By Shayan Abbasi
It has been a long four years. As a senior, I can’t help but reflect on the winding road that led me here—through the late-night study sessions, club meetings, campaign trail weekends and classroom discussions.
Looking back, there are a handful of classes that have truly shaped me and prepared me for the application process. They challenged my worldview and introduced me to subjects I had not enjoyed previously.
AP European History
AP European History was the first class that made me feel like a true academic. It was the first AP course I had ever taken, introducing me to the roots of Western political thought, as well as understanding the patterns of revolution throughout history. Writing LEQs and DBQs under time pressure taught me to think critically and argue persuasively—skills that I used in my personal statement, as well as interviews.
AP English Language and Composition
AP English Language and Composition taught me to understand the art of words, and of using rhetoric to analyze the world. When I reviewed the famous “Checkers” speech by Richard Nixon, I had no idea that I would be talking about the late President in my college essays, mentioning his grandiose library in interviews. The best thing about this course was how it encompassed a wide range of literary texts, from “The Crucible” to The Great Gatsby to the Marx Brothers. The foundational perspective the class offered me went a long way in giving a nuanced approach during my application process, giving me lessons I will use throughout college.
AP Psychology
AP Psychology showed me why people behave the way they do, how systems shape individual choices as well as how perceptions affect everything—especially politics. It taught me to connect better with people around me, whether in leadership roles, campaign conversations or even tutoring my sister. Furthermore, it introduced me to linguistics as a future course of study, as it rendered upon me the importance of determinism in language—a Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
AP Chemistry
Lastly, but arguably most important was AP Chemistry. The class that taught me the most was also the class that I struggled most in. As much as I dislike all things STEM and still continue to do so to some degree, I can hardly deny the importance of it. Balancing acids and bases and calculating thermodynamics did not come naturally to me, but that made my learning more meaningful. Throughout the long nights and diligent studying, this course taught me to be a better student, while also pushing me beyond my comfort zone.
