Hello, today I want to talk about taking chances and risks.
Let me start with a little story. When I was in high school in Germany, I was a not the student that I am today. I did a lot of things that I should not have done. My friends told me to do inappropriate things and I did them without thinking about the consequences. I was a rule breaker and I always blamed my so-called friends on the stuff I got in trouble for.
I had no self-confidence at all and I had bad grades too. I made it from year to year without having to repeat a class, but it was always close. Somehow I made it through the 10th grade and I knew that I would never make it through the German graduation, which is harder than the American. I had no perspectives in Germany and I did not know what to do until I my mom came back home from work one evening and she came up with an idea. She thought it would be best for me to go to the U.S. for one year.
At first I could not imagine myself in a different country with a different language for 10 months without family and friends in Germany. But I read some information about this idea and I started to really like it. This was my chance and there were a lot of risks but I was ready to take them because it had so many positive aspects too.
I just knew that this was the right decision to make. A few months later I found myself at the other end of the world in Hebron, Maine. I really liked the school and people and I had one of the greatest years of my entire life. Last year made me thrive so much. I changed in so many different aspects. I am a decent student now, I have more confidence in myself, I learned a whole language and most important I finally know what I want.
I want to make the best out of my future. Last year showed me how a person can change so much in just one year. That was the reason why I decided to make another important decision last spring. I decided to stay in the U.S for one more year and graduate from Hebron Academy.
Now I am standing here as a senior in high school with decent grades that are good enough to get me into college. My point is to tell all of you and especially Seniors to be aware of your chances and use them as good as you can because you may not get them again.
Thank You!
