第 26 题

1Throughout our Junior year, my classmates and I have been worried about what colleges will see when they look at our whole life story reduced to a single 200-word essay. Will the golden word “success” form in their minds when they review our achievements? Or will they see the big word “fail” in red? The shadow of this mysterious (神秘的) institution steals away what success means to us.

2My first step of redefining success began with course registrations. It is a well-known fact, especially in my school, that Junior year is the time of packing many AP classes into the schedule. When asked why they chose so many AP classes, my friends responded: “I don’t know.” They themselves don’t know why they are following the crowd and longing for the pressures of academic difficulty. Therefore, they do not feel the satisfaction of being academically challenged.

3Completing many courses no longer brings out the feeling of success because more than four AP classes per year is a norm set by top universities. Determined to follow my instincts (本能) on what I felt success means, I only chose two classes that I knew I would enjoy. The feeling of success was no longer attached to what grade I received but to the pure joy of learning.

4Even my failures are attached to a feeling of success; after I take a step back and look at the big picture, I see them as a launching pad (平台) for my next big achievement. In the ninth grade, I went in for my first group interview for a leadership position as a shy girl. Not standing a chance against competitive applicants, I came out of the interview with an upset look. Nevertheless, this interview wasn’t a wasted opportunity. I talked to one of the senior applicants who answered questions in a way that reflected the faith she had in herself.

5This year, with an open mind and new knowledge in mind, I walked into another group interview while telling myself I was that cool senior. I managed to secure a leadership position. Ultimately, success came little by little.