The Sacred "L"
September 2012, Journal
I feel very accomplished today. During my entire junior year I worked hard to get caught up in my classes and bring up the GPA my freshman and sophomore year destroyed. All my hard work is beginning to pay off.
The morning of Tuesday, September third, Mr. Munter was announcing the daily bulleting over the intercom. I always listen attentively for any information on clubs I am participating in. During my four years of high school my name was rarely said during the announcements. To my surprise, today my name was called out during the daily news. I felt pride in my hard work. Mr. Munter announced the recipients of the awards that Lindsay High School grants. My name was the first one on the list. Obviously, because he reads them in alphabetical order, anyway I felt delighted. My smile went from ear to ear. I had never received any academic award from high school. I had an amazing record for outstanding academic excellence from kinder garden to eighth grade; unfortunately that record went to the garbage as soon as I walked through the gates of Lindsay High School the first time. Therefore, I was ecstatic for that award, I finally received a recognition that I could show off to my parents.
The people, who received that same award for the second time, weren’t as excited as I was. In fact, they probably thought I was making a mountain out of a molehill, but I do believed I am worthy of such recognition and the best thing I could do for my self is be satisfied with my new accomplishment.
Mr. Munter walked into my AVID class the last period of the day. I was a bit nervous; I had forgotten how it felt to be recognized in front of class. He called the names of the people in that class who received an award and my name was called on first. My AVID family, as always, very supportive of each other, clapped as Mr. Munter said, “Vanessa Alcantar, Congratulations” and handed me the sacred “L.” The “L” was so sacred I had never even touched one before. Those days were over, even if I had to wait until my last year of high school to receive it, it was well worth the wait. It is not made out of gold, that’s not what makes it valuable to me. What gave the award its value was the hard work I put into it, the time, the effort, the sacrifice and even the tears. Yes, I literally mean tears. I am not the kind of blessed student that can learn quickly or simply has a gifted mind. I always have to put in extra work in my education because I honestly have a hard time in certain subjects. Despite my failures and bad grades I never give up. I know I can have a hard time in my classes but I always challenge myself. I enrolled in AP classes; I even took an accelerated math class. All I want to do is prove to myself I can do it and so far I’ve done a good job proving that.
When I sat down in my seat after receiving that letter I thought, “Oh, It’s Beautiful!” Later that day, I asked my friend, “Should I buy a jacket and have this letter attached to it or should I buy a frame for it?” My friend giggled a little, I guess he thought I was joking. But I wasn’t, I will find a way to show off my beautiful, well earned “L.”
I feel very accomplished today. During my entire junior year I worked hard to get caught up in my classes and bring up the GPA my freshman and sophomore year destroyed. All my hard work is beginning to pay off.
The morning of Tuesday, September third, Mr. Munter was announcing the daily bulleting over the intercom. I always listen attentively for any information on clubs I am participating in. During my four years of high school my name was rarely said during the announcements. To my surprise, today my name was called out during the daily news. I felt pride in my hard work. Mr. Munter announced the recipients of the awards that Lindsay High School grants. My name was the first one on the list. Obviously, because he reads them in alphabetical order, anyway I felt delighted. My smile went from ear to ear. I had never received any academic award from high school. I had an amazing record for outstanding academic excellence from kinder garden to eighth grade; unfortunately that record went to the garbage as soon as I walked through the gates of Lindsay High School the first time. Therefore, I was ecstatic for that award, I finally received a recognition that I could show off to my parents.
The people, who received that same award for the second time, weren’t as excited as I was. In fact, they probably thought I was making a mountain out of a molehill, but I do believed I am worthy of such recognition and the best thing I could do for my self is be satisfied with my new accomplishment.
Mr. Munter walked into my AVID class the last period of the day. I was a bit nervous; I had forgotten how it felt to be recognized in front of class. He called the names of the people in that class who received an award and my name was called on first. My AVID family, as always, very supportive of each other, clapped as Mr. Munter said, “Vanessa Alcantar, Congratulations” and handed me the sacred “L.” The “L” was so sacred I had never even touched one before. Those days were over, even if I had to wait until my last year of high school to receive it, it was well worth the wait. It is not made out of gold, that’s not what makes it valuable to me. What gave the award its value was the hard work I put into it, the time, the effort, the sacrifice and even the tears. Yes, I literally mean tears. I am not the kind of blessed student that can learn quickly or simply has a gifted mind. I always have to put in extra work in my education because I honestly have a hard time in certain subjects. Despite my failures and bad grades I never give up. I know I can have a hard time in my classes but I always challenge myself. I enrolled in AP classes; I even took an accelerated math class. All I want to do is prove to myself I can do it and so far I’ve done a good job proving that.
When I sat down in my seat after receiving that letter I thought, “Oh, It’s Beautiful!” Later that day, I asked my friend, “Should I buy a jacket and have this letter attached to it or should I buy a frame for it?” My friend giggled a little, I guess he thought I was joking. But I wasn’t, I will find a way to show off my beautiful, well earned “L.”