Through his experience this summer with EMERGE HISD, Michael learned that essay writing is a significant skill to possess.  This point comes across immediately as he must write a college essay for almost every college he applies to.  Through the college essay, the admissions team decides what sets one high-achieving student apart from another.  When Michael writes his college essays to such schools as Yale, Stanford, Harvard, and Duke, he thinks of how he wants each reader to understand his intellectual curiosity.

One of Michael's greatest accomplishments at Westside has been his involvement in One Thing.  Like his selection for EMERGE, Michael was asked to join a team of other Westside students who are interested in how to positively impact what happens in the classroom.  Motivated by the opportunity to show appreciation for effective teaching, while giving an outlet for the student voice, Michael hopes that his work with the One Thing team will make a positive change for all Westside students and leave a legacy of best practices regarding the relationships between teachers and students. 

 On top of his experience with EMERGE this summer, Michael has also been involved in orchestra and the Energy Institute at Westside High School (also known as Westside Engineering and Geosciences Academy-WEGA).  All of his unique experiences at Westside make Stanford a real possibility for Michael Freeman.