The transition from middle to high school is never easy, and it was especially difficult for me. I was in a terribly depressed state of mind before entering high school, and I was not looking forward to taking on even more complex challenges. However, I found the courage and maturity to change my life by challenging my family, my closest friends, and the voice of my own self doubt, which were telling me that I would never become a serious...

My freshman year grades were the death of me,...