I love October. In my opinion, it’s the best month of the year. Fall is in full swing, new menus and drinks are released, and most importantly, the weather is phenomenal. For freshmen, October was a huge month. From daunting tests to new clubs and more events, October had it all.
Week one:
My favorite week of October was the first. Not just because my birthday was during this week, but because all the various clubs and activities I joined the month prior were starting. In my personal opinion, after experiencing the month in its entirety, the first week was very calm. There weren’t any daunting tests or assignments, and overall, everything was perfect… until week two hit me like a ton of bricks.
Week two:
This week was the worst. Over the weekend, I spent hours studying for a particular test. On the day of, I was on the edge; the topic was difficult to understand, and I was just searching for the light at the end of the tunnel (the moment the test was over).
As soon as I received the questions, I knew that I was done for. The test was composed of some of the hardest questions I had ever seen. Halfway through, even guessing was a huge trouble for me. As soon as I finished, I wanted to cry. I had never bombed a test that badly before. The next day, I received my test score, and let me tell you… The number was not a pretty sight.
I felt that I had wasted so much time, effort, and energy just to get the score. Thankfully, my parents supported me through it. They comforted me, gave me advice, and overall were amazing. They allowed me to feel emotion before helping me get back on my feet and start all over again.
Week three:
After that warzone of a test, I was more determined than ever. Every day after practice, I poured my full attention into my schoolwork, going the extra mile for all my subjects. I studied till my hands couldn’t type or write any more. Every subject had some sort of assessment or lab report due, and I acted as if I were on a special mission, and the completion of the work was necessary to survive. Each day, I had a test, and because of my extreme determination, I was able to get through it all without a scratch. However, after that week, I was completely burnt out. My sleep schedule was in shambles, and after Friday, I felt completely exhausted.
On Saturday, I had my last cross-country race of my Freshman year. My parents work on Saturdays, so they did not normally come to my races, but this Saturday was special—they were there to support me. As much as I didn’t want to step on the starting line, and didn’t even want to get up from my bed, I knew I had to. I realized that it was my responsibility to help this amazing team that had supported me so much. And so I stepped on the start line. As soon as the gun went off, I ran. At the start, my legs felt like Jell-O, but upon the first turn, and seeing my parents, that feeling shook off. In the middle, I began to pass people. I surged up the hills and flew down the flat and downhill grass. I felt the burn and felt like time was moving in slow motion, but towards the end of the race, I gathered all the energy I had left in me, then I closed my eyes and ran as fast as I possibly could. The world around me turned black, and I couldn’t hear anything; nonetheless,I passed the finish line, running my new personal best.
Week four:
To be completely honest, the last week of October was pretty uneventful except for one thing. Halloween. This week is the special time of the year when school quiets down and social events shine. Parties, Trick-or-Treating, and movie watching are all events that have a special place in people’s hearts. The street that I live on is always packed with trick-or-treaters of all ages. Another important thing to highlight is costumes. At home, my mother and I play a special game in which we write down the most interesting costumes, then rank them in tiers.
In conclusion, October was a great month for me. I learned a lot about how to manage my time and emotions, and how to actually succeed in high school.
Thank you, and I’ll see you next month!
