Medicine, law, engineering are noble pursuits, and necessary to sustain life.【小题1】But, for my first-year self, I was constantly upset with getting good grades, and failed to seek the happiness found in everything else offered by college.

I grew up with a family that valued academics over all else, who gave me a little extra love when I was doing great in my classes, and took it away when I didn’t.【小题2】 I sometimes feel our parents don’t quite understand the heavy academic weight. There is a difference between trying to always better yourself for yourself, and simply putting too much on your plate until you are tired out from attempting to live up to certain expectations.

It is obviously a fact that everyone who puts themselves through college sees it as a means to an end- making a living.【小题3】 But few went on to say they were truly passionate about what they study.

【小题4】 I am definitely not saying that we should throw our books out the window and get down to creative activities all day. However, we should all try to develop a long sighted perspective on how we want to shape our lives. Do things that will shape who we turn out to be, whether we like it or not. Join clubs or work on projects that push us beyond your boundaries. Surround ourselves with people who challenge and excite us.【小题5】When looking back at the years at school, we will not remember the grades, but we will hold in our memory the connections we made with people, the things that inspired us to create, the times we felt free and part of something bigger than ourselves.

For many high school seniors, it’s all over except the part where you get to throw your caps in the air at graduation. Congratulations on achieving this major milestone in life. 【小题1】However, before you leave high school, here are a few last-minute tasks you should complete.

Say “thank you”. 【小题2】Thanks to their help and support, you had a much better time in high school. Talk to those who helped you get this far and let them know how much you appreciate their support. They might include teachers, relatives and definitely your parents.

Say “no, thank you”. If you have made a final decision on a college and accepted their financial aid offer, get in touch with the schools you will not be attending. 【小题3】Let them know it is OK to offer your spot to other students on the waitlist.

【小题4】After you have thanked your parents for their help in getting you into college, you need to talk to them about the financial aspects of attending college. You need to know what the final cost of attending your college will be. Ask them to help you set up a budget based on how much money you will need to spend.

【小题5】Many colleges want to see that you are capable of completing at least one year of college, so they want you to be enrolled in school before applying for a scholarship. Take a few minutes while you have a chance to search for more scholarships, especially in your field of study, and look at their requirements. Then list out the application deadlines and requirements.

Miles away from home, senior Nanuka Dudashvili notices the heat of the Texas as she waits for her host family. Dudashvili thinks about what they will be like and what being an exchange student will bring her later in life.

On Sept. 11, Dudashvili arrived in the U.S. as a foreign exchange student from the Republic of Georgia. She wanted to participate in the foreign exchange program because it’s her last chance to get involved this year. “I think everybody’s exchange family is different because it depends on what kind of school, what state, and what kind of host family you have,” Dudashvili said.

Dudashvili was used to how close everything was in her hometown but coming to the U.S., she realized the distance of everything around her. She came from a small country between Asia and Europe, where the schools were smaller and the classes they teach were different. When she first started school in the U.S., she noticed the size and friendly environment of the buildings. “I was amazed by the school. I was actually walking with a map all week,” Dudahuili said.

It wasn’t hard for her to get comfortable in a new place, for her classmates made her experience in the U.S. more enjoyable. Dudashvili’s host parents also helped her develop some of her favorite experiences. One of them being New Year’s since in the Republic of Georgia they don’t observe Christmas, her host parents celebrated all of the traditions for the holidays.

However, things can turn out a little bumpy sometimes. A challenge Dudashvili faced as an exchange student was the use of technology in classrooms. Sometimes she would take twice the amount of time submitting assignments on an electronic device than she did writing them by hand.

Dudashvili believes being a foreign exchange student has completely changed her life because it has helped her grow as a person. “I always wanted to change something in my life and I felt like this was the best thing to do, Dudashvili said, gave me everything and meant lot to me.”