My UF Admissions Essay *final revision*

Being 18 and in high school, it's surprising for me to keep my sanity while going through six years of high school without failing anything. I came to the United States 3 and years ago. In the Philippines, people go straight to high school after graduating from elementary. I was going to be a senior in high school but when I came here, I was reverted back to 10th grade. Learning this annoyed me that it made me give up several times. This meant that I screamed, cried, and rebelled against my mom by listening to hateful music, and I also started wearing black just to show her that I'm getting influenced; thus, she had to ship me back. Apparently, my grades contradicted that because though I wasn't willing to go to school, I submitted every homework, every assignment, and every God-forsakened project that was given to me. At that moment, I faced a full-frontal attack from enemy territory, my mom.

In my 11th year, I started taking my chances by getting AP classes and I met the best people that life has offered me so far. Honestly, I did feel like Wonderwoman while writing essays, balancing equations, and reading stories but I know it was all eustress. It actually gave me new study habits and time management. I had all the opportunities to shine that I didn't have back in the Philippines. I blamed my surroundings for my failures and that made it too late for me to start trying to raise my grades up. When I came here, they gave me a brand new GPA which may not be fit for valedictory recognition but I know it reflects me.

Finally, I'm here in my last year of high school and I left my old school during my senior year, again! I don't know I'm just unlucky or destined to die from insanity due to my whole high school experience but I do know that this school is raising the bar for me again, just like my 11th year(should I say 13th?) because of the vast array of competition waiting for me. This also made me produce my own philosophy which is, 'I need to be the best because I don't have an excuse not to be one.'

Saying this, I believe that my scholastic ability and skill in overcoming adversity can contribute to the UF's community. Through hardships, I've become mature and patient. I am now in a better shape to continue to enhance my skills and pursue knowledge and gain insights with the competitive community of UF. Many would probably think that I am just a typical girl on campus but I have stories to tell. And with these stories comes the knowledge that whatever would come my way, I can excel in any field that I put my heart into as long as I believe that I can do it. And this, I think will probably be the best contribution that I can offer University of Florida.