Most of my life, I’ve attended international schools. For the longest time, I thought my enrollment at these schools was enough to turn me into a top student and make me a well-rounded individual. In Vietnam, these international schools, which place greater emphasis on English and follow American standards, have always been recognized as providing the best possible education in Vietnam. Yet, when I eventually competed against public school students in ninth grade, I realized that I was behind because I had been complacent about school. The opportunities had been in front of me, but I had yet to take advantage of them.

Ninth grade is a stressful year for Vietnamese students because it culminates in a year-end exam that determines which high school each student qualifies to attend. It’s similar in concept to the SAT and just as important. Students study in extra afterschool and weekend prep classes throughout ninth grade as they prepare for the exam. As a student at an international school planning to study abroad, I wouldn’t have to take the exam. My father, however, wanted me to test my current level by preparing for it anyways. I was confident that I was going to do better than public school students. It wasn’t until an assessment meant to determine which prep class fit my level that I realized just how far ahead of me my public school peers were. I was shocked that they performed better than me in two out of the three exams: math and literature. Having access to the best educational opportunities hadn’t turned me into the best student.

I wondered whether I would be successful in America if I couldn’t even outperform students on Vietnamese exams. I felt overwhelmed with stress, but I knew what I needed to do to prepare myself. I wasn’t excited to participate in special prep classes, but I didn’t waste the opportunity. Truly motivated to improve myself in these classes, I found myself doing just that. I improved. Day by day, I put all my effort into my lessons. By the end of it all, I had success on the high school entrance exam and learned the importance of motivation in determining outcomes. I was confident that I would find success in America so long as I didn’t waste any opportunity.

My resolve to change my approach to challenges and opportunities alike couldn’t have come at a better time. As I prepared to move abroad to America for high school, I knew I was ready to be the best me I could be. I know I’ve been blessed to have access to many advantages in life that my peers in Vietnam only dream of, so I’ve become a more active participant in and out of the classroom since arriving in Worcester. Worcester Academy offers a variety of advanced courses such as Multivariable Calculus and Organic Chemistry, and I wanted to take as many of them as possible. Otherwise, I would just be wasting the academic opportunities offered by my school. Thanks to this goal, I was able to challenge myself with many advanced courses as an upperclassman. I tried not only to understand and remember the scientific concepts and procedures I learned but also to utilize all of the courses’ resources to gain laboratory experience, something Vietnamese science courses didn’t offer. In Math classes, I always tried to internalize concepts by doing every practice problem provided by my textbooks and teachers.

My encounter with public school students drove me to realize the importance of taking advantage of the opportunities I have in life. I understood that I didn’t fully take advantage of the amazing facilities and teachers that my international school provided. Instead, I had been complacent. I have since changed my attitude towards opportunities, trying to make the most out of my academic courses and to participate in as many extracurricular activities as possible.