Nevada State High School (NSHS) was not just my next great choice, it was an opportunity to regain focus on my educational goals and earn dual credits. I have always been an ambitious student, and even more so after I realized how competitive the STEM field is. I wanted to challenge myself academically and did so by gradually increasing the number of honors and Advanced Placement courses I took per semester. The year before I enrolled in NSHS, I had three honors and four AP courses to juggle, and somehow I also managed to do community service and other activities. It was then when I came to the conclusion that my current course challenge would not get me ready for college. The best I got from AP was how to quickly survey a subject and how to deal with a heavy course load. While these skills are helpful for adjusting to college courses, I felt I needed more than what AP could offer for me. Of course I could have taken less honors and AP classes, but that would mean falling behind my peers. I wanted to stay challenged and dive into my studies thoroughly, so I decided NSHS would allow both of these desires to be fulfilled. They didn’t just throw me out to college either, they walked me through the first crucial steps with academic success electives. One semester and a half later, I now feel ready to take on any challenges I may encounter in my undergraduate studies. I don’t think I would have committed to finishing college had I not come to NSHS. What I love about this school is that it provides a smooth transition to college readiness and students have a chance to renew their confidence of their academic abilities. I feel more than ready to start the next school year at UNLV, and I am glad I will be going in with a clear idea of how college works.
Patricia Hernandez
NSHS Senior
