August Update: New Beginnings

As August winds down, I can’t help but look back on everything this month brought. The start of a new school year, a trip to St. Louis that left me inspired, and the realization that this year will be my most challenging, yet rewarding, chapter of high school so far.

📍 Visiting WashU

Early this month, I had the chance to visit Washington University in St. Louis (aka WashU). The campus’ architecture has a collaborative atmosphere, and I immediately recognized the community atmosphere and academic rigor necessary to get into such a prestigious university. WashU has left me motivated to aim higher in my own studies and pursuits, and I am actively in the process of removing unnecessary distractions from my everyday studies.

📚 The Dawn of 2025–26

This school year is shaping up to be the most rigorous of my high school career. With a full AP-heavy schedule, extracurricular commitments, and my dedication to swimming, balancing school and personal life will be extraordinarily important and, of course, difficult.

This year will be far form easy, but pushing myself now will open more doors to postsecondary opportunities, such as a four-year college (I’m looking at you, UChicago and WashU!)

Looking Forward

If July was about momentum and community impact, August has been about planting the seeds for growth in a new school year. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting all my new teachers and am confident that I can build a strong working relationship and rapport with them all this year.

Here’s to a year of growth, grit, and finding joy in the journey.

—Connor Y.