Hello there students; my name is Frank, and throughout this year I will attempt to share my experience about high school, college and the ACT. First, here’s a little something about me: I am currently a junior at Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina, but I am not originally from North Carolina, much less America. I was born in the Philippines, a small nation in Southeast Asia. At the age of ten, my family and I moved halfway across the world to New Jersey. Three years later, we moved again to North Carolina. Considering the changes I’ve experienced, I’m proud to say I’ve always maintained my focus on my academics.

Transitioning into a new year, I must now remain steadfast to my goals: for the near future, I want to receive a high score on the ACT and hopefully graduate at the top of my class. Further down the road, I would like to attend a college like UNC Chapel Hill or Duke. I have always believed in setting definite goals for myself, and I plan to tackle those goals one step at a time.

First, I must focus on the classes I am currently taking: AP calculus, Spanish 4, AP biology, and AP language and composition. In addition to these classes, I am also a member of my school’s track and swim teams. As you can imagine, with a heavy course load and sports, I must manage my time wisely—and more often than not, there never seems to be enough time in the day. I know at least some of you feel the same. However, with the high level of stress involved, I always try to maintain a positive outlook, because I know that only “with great sacrifice comes great reward.”

One of those sacrifices will be spending a great portion of my time preparing for the ACT. The ACT is one of the most important tests a high school student will take. It is one of the factors in a student’s entrance to a college because it ranks you against other high school students. Although I have always relied on innate knowledge and a little luck when taking standardized tests, I must now buckle down and take my studies more seriously. For my New Year’s Resolution, I plan to work harder to achieve my goals.

Although I know it will be harsh, I look forward to the coming months. There will be stressful and demanding situations; however, they will serve as opportunities for improvement. With so many aspects of life being static and inflexible, I must take advantage of those that I can mold. Placing academics on top of my priorities list is an important choice that I must make. In the following months to come—with all my resolve—I will strive for success.