't get the answers correct even after attempting to study, I was often overwhelmed and annoyed. I forced myself to try harder, though, instead of giving up. Every time I was unclear, I asked my teacher questions, spent more time going over my notes, watched movies to better understand what was being taught, and Learning was more enjoyable and I saw things from other points when I studied with friends as well. Things began to make sense little by bit. Though it was not easy, I kept going. All the effort turned out to be accurate. With an overall grade point average of 4.0, and a 3 on The Exam, I completed the class passing the Biology EOC. This experience showed me that, if I remain focused, work hard, and believe in myself, I can overcome if something looks too difficult at first.

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Share a poem, short story, song, or artwork you created OR one that inspired you this year.

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Share a poem, short story, song, or artwork you created OR one that inspired you this year.

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Rod Wave's song "Already Won" truly motivated me this year. It covers his challenges growing up as well as his progress. He still remembers the suffering he went through even if he has money and reputation now. This song reminds me that passing challenging situations is a great success. It keeps me focused and prevents me from giving up in difficult times in life.