A Redeeming Story, (for those who think a B will kill them)

Pre-College Topics High School Cafe
1

<p>Here’s a story to break from the norm on here. It’s a good read. </p>

<p>So there’s this boy. His name is Jimmy. I’ve known him since he was born (as I am older by three months haha.) Anyways, he was a really bad kid. He started using drugs at the age of 11, was in juvey by the time he was 12.5 and then was out again at 14. He was out for a month, was caught dealing drugs and was sent back and released for good behavior at the beginning of our 10th grade year (a year and a half ago). After a month he was back in jail for dealing and breaking and entering. So the whole time I had no contact with him unless he was out. Each time he promised he’d be clean, that whole speech. Each time I believed him. Each time he broke his promise. Flash forward, he is almost 17 now and he got his GED while in prison. He was in the honors track at a school and has been clean sober for almost a year (he is at like a half-way house type thing.) I saw him today for the first time in nearly two years. He finished two years of school at a community college (in just one year… I’m not sure how he did it) with a 4.0 and is attending U of Michigan Ann Arbor this fall for Social Work. He now tours the state (and hopefully soon, the country) teaching kids and parents about what can really go wrong with drugs and how they can redeem themselves after all this time. He did it by finding God (I am not religious) and so he primarily goes to Christian high schools. </p>

<p>I just thought it was uplifting after the continuous worrying about grades and stuff on here and people worrying about a B. You can make it through anything if you have faith (either in yourself or a higher being) and it was a nice break from the normal posts on here. My point is, nothing is so bad that you cannot redeem yourself. So you got a B, big deal. If you do well enough, colleges understand. After all, U of M accepted somebody like Jimmy. </p>

<p>Ah ok, you may all get back to your lives now =]. Hopefully you all got a good break from the homework we’re all supposed to be doing.</p>

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<p>This is a wonderful post to help ppl understand that grades aren’t everything. Sure, they ARE important, however, grades do not make a person. Rather, one’s experiences and choices determine who they are and help them develop. Grades are just one of those experiences. One B won’t kill you, instead of worrying about that, you should try harder and learn from you mistakes. The key point is to never give up, just like Jimmy. Basically Jimmy went through a form of hell on earth [I am also not a religious person] and instead of saying screw it, I’m already in trouble, what’s the point in changing? He tried because he knew that the outcomes would be better. It’s hard. We all know that. But the difficulty of something makes it worthy. Not only did he learn a lot about his academic subjects, he learned a lot about himself.</p>

<p>He learned that even if no one else believes him, he can still do it. He CAN achieve his goal as long as he believes and doesn’t lose hope/faith; as he has shown here.</p>

<p>It may seem easy, but it isn’t. To me, overcoming this obstacle means a lot more than getting an “Asian failing” of a B.</p>

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<p>I have a feeling his name isn’t Jimmy.</p>

<p>Wow, all three posters go to the same school…</p>

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<p>Haha yes his name really is Jimmy. I couldn’t think of anything creative.</p>

<p>And yes that’s cause we’re sweet =]. Lmao.</p>

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<p>but U of M isn’t an Ivy League School :)</p>

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<p>^^ oh just go and kill it -_-</p>

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<p>thanks for the story… it was really inspirational. :)</p>

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<p>And a B may have killed his chances at UM…seeing as how he got a 4.0, i guess we’ll never know.</p>

<p>What if he had gotten a 3.9?</p>

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<p>If he got a 3.9 then he would be on death row right about now. duh~</p>

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<p>Lovely story. Highly inspirational. :)</p>

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<p>One B would have turned success into “25 to Life”. So, yes, a B may in fact kill you. Thanks for the proof!</p>