3.6 Kenzy Holger Writing 2

 I Told You I Could Do It

I walked down the driveway to my mailbox, my mom watching me from the window as I almost slipped and fell on the ice. I had checked the mail everyday for acceptance letters from any of the colleges I had begun applying to. I was on a mission to prove I was more than just my grades. And that's just what I did. I'd gotten into three separate colleges of my choice without the flashy report card.  

All throughout high school I was pulling mediocre grades. It wasn't because I wasn't smart, I just didn't care all that much. In my sophomore and junior years, my parents were on my back about how I needed to get better grades so I had the option of going to college. Did it work? Not even a little. Despite my grades, I thought I had a pretty good shot at getting into the schools I wanted to attend. No, I wouldn't be a Harvard pick, but I had a good ACT score and participated in many extracurriculars that would look good to an admissions office. 

I remember when my mom opened the front door just to say, "I don't know what you're so excited about." The lack of belief my parents had in me was one of the more painful things I experienced in high school. It created a constant need to do well at standards I couldn't achieve, ultimately leading to more disappointment and tons of anxiety. It was a never-ending loop. I continued my march to the mailbox, a little more nervous about what I would see when I opened it up. I was so excited when I saw two large envelopes taking up the majority of the space. I pulled them out so fast, the rest of the mail ended up in the snow. University of Montana and University of Iowa stared me right in the face. 

"Mom!" I yelled. "Mom I told you so! I told you I could do it!" I ran to the door, two thick envelopes in hand. I handed her the envelopes to prove it to her. I honestly don't think she has ever been as proud of me as she was in that moment. The smile on her face made me feel accomplished for the first time in a long time. This feeling seemed to take weight off of my chest. I had done exactly what I set out to do: I proved I had more than my grades, and that was good enough. 

I knew I couldn't afford to go to either of those schools without scholarships, and the FAFSA wouldn't fund me enough to pay for even a semester. However, I was still proud of myself, and received another acceptance to University of Wisconsin-River Falls a few days later. This is where I ended up attending for a short while. All that mattered to me was that I had the proof that I could do anything I set my mind to, even if it was a bumpy ride to get there.