2016 Graduate of the Year Essay Submission
by Erica Magalhaes Ring from South Carolina
Penn Foster 2016 GOY Contest - Erica Magalhaes Ring's Essay
Determination and Perseverance
My name is Erica Magalhaes Ring. I am originally from Brazil. I was born and raised in the city of Rio de Janeiro. I moved to the United States of America to marry the love of my life. We live in the small town of Clover in the state of South Carolina.
The experience of living in a foreign country is exciting, but the adjustment period can be overwhelming. Fortunately, I have always had lots of love and support from my husband. The language barrier was one of the biggest challenges I had to face. I only had a very basic understanding of the English language.
I decided to teach myself for two months. I was able to reasonably improve my English language skills during that period of time. When I felt confident enough in my ability to learn a new language, I enrolled in an English as a Second Language program offered by a local community college. I became fluent in English in just a few months.
After I fully embraced the American culture and way of life, I started thinking about going back to school. The pursuit of a higher education was my goal, but the American colleges would not accept my high school diploma from Brazil. The disappointment did not discourage me! I did some searches and decided to enroll in the Penn Foster High School program.
I became a Penn Foster student at the beginning of the year 2016. The feeling of excitement was extreme! I remember promising myself that I was going to give my best to be a successful student. My study routine was intense, but it was worth it; I graduated with a 4.0 GPA.
My experience with Penn Foster has meant wonders to me. I liked the fact that the courses were challenging, but enjoyable. Exams were not overwhelming. The support I received from the Penn Foster team helped me to overcome obstacles to achieve my academic goals. It is an honor to be a graduate of a school that genuinely cares about its students.
The importance of graduating from high school goes beyond earning a diploma; it means much more than knowing that I can now apply for colleges. The improvement of my knowledge in English grammar and American history, for example, has positively impacted my daily life here in the United States of America. I am proud of my accomplishments. Penn Foster High School set me up for success!
Life is a never-ending cycle of learning. My educational journey will continue in 2017. I am planning to pursue a bachelor's degree in environmental science; nature has always held a very special place in my heart. I am sure that my determination and perseverance will help me to become a successful environmental scientist in the near future.