FALL 2017
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Decided I was going to go to the USA to study in college at the beginning of my senior year in high school
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Prepared exams and applications independently on a time crunch while following a normal practice schedule​
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Got into Stanford, gold medal at the European rowing junior championships a couple of months later
Regardless of the outcome, betting on my future like I did was a tremendous growing experience and extremely rewarding. Needless to say getting into Stanford months later was incredible. In regard to Europeans, I managed to win the championship.
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Apart from extremely motivated, I felt super supported by my teachers for trusting me. It seemed like all of us were determined to get someone from my high school to Stanford.
May
If you want something you've never had you must be willing to do something you've never done
– Anonymous
During my junior year of high school, I noticed that some universities had interest in me attending their school. However, it wasn't very appealing for me at the time. It wasn't something common in my high school. As soon as I realized the unbelievable chance I had to pursue a world class education at the same time I rowed among some of the fastest collegiate rowers, I didn't think it twice. Unfortunately, I started later than the average student and had to rush through this completely new process. I had plenty of things to prepare.
June
As a result, the teaching staff gave me a vote of confidence, and I set aside high school tasks to give maximum priority to the preparation of the SAT, TOEFL and personal statements. They gave me full permission to skip lectures, homework and exams. I would focus back on high school classes once done with that. I arranged a program to study for these exams through practice tests and preparation books. In the meantime, I kept practicing regularly. Sight was set on the European rowing championships in May.
October - December
Most of my teachers in high school were not aware that I rowed, and even less that rowing was a sport (fun fact, I didn't know what it was the day before I rowed for the first time). They were also not familiar with the process, so when I asked one of my favorite teachers if she could write a recommendation letter for me, she started laughing.
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I will be forever grateful that instead of just writing it as I asked, she dug deeper into the admissions system and showed great interest in helping me out.
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