Writing a new Start by Samantha

Writing a new Start by Samantha - January 2025 Scholarship Essay

Moving to a new school isn’t easy. Moving during the pandemic is doubly difficult. Then having to move again to a public school also isn’t easy. This is what I experienced. My time during online schooling practically wrecked my academic determination. I could utilize the information taught during the learning process, but I quickly found I couldn’t remember any of it. As a result, I felt I couldn’t remember anything, that I wasn’t good. After moving the last time from online to in-person I lacked support. Mrs. Rettig was my first-period teacher in my sophomore year. Language arts was something I never struggled with, but her class led for me to begin excelling in other matters of my education.
I’m not a talkative person at first. Most of my classes at the time were awkwardly doing my work surrounded by people I didn’t know. This isn’t false, but neither is it fully true. I can talk for hours about a subject, and people who know me as a friend know I can talk. This love for talking translates into my writing. I always enjoyed it, but it began to wear thin during my years of learning online. Writing to a reader who likely wouldn’t answer or give feedback made the task feel useless. Mrs. Rettig however would comment on my work, she would encourage it, and in turn, I began putting more effort into my work. This wasn’t just in language arts, this was in my other classes too. It was a boost of confidence that carried me throughout my classes. Aside from the personal boost, Mrs. Rettig also believed in my work and allowed me to push myself beyond the classroom.
Having been online for so long my opportunities were limited. I did little to stand out as a student during my freshman year. The desire to do things beyond the digital class was low, how would I do anything if it was all online? Of course, by this point, I knew I likely needed to reach out to someone and ask questions about these outside opportunities, but I couldn’t drive at the time. During my LA classes with Mrs. Rettig she encouraged me to try things I have never tried before. This includes submitting my poetry to a literary journal and attending a poetry reading for the same poems, as well as attending a speech contest. I’m a rather shy student and while I’m passionate about some subjects getting me to stand on a stage reading out my own work isn’t something I could normally do. At that time I was still awkwardly integrating into my peers, barely uttering a word throughout the day unless I had to. And yet just a small amount of support from my teacher encouraged me to do all to that during my Sophomore year of high school. I believe without that inspiration that year I wouldn’t have tried all I have tried now.
I haven’t had a class with Mrs. Rettig since my sophomore year. Ever since that year though, I have continued to improve academically and in after-school activities. After sophomore year I became more active in different activities. These included being a helper for the band, joining a college credit plus class, and accidentally auditioning in the school play. I don’t think any of this would have been possible if not for the encouragement Mrs. Rettig gave me that first year. Now I am more integrated into the schools. I’m currently in my senior year of high school applying for colleges. Junior year might have been my most eventful year, but sophomore year in LA was one of the most important years for me to have.
Support in a new place is important to have. It’s what decides the rest of the years following based on just who believes you can do it. I’m thankful for Mrs. Rettig and her support of my writing in that first year. Having left the town I knew for seven years, the place I thought I would graduate high school, and starting from scratch wasn’t an easy task. Given the right support, the endeavor didn’t seem quite so bad. My educational journey may not have been the same if not for Mrs Rettig and her support.