The Student News Site of Sunny Hills High School

The Accolade

The Student News Site of Sunny Hills High School

The Accolade

The Student News Site of Sunny Hills High School

The Accolade

Current Event: Wednesday, March 13
Current Event: Wednesday, March 13
Pricilla Escobedo and Chris Lee March 14, 2024
Current Event: Tuesday, March 12
Current Event: Tuesday, March 12
Pricilla Escobedo and Chris Lee March 14, 2024
Sophomore Sophia Gentile (left) and junior Maya Kew-Layton practice sprinting uphill on Lancer Way toward the parking lot by the Performing Arts Center during sixth period on Monday, March 4.
GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD PREVIEW: Lady Lancers hope to win championship for their last season in the Freeway League
Seowon Han, Spotlight Editor & Business Manager • March 13, 2024
Junior Evan Sereg (left) listens to senior Nicolas Galven play his guitar during lunch in the quad on Thursday, March 7.
Photos of the Week (3/4-3/8)
Chloe Kang, Sue Kang, Asaph Li, and Noah Lee March 13, 2024

The Accolade helped me hit a home run

The+Accolade+helped+me+hit+a+home+run

I sat in my interview chair with my hands covering my mouth to withhold a scream.

The Angels Scholar interview board just gave me the news that would change the next four years of my life.

I was officially an Angels Scholar, a student whose college education would be paid for by the Angels Baseball foundation, with a full-ride scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley.

After I said thank you and shook the hands of the seven people who interviewed me, I let out a scream in my car before I started my drive home with a smile — one that would definitely result in wrinkles as I got older.

As I was driving, I reflected on how I ended up at this point in my life. I thought about my accomplishments and how those led me to this momentous day.

I was going to be an English major on the pre-law track at my dream school with almost all of my expenses paid for.

There are many people I have to thank, and The Accolade deserves some recognition as well.

The main reason I joined was because my freshman English Honors teacher Jennifer Kim informed me that journalism would be a great boost for my legal career aspirations. I listened to her, requested Journalism 1 as one of my sophomore year courses and started my Accolade journey.

I want to thank this program for giving me a chance to grow as a writer and pave the way for the rest of high school. Before journalism, I had zero passion for neither reading and writing nor did I ever think I would willingly apply to college as an English major.

Although many factors went into determining my acceptance into the Angels Scholar program, I know that my experience on staff and the different opportunities I was presented to compete in writing competitions helped boost my application.

The past four years felt like they would never end and now that my senior year is coming to a close, I cannot help but think of the ways my life turned out differently than my freshman self predicted.

I never thought I would be a student journalist or even get into the college of my dreams. I definitely did not anticipate such a huge honor from Angels Baseball. I predicted more failures than successes.

As I put my car in park after getting home from receiving the greatest news of my life, I realized that I can leave my high school years behind me without any regrets.

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About the Contributor
Nevya Patel, News Editor
After spending her first year on The Accolade staff as an assistant business manager, Nevya Patel earned the position of news editor for the 2021-2022 school year. Other than wanting to increase the newspaper's readership, her goals as a senior are to improve not only her editing abilities but also her reporting and writing skills. Patel is also involved in the Advancement Via Individual Determination program — which she is co-president of — as well as many clubs such the Indian Student Association and the SHHS DoSomething Club, which she founded. Her hobbies include reading (mostly fantasy and romance novels) and listening to music.
Donate to The Accolade
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