Natalya Herndon

Freshman Year (2021-2022):

GPA: 2.69 (Unweighted and Weighted)
Strengths: Strong performance in English, French, and Theatre Arts.
Challenges: Struggled in Algebra 1 and Living Earth, earning D-range grades.
Sophomore Year (2022-2023):

GPA: 2.40 (Unweighted and Weighted)
Strengths: Improved grades in English, Theatre Arts, and French.
Challenges: Continued struggles in Geometry and Chemistry/Earth Systems, with several D-range grades impacting GPA.
Junior Year (2023-2024):

Transitioned to California Connections Academy Northern California.
GPA improved dramatically, with a weighted GPA of 4.20 (Fall) and 4.29 (Spring).
Took advanced courses like Honors English and Algebra 2, excelling across subjects.
Explanation for Lower GPA in Freshman and Sophomore Years
During my freshman and sophomore years, several factors contributed to my lower GPA:

Transition Challenges: As a new high school student, I faced difficulties adjusting to the academic rigor and pace of subjects like Algebra and Science, which were particularly challenging for me.

External Pressures: Family dynamics and personal challenges during this period affected my ability to focus fully on academics. For example, comparison to my brother and other personal struggles created stress that impacted my studies.

Pandemic Impact: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted my learning environment. Virtual learning posed challenges in subjects requiring hands-on engagement, such as science labs and collaborative math problem-solving.

Growth and Resilience: Despite these challenges, I maintained strong performance in other subjects, particularly English, French, and Theatre Arts, demonstrating my ability to excel when I connected with the material.

I have since taken deliberate steps to address these challenges, such as transferring to an online school that better suits my learning style and dedicating myself to honors courses, as evidenced by my significant academic improvement in junior year. My recent performance reflects my true capabilities and commitment to achieving excellence.