1. What was your initial reaction when you learned you were a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist?
A: I honestly forgot about it, so when I heard the news, I was pretty surprised. While I knew that I had a chance after seeing my score, seeing the paper in my hand made it real.
2. How did your family and friends respond to the news?
A:My family was also shocked about it. They don’t know too much about the National Merit process, but they knew I had been studying hard for the SAT, so they understood my reaction. My friends were very congratulatory!
3. What motivated you to work hard and aim for this recognition?
A: Knowing that my work for this test will help me in future assessments was a major motivator. I saved time studying for the SAT and some of my AP exams because of the skills I learned through studying for the PSAT. While this recognition was not the end goal, it’s good to see a concrete indicator of my progress.
4. Were there any challenges you faced while preparing for the PSAT, and how did you overcome them?
A: One of the main challenges I faced was being in the right headspace to take the test. I knew the content, but the ominous testing environment created obstructions in my focus and hampered my performance. After recognizing this problem, I started simulating the environment in my room and treated each practice test like the real one. On test day, practicing this mindset helped me stay calm.
5. How has earning this title changed how you see your future, especially regarding college and career plans?
A: I honestly still see it as the same. This designation would not be the single thing that makes or breaks my college application or career. However, it is great to see my hard work pay off, and it’s proof to myself that I will be able to succeed in the future, as long as I approach things with patience and determination.
6. What role did your school or teachers play in helping you reach this milestone?
A: The skills I learned in school, especially those from my English and math teachers throughout these past years, equipped me to succeed with the content in the test. Also, just being in the school environment, where overcoming difficult topics in class is a normal occurrence, desensitized me when it came to fixing weaknesses while studying for this test.
7. What advice would you give to younger students who hope to achieve the same honor?
A: Study not just the content, but the test itself. It’s very predictable, so identifying the trends will help you answer right, even under a time crunch. Additionally, focus a majority of your studying on addressing specific weak areas instead of repping entire sections to save time.
8. What are you most proud of about this accomplishment?
A: I am most proud of my growth through this journey. I learned so much, not just about the actual test, but how to methodically approach challenges and create various solutions. My growing resilience has benefited me in school and my extracurriculars, such as in band, when I approach difficult music.
