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Ashlynn Chatham

Mrs. Mua

Public Health Honors English Pd 3

4/9/19

Making everyone proud

660 days, I have spent 660 long, stressful, rewarding, and memory filled days at Merced

High School within the last 4 years. Throughout the years I have been a 4 year varsity softball

and volleyball player. But, one thing I have taken great pride in, mostly this year was being a

CSF member and graduating in a white gown in June of 2019. CSF is ​The California

Scholarship Federation and is a state-wide academic honors organization whose purpose is to

recognize students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement. CSF Membership

is based on qualifying grades that are earned each semester. In February I was told I had

completed all of my semesters and I had qualified for a white gown for graduation. I take an

immense amount of pride in it because I am the first sibling in my family to walk across the

stage in a white gown.

This has been one of the toughest accomplishments, but most rewarding. I have taken

multiple AP classes throughout my 4 years, been involved in clubs, and sports all year. In order

to qualify I have had to apply every semester, and qualify for at least 4 out of my 6 semesters,

and one senior year. I’ve had to put in extra hours in the classroom and studying to make sure I

am on track, there was no slacking.

To most people graduating in a white gown seems like nothing, but to me it means a lot. I

have 2 brothers 1 sister and 3 step sisters, and NONE of them have walked across the stage in a
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white gown. It means a lot to me because I am getting rewarded for all of my hard work by more

than my school, but my family and this State wide Federation. School has never come easy to

me, especially math and my family know this so maintaining good grades in order to receive this

makes this accomplishment that much more exciting.

Graduation is coming up which means so is walking across that stage with a white gown

on and being able to tell my siblings and family I DID THAT. It has been a long 4 years and as

graduation being one of the most exciting days of my life adding that CSF gown and certificate

makes it that more special to me.