Sloan Young reflects on how she has grown as a student and person over her four years of high school. She started out as a shy freshman who lacked confidence, but through facing challenges in her classes and relationships, she learned the important lesson to always believe in herself. Her geometry class in 10th grade was especially difficult, but she got a 94 on the final exam thanks to her determination to succeed through tutoring. A relationship in her freshman year also taught her about self-worth. By the end of high school, she has become a confident person who trusts her own decisions and will let her belief in herself guide her future success.

1. Sloan Young
Looking back at the past four years in high school, my self growth as a student
and a person is clear to me. I am a totally different person than the little freshmen girl
who lacked confidence four years ago. All the obstacles, struggles and experiences
changed me into the confident person I am now. The most evident lesson that high school
taught me was to always believe in myself.
As a student my classes were not always the easiest, and most of the time extra
time and work was needed to get the grade that I needed. My geometry class in tenth
grade stands out in my mind for being especially challenging for me, I tried and tried but
could never fully understand the concepts. Mrs. Campbell urged me to come to tutoring
so I began coming routinely; I never gave up on myself and that hard work and
determination paid of. At the end of the year I received a ninety four on the end of course
exam. Throughout the frustration I never lost sight in myself and this paid off.
When it came to relationships I became caught up with a senior my freshmen
year, I stayed with him until the end of my junior year after realizing the relationship
wasn’t true and I was being used. Although I believed many lies and couldn’t help but
ask myself how I could be so naïve, I never lost sight in my self worth and the kind of
treatment that I deserve. After being in this relationship I began to trust more in myself
and my instinct rather than trusting others words.
Socially, my friends and habits changed throughout the course of my four years.
In the beginning I thought that partying and acting wild would be the only way to have
fun. However as I grew up I realized that wasn’t who I am. I love family and began
spending more time at home, babysitting and with my loved ones. Never again will I let

2. peer pressure influence me because now I know how to stand my grown and trust my
own decisions.
Overall I think that the lesson of believing in my own self will take me far in life.
I am my biggest fan and biggest critic so as long as I stay focused on my goals I will be
able to achieve anything I set my mind to.