FSU College Essay

Leadership and global awareness are two traits I value highly and will bring to Florida State. Looking back at my high school experiences to date I see significant growth. Coming into my freshman year at a new school, I felt isolated and unsupported. This only intensified during my sophomore year when I attempted to complete a very-intensive course schedule. However, transferring to Lake Mary Preparatory School in eleventh grade brought not only a better academic environment for me to succeed in, but also the opportunity to become a leader in a highly diverse school.

                During ninth and tenth grades I did not recognize opportunities for leadership and growth. I found them, however, when I transferred to Lake Mary Prep.  In eleventh grade I took the normal complement of coursework, made up courses from the prior year where I received personally-unsatisfying grades, and motivated myself through speech and debate. Speech and debate presented me with leadership opportunities that l had never been exposed to before, such as working with my teammates to prepare and excel in upcoming tournaments. I feel that it was because of my desire and dedication to the team that I was elected its President.  I look forward to bringing the skills I learned in speech and debate to the Florida State community.

                I also lacked a sense of global awareness during my freshman and sophomore years. I was not an effective global citizen. Lake Mary Prep provided me the opportunity to interact with students from around the world. As the founding President of the Latin club, I work with the school to promote Latin as a field of study to the school’s international students. Additionally, I actively seek out international students to participate on the Speech and Debate team. Through our team’s dedication to working together, many of the international students have proven themselves well in tournaments. I will work within the Florida State community to promote global awareness and diversity. I hope also to promote global awareness after my undergraduate studies, through ventures in business and law.

                Julius Caesar said it best in his commentaries on the Roman civil war that “experience is the teacher of all things.” My actions in high school and the decisions I made have impacted my stance on life moving forward. I recognize now my early mistakes, but it is because of them that I could grow and discover those characteristics truly important to me. My experiences, and how they have made me value leadership and global awareness, are things I will bring to Florida State.