As a freshman you think four years is going to be forever, but all of a sudden you wake up and you’re a junior. You have all these expectations and goals, but you learn that it’s better to have an open mind and just go with the flow.

If I could give myself advice as a freshman, I would tell myself that it will be hard, but if I give up it will become harder. You are going to want to follow everybody else, but it’s better to be yourself and do what’s right. You should always stick up for what you believe in, don’t let anybody try to put you down because then you’re allowing yourself to be used.

I wish I had been involved more clubs or sports. You make more friends and enjoy the experience if you become involved. Of course, my freshman year I tried to stay with the same friends and was quiet, but throughout the year I became more social and had so much fun. I wish I wasn’t afraid to take fun or different classes and explore my options. I had the experience to make new friends and got to join a sport. Before I would be too nervous about leaving my comfort zone, but once you leave it, you find a new one. I don’t care as much as I use to of what other people think because I learned all that matters is what I think.

I wish I could go back and really think about the choices I made. I don’t regret anything, but I wouldn’t mind having better grades to make my life easier now. Coming from middle school to high school is very weird, but there was only one difference. The teachers didn’t cut you slack or “baby” you; it was up to you because you’re the one with the grade. I wish I asked more questions because even if I didn’t understand, I just didn’t say anything. I would have talked to my counselor a lot more. I only saw my counselor once the entire year. They are there to help, and I didn’t take advantage of it. I could have been informed about my future education, so I could be prepared.

I’m glad I got to make great memories with new people. I’m proud that I got to push myself to really leave my comfort zone to have fun and find myself. I got the opportunity to be a counselor for science camp which was one of the best experiences of my life. When you do fun things that you didn’t expect to like, it makes you want to try new things. That’s why you need to explore areas that are out of your comfort zone.

My goal is to go to Los Positas College for the first two years and transfer to UC Berkeley and graduate from there. I’m trying to save as much money as I can. My ultimate goal is to make my parents proud of me and have the feeling of accomplishment. I hope to become successful and independent one day I could always do it. I hope to be wealthy enough to help my family and people who need it. I want to be able to have no restrictions and just enjoy life.