*Hi everybody! Now, I’m going to rewind back in time as a junior in the year 2010!
January 2010–I need to study for these SATs, I’m not playing with that. Study the vocabulary words, math practice, and tons of timing! Midterms on their way! I hope my friends from Brazil received their Christmas cards…I hope they liked it! Traveling abroad is an experience that makes you aware of others and how you can be more generous to the world.
March 2010- My first SAT, I think I did well…but I want to do better. Should I take my second test in June? Hm, maybe I should. I can take my SAT subject tests in May and take my SAT I in June. I won’t have to stress out during my senior year if I take care of matters this year.
April 2010-ACTs! For some reason, this test is not as emphasized as the SAT and it is much easier than the SAT, especially for those who are stronger in reading and writing. The math section of this exam is terse and straightforward, so it is faster to complete. Plus, you can guess and NEVER get points deducted. Not bad, but its bad that I really didn’t prepare for this test when that’s what it’s all about.
May2010-I have not studied for these SAT IIs at all! I have been so concentrated on my AP exams and have been very distracted by family problems. Things don’t always turn out as planned and the best solution is to work positively. I will cancel my SAT2s and shift them to June even though it will cost me money. I will take my second SAT in October and have more time to practice. Maybe it was meant to be that way. Well, I’m off to the library to get my prep books for these tests; there’s no need to buy them if they are for temporary usage.
June2010- I feel ready for my subject tests and I hope that I can fare well. School is basically over and all I have left are finals and a college essay to work on-the best masterpiece that I should craft for the next big step in life. Three hours is no fun but I’ll manage
June 3 2010-I just finished my college essay. I feel so stressed and upset. I miss my mom and the doctors are not giving good signs for her survival. But I know I have to keep going, I need to take my SAT2s. (Hours later) Phew, it feels great that it’s over…time for some Sour Patch Kids. There is nothing better than rewarding yourself after working very hard. It is EXTREMELY important to take care of yourself and not let stress overtake you. Remember, you will go to the college that is meant to be. SAT scores do not measure your intelligence but rather the many times you have taken the test and the tricks you know…my mistake was not focusing on the tricks that make you go faster…you need to know the tricks. Take classes for that!
June 6 2010-Times are extremely hard for me, since my mother passed. Now more than ever I have to work very hard and focus on what she wanted: her daughter to graduate and advance herself into a profession. The life changing moments that strengthen you as a person and bring out your personality are the best and easiest to write a college essay. Colleges don’t necessarily want to read an essay on your new physics theory or philosophical concept, but instead how everyday occurrences and activities make you shine as an extraordinary person-you. There is a great saying by Oscar Wilde that says “Everyone else is taken, so be you.”
July 2010-The Washington Heights & Inwood Youth Council needs a fundraiser for our CADCA National Youth Leadership Initiative trip to Arizona. We’re selling water bottles in Van Cortlandt for our trip and giving letters to local restaurants and businesses for donations. The World Vision’s YEP program is a few days away and I need to start preparing for my recommendation on reducing alcohol ads and having surgeon general warnings on beer bottles to my Senators and Congressmen in D.C.
July 22 2010-Wow, I had an amazing time there! I met so many young people that are eager to improve their communities and inform their political leaders to change that.
July 25 2010-Thank goodness we can go to the CADCA trip. Arizona is very beautiful and I’ve never seen so many cacti in my life. The villa is beautiful and the resort is soothing just by looking at it.
July 20 2010-I learned so much here. I met people from Washington State and from Puerto Rico. There are many over the counter drugs, violence, and risk factors out there. This workshop concisely taught me how to break down the causes, reasons, and solutions for the issues in my community. After that, I learned the tools to sustain positive change: networking, communication, defending rights, and making workshops that help others.
August 2010-Now this month is dedicated to read the books for AP English Literature and complete the weekly article summaries for AP Spanish Language. The books I have to read are One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey, The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, and How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez. I have to find current stories from the Dominican Republic and write down vocabulary words that I am not familiar with. Pretty soon, I’ll go visit Tom, my Liberty Leads adviser, for assistance with my college essay. Although my English teacher gave me good feedback, it’s always good to have different opinions since I’ll never know what sort of admissions counselor will read my essay.
September 2010: I am working on my CommonAPP and being excited for my school’s Ring Day and appearing on BET! I’m so excited. I also know that I must focus this semester in school because colleges see the first report card.
October2010: In my school, all applications, and teacher recommendations are due by October 28th. It lessens the stress and gives me free time to prepare for practicing how to fill out FAFSA, federal financial application, CSS profile, a private application asking for specific household situations, and IDOC, a supplement for the CSS that is actual proof to colleges that you are telling the truth (like a copy of my father’s 2010 Income Tax).
November2010: I am working on my last SAT! October was a significant increase. This was all thanks to consistent practice at home. A good book to have is the Ivy Insiders SAT prep book or the Princeton Review. Both of these improved my score as well as Liberty Leads’ SAT classes and those Kaplan classes from REACH.
December 2010: CSS profile is due. My REACH mentor, Ashley and Tami helped me improve my essay. Cecilia, another REACH student honed my interviewing skills. Your essay is a masterpiece. It must be given a lot of time for it to be outstanding. My CommonAPP had a cut-off in the activities section because I wrote a long sentence description, but luckily my mentor Ashley and Tami helped me create an Excel sheet with a full description of each activity that I do with the amount of years and sufficient reflection of my personal experience. This covered up my mistake. So always preview your work before you send it and print it out! By December 29th, I completed my essay and all of my applications to the 9 schools that I applied to. I was also getting ready for the college interviews coming ahead, making sure that I felt cool, calm, and collected.
January-February 2011: Working on my FAFSA, CSS, and IDOC. As told by my guidance counselors, it is important to fill FAFSA EARLY TO GET THE MOST MONEY. After choosing your school in May, fill out TAP (Tuition Assistance Program), you may be eligible. TAP can only be used in the state of New York. As for these months, I’ve been studying for midterms and preparing for college interviews. Confidence, modesty, and honesty win interviewer hearts. I enjoyed the interviews. Just be natural and enjoy yourself.
March-April2011-Decisions results! I was accepted to the schools that I wanted and found best for me financially and academically.
May 2011-May 2nd was College Decision Day. I enrolled at Columbia University and am extremely happy. Not only can I visit my father and brother, but I will also enjoy the campus. I also will not have to pay for school which is a privilege that I am thankful for. May 19th-prom and May 30th-last day of class! Time flies so quickly.
June-June 3rd 2011 I graduated from high school. I am on the Manhattan Times where my story is told about my academic work. Sonia Soto Mayor sent me an autograph and a note saying “Othanya, Congratulations and best wishes in all you do. Keep dreaming big.” I can’t believe that this happened to me, but I know why. My success is thanks to all of those people who helped me achieve higher than what I ever thought I could. Nothing is impossible. Confidence, support, optimism, and hard work bring the results you desire. Now my only task is to read the Iliad for the summer and attend a 5 week summer program for Columbia. I know mom is happy, because as she says, education is the best inheritance I could ever have, and I have pursued it well just as all of you can.
