By Sam Carr*, Franklin High School, October 22, 2025
When I entered high school, the difficulty with my workload increased drastically, and I was confronted with the reality of studying for the first time in Advanced Placement (AP) classes. I had way more homework than what I was used to and I actually needed to study. The AP classes made me realize that high school was going to be a challenge. Luckily, I have an older brother who has taken the class before. He is an excellent student, and he had always relied on his natural intelligence without studying. With this mindset, he faced his first test in AP Human Geography. The result was shocking. It was a C. To some people, they would be fine with this passing grade. However, my brother and I are used to getting straight A's. This was a huge moment that would change my brother's mindset since high school.
When it was my time to enter high school, my brother told me to study for my AP test. For the first test, I followed his advice, and I headed into the test confidently. Because I studied, the test seemed easy to me. I achieved my goal of getting an A on the first test. My confidence and ego rose greatly, and I didn't feel the desire to keep studying as hard. Even though my mom and brother were both advising me to study, I thought, "The test isn’t even that hard. I can get an A." This was a major mistake. Instead of learning from my brother's failure, I soon found myself making the same mistake. I took the second test with little preparation and only used what I had already known. When the test was over, I still thought that it wasn't horrible.
Fast forward a week or so later and I am surprised I had a C on my test. The surprise was still pretty big despite knowing that I didn't study. My brother's warnings finally hit me. The truth couldn't be escaped. I had the advice of my brother, but I was cocky and ignored him. My mom was also in disbelief after I had told her. She was disappointed in me, and I was too. The disappointment wasn't because of the grade but because of the lack of discipline. I had more than enough time to study, but I didn't use it wisely. My grade became a B- due to this, but I still had one more test left to prove myself. With the emotions from the last test still inside me, I studied and applied learning techniques such as making flashcards. I was going to ace this test and show that I am that one student who stands out.
When test day arrived, I had a mix of emotions overwhelming me. I was nervous, "What if I don't end with an A?" I was also excited, "I’m ready to fly through this test!" When I was handed the test, the first question was one that I did not study. Realization hit me. I didn't study correctly. There were some parts of the unit that I did not think to learn. After the test was done, I wasn't happy with my answers. I began to accept that I wouldn't end with an A for the first time. The tests were finally graded. My score was a B. I wasn't sure whether to be proud or disappointed. It was definitely better than my last test, but it wasn't as good as I hoped it would be. I had an A once, and I know that I could get it again. The test grade bumped my total grade up to a B. It wasn't an A or even a B+. It wasn't the happy ending that happens in most stories.
However, it was the turning point in my mindset to work even harder. The consequence of my lack of preparation resulted in me getting a C on my second test. I applied the learning techniques to focus and study. I still didn't get the result I wanted, but I improved. Even after this lesson about discipline, I still struggle with the temptations of my phone. For the other people that encounter similar challenges, I say that you should find someone close to you to support you. Whenever you aren't focused, that person can help you stay on task. If you have a hard time finding someone, think about your goals in life. Your goals should inspire you to stay focused and keep pushing forward even when it's tough. To summarize, find the support you need and be disciplined. Learn from mistakes and continue working. Although I didn't get the grade I initially wanted, I learned that true growth comes from the effort, not just the outcome.
* A pseudonym
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