from Celina-Marie Kuehne |
In the U.S., writing an essay as part of a college application is expected. I did this, of course, but the essay became a bit comprehensive. So I have posted the extended version here on our website. So here’s the question I’ve been dealing with: “What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?”
Here I am now, a senior in a Texan high school; I started as the shy “German girl” that came to the U.S. in the fall of 2019, starting as a freshman at Austin High School and ready for new experiences!
Looking back to my past four years of high school, to the time when I could not really speak or understand English during my first days at the new school (although I had English lessons in my old school in Germany for several years), the change between one or two hours per week to full-time classes in a new language was a lot harder than I expected. Still, I worked hard and made the best out of it!
I remember one of the first questions was: “Which Academy do you want to be in?” I wondered what they meant since I didn’t have that in my old school. After the registrar explained the different kinds, I decided to be a part of the AGS (the Academy of Global Studies) program because of my European background and my interest in learning more about different cultures and all that is going on in the world.
My first few weeks were difficult, but everybody was friendly and understanding. The students and teachers were so welcoming. I was not used to all of that, and it felt like I was in a different world (which I kind of was). I could finally be the way I wanted. Nobody made fun of me or made me feel different. Unfortunately, I didn’t have much time to make new friends and get to know other students because, in March 2020, we all switched to online school due to the pandemic. That was bad, and I was wondering if I still would get to experience real high school life, but I also saw it as a completely new experience – not only for me but for everybody.
So in my sophomore year, I took the new and strange situation as a new opportunity and a way to learn.
I started working on my future by taking graphic design and culinary arts classes to find out what direction I may want to go. I was always interested in arts, design, and photography, so taking these classes helped me to find my passion that I want to continue in the future.
During my sophomore year, I learned that school in the U.S. is more than classes, projects, and grades. I joined the Culture Club, wanted to work on the Life Buddies project, and was a “helping hand” for some of my favorite teachers. That made me proud and happy. I never thought I could do this! Plus: these things helped me improve my English skills even more.
Another challenge I worked hard on was my Ballet Folklorico class. My goal was to become an officer at the end of the school year. I was proud when finally my name was announced, and even if that meant many new challenges, I was excited to face them.
Finally, in my junior year, after almost two years of the pandemic, I got the chance to be a part of “high school life” like I had never got to experience before. I’ve only known the “American high school life” from T.V. and movies: the sports events, the pep rallies, Homecoming, and more to spread and show school spirit! That was amazing and not even close to my German school life.
As an officer in Ballet Folklorico (and back in person), I taught some of the new dancers and was a part of the management team. We started again with live performances at our high school and some other events. Being a dancer on the competition team made me so proud. We could represent our high school and the Mexican culture while we participated in two competitions, where we won first and second places.
I still joined the Culture Club but now also the International Club, where we want to inform students about different cultures in other countries and care about and learn from our exchange students who stay with us over the school year before returning to their families and countries. Soon after traveling became possible again, I had the opportunity to visit New Mexico on a school field trip and to see the different traditions of Native American tribes. It was a unique experience for everyone and one that I will never forget.
Now in my senior year, I continue my chosen career path even after my photography class was no longer available on the schedule. Instead, I got the chance to join the yearbook leader team. Here I can use, develop and share my knowledge and experiences in photography and graphic design while getting insight into journalism and yearbook design and also helping others. So, I’m also using my senior internship to develop my own photography business and to prepare for the way that may come sooner than I expect.
As a Linkcrew Leader, I have the opportunity to grow and open myself while working with peers to represent our school, help first-year students to connect with the school and peers and be a role model for all students.
And finally, these are my last months at high school! Man, time runs fast! It feels like yesterday when I first walked through these big doors, scared but also excited about what awaited me. I had no idea what struggles and challenges I would face, nor what I would want to be or become in the future. Yet, soon I will walk on that stage, too, like so many students before me, in my maroon-colored senior gown, to collect my diploma.
I will soon go to college and start a new chapter of my life, but I will never forget these wonderful four years of my life in high school. I happily look back on all these memories of the classes I took, the clubs I joined, and even the activities I did. I will look back on all of these and think about all the good things that happened. Still, I will not only remember these, since there were also some bad things that happened, but I am going to remember that I faced these challenges and succeeded in most of them, even if it was not always easy (which makes me very proud). So my goal is, no matter what kind of challenges I will face in the future, I will always be “Loyal forever”!