 The classes were certainly more challenging than they were at my home school, but I think I welcomed this challenge more. When I graduated from eighth grade, I remember my science teacher actually telling me that she hoped that once I reached high school that I would finally be challenged. And I think that at CSSM, that's when it first finally came true. I was really determined to do as well as I could here, and it took an adjustment. The classes are definitely harder than they're going to be at your old high school, but you're going to realize that it's ultimately definitely for the best, and that I feel so much more prepared to go to college, so much more prepared in the field that I'm interested in. And the hard work definitely pays off. The goal of this school is to challenge you, and if they aren't challenging you, and if you aren't actually having to work for those grades, then it's not doing its job. So it's definitely a lot harder, but at the same time, I feel so much more engaged in academics, and it's almost a lot more enjoyable and exciting now that I do have to work for it, and then I have a challenge that I can tackle. Courses are challenging, but it's a good type of challenge where you push yourself and you strive and you learn. I thought this was so intimidating, and I was scared. And I remember telling somebody I couldn't come here because I wasn't smart enough, but now I'm here.