My Aspirations for the Upcoming School Year by Cole

My Aspirations for the Upcoming School Year by Cole - August 2025 Scholarship Essay

As I start my last year of high school, I want to make it my most productive and meaningful year. I have always thought that senior year should be more than just waiting for graduation, it should be a time to challenge myself, set big goals, and make a positive difference in my school and community. That is exactly what I plan to do. My goals for the year include academics, sports, and leadership because I believe that real growth happens when you push yourself in all parts of life. Each of these goals connects to my vision for the future, and the excitement about where I’m going is what motivates me to work harder every day.
My ultimate goal is to bring my ACT score up to a 32. It will qualify me for more scholarships, make me a stronger applicant to competitive colleges, and give me an edge in future job placement. To achieve this goal, I will stick to a disciplined study plan. I plan on taking numerous full-length practice tests to acclimate myself to the actual exam environment, go over each incorrect answer so I can learn from my mistakes, and do focused practice to strengthen weak areas. I also want to practice timing strategies since pacing can significantly influence my score. This goal will take consistency and discipline, but I think the payoff will be worth it.
In addition to my ACT objective, I am also trying to accumulate enough college credit my senior year to ultimately graduate with a master's degree in accounting after only four years of college. This involves loading my schedule with dual-credit and AP classes now so that I can lighten my undergraduate course load down the road. It also opens the door to the potential of a double major, making me more flexible in the job market. By pushing myself with these higher-level classes, I will not only save money and time in college but also demonstrate to myself that I am capable of challenging academic work.
Athletics is the other key area where I wish to excel. In cross country, I aim to achieve All-Conference honors for the second consecutive year. This will require months of training, early morning runs, speed workouts, and developing the mental toughness to push through fatigue when it matters most. I also have a new track goal: to achieve All-Conference in the 3200-meter race for the first time. This will be difficult, but I aim to work on my endurance and race strategy throughout the season. I want to be the type of athlete who encourages teammates not only with results, but with dedication, consistency, and sportsmanship. Leadership means a lot to me. I am already involved in numerous groups, Cross Country, FFA, SSN, FCA, YoungLife, and Boy Scouts, where I hold leadership positions. This year, I would like to take my leadership to the next level in NHS and Track, where I have yet to make as big of an impact. I also would like to become a part of a new club, perhaps FBLA, so that I can learn more about a new subject matter. Being a leader in each club that I am a part of means more than having a title, it's about being one to step up when there is work to be done, being a voice for others when they need one, and being a good example of getting involved. I would like to be remembered as someone who did not simply join clubs but actively contributed to making them better.
All of these objectives fit into a larger mission: I want to demonstrate to my school and community that I am a promise-keeping leader who strives to always improve. I am serious about leadership because leadership is about serving others. I have discovered that others notice when you do something, whether organizing an event, helping a teammate, or finding a solution to a problem. I hope that by consistently doing these things, I will inspire others to follow in my footsteps.
The reason I am working hard this year is that I see my senior year as the link between who I am now and who I want to be in the future. When I start college, I will focus on preparing for my career. I want to graduate not just with good grades and certificates but also with the skills, experience, and connections that will help me succeed in accounting. By getting more college credit now, I will have the chance to take more opportunities later, like internships, a double major, or leadership roles in college groups. What motivates me most is the excitement for what lies ahead. I know that each goal I achieve this year will bring me closer to the future I have envisioned. Every point I add to my ACT score, every credit I earn, every race I run, and every leadership role I take on is an investment in my future. I am motivated by the idea that my efforts now will pay off for years to come. Senior year is not just the final chapter of my high school experience, it is the launchpad for everything that comes next. I want to look back knowing I gave my best in every area, left my school better than I found it, and set myself up for a lifetime of opportunity.