Academically speaking. (I typed it up, I might as well post it...)

Four years ago, I would have never been able to imagine where I am now; my view of the future was quite different from where I've found myself and where I now wish to proceed. Nothing was impossible back then, and I had this grand view of all that I would accomplish in my days at WOHS. I was filled with so much hope for the future, with so much possibility on the horizon.

Writing has long been one of my strongest abilities and passions, and I entered my high school years thinking I'd be some sort of professional writer. On a most pivotal day, I was called into the guidance department of the school in order to schedule my freshman year's classes. The school seemed very foreign to me, something that I can't even imagine now. Everything is so familiar about that place, despite it's size. Perhaps that's what happened to me on that day; I was so overwhelmed by the grandeur of the school that I listened to whatever the guidance supervisor was telling me. Unfortunately, that day ended up dictating my schedule for the next four years, primarily because I came from "Catholic school."

I know now that there's not really anything "grand" about West Orange High School, but you have to understand that I came from a school whose eighth grade graduating class consisted of 12 kids. Everything was bigger and better to me, moreso than all of it actually was. That day, I was told that I "didn't have the lab experience, therefore I should be placed into Introduction to Physical Science." What did I know? Maybe the school's science program is so hard that I'll be struggling because of my "inferior education?" I went along with it, especially since I really didn't think I would pursuing what I am now. I was wrong.

IPS was an interesting waste of time, to say the least. my class consisted entirely of future "super-seniors," "super-seniors" themselves, and a few other slacker freshman. (except for Mohamed) IPS, I can honestly say, was the biggest waste of valuable time, ever. In my entire life. I can't get that time back, Just thinking about it absolutely disgusts me.

As soon as I had realized that what was going down (with regard to my education) wasn't kosher, I had to fight an uphill battle all the way. At the end of freshman year, I was still set on being a writer, but it still didn't feel right being in the lower level sciences. I was better than that, I felt, and I had to fight the supervisor in order to be placed in Honors Biology. What compounded the problem was that the Algebra class I was in was anything but an environment conducive to learning, and I wasn't recommended for Honors Geometry. According to the school, Honors level Geometry is required co-requisite for Honors Biology, and no student is permitted to take Bio without the other.

For the record, I did not slack off in Algebra. It was impossible to learn with the teacher having to hand out detention slips every thirty seconds and unstoppable chatter during every lesson. (I would admit it if I believed my lackluster performance was my own fault) In Geometry, I did very, very well, and my teacher even commented that I should have been in Honors. Also for the record, having taked both Honors and AP Biology, I can honestly say that there is nothing in either class that is even REMOTELY related to anything I learned in Geometry. Why they don't let students take Honors Bio without Honors Geometry, I don't know. As you can tell, I'm still sore about the issue. I was going to write a long and nasty letter, but what's the point? They won't listen to me, that stubborn administration. And guess what? They're eliminating IPS because of the horrible nature of the class.

My History and English classes had done quite a good job of keeping my mind set on writing until I finished Biology in Sophomore year. The summer afterwards, I remember pacing around my house thinking about where I would go from there. Writing was good and all, but could I really make a career out of it? I don't really consider myself an "artsy" guy, and I didn't really want to be a journalist. One of the strangest things that has ever happened to me during my four years has been my inability to be placed into a journalism class, every single year. I would sign up for it every time I could, but the class was "full" every time I tried. First it was Journalism 1, then Journalism 2, then the Newspaper, and finally the Yearbook (something I decided not to pursue because of the large work load associated with it) It's interesting to think where I would be right now had I gotten into any of those classes. That summer though, I remembered just how much I loved science. I've always loved it, from drawing weather maps in kindergarten to collecting gems in first grade to building a battery out of a lemon in fourth. Science has always been a part of who I am; I had just forgotten it for so long. Biology had re-awakened it in me, and loving everything that I was learning about human systems and physiology drove me to pursue medicine. I've had a new direction ever since, dead set on some day making it to medical school and becoming a doctor, a sort of crusader against some of the world's most vicious and unrelenting diseases. That day was absolutely amazing, because I remember finally having a feeling of purpose and a sense of direction. I kept repeating it over and over in my head, that "I'm going to be a doctor!" And it's stayed ever since.

My decision to pursue medicine is what has guided me up until now. I had already decided to take AP Bio even before I decided to become a doctor because I liked it so much, and now it has only strengthened my resolve. The college picking process has definitely been affected by it, because there are some schools I didn't even think about if their science program was even only a little lacking. I wanted the best. That's one of the reasons I chose Rutgers I think, because they have some of the greatest minds in the world there and there is so much to be unlocked there for anyone looking for something. Their facilities and research are absolutely amazing.

I like the idea of carrying out research and finding new stuff to revolutionize the world and save lives. My life would be complete, I think, If I were to find a cure to cancer or something. The harsh reality is that there are so many factors that can induce malignant cellular activity that it all may just be too much to control, especially with all the new chemicals we're ingesting every day. Several news and magazine articles recently have been reporting that no new major breakthroughs have been popping up because of a sombering fact; the science is too hard. But things like that embolden me, because I want to take up the challenge and do what others could not do before me. It's science, it's my life.

As good as research sounds to me, my caring and compassionate side has driven me to pursue medicine, because then I'll sort of be able to fight the horrors of the world on the front lines. It's a hard life, but I really am considering becoming a pediatric oncologist. Cancer is such a horrible, horrible disease, and for a child to have to go through it is just unimaginable for me. It is something I believe I can fight, and I have to try. I want to be someone's hero.

Everything is set in place now, and I'll be off at Rutgers in exactly two months pursuing my future. But as always, my mind drifts to the past, to times long gone...