Reflective Essay
Introduction
We all have different qualities, and those not only diversify everyone from each other, but they also connect one another. Having a different experience in life can brighten everyone’s horizon on what the ‘life’ experience can be. Attending ACLC has allowed me to interact with a very diverse group of individuals that really built the foundation of my social relations. It has not only expanded my educational knowledge, but also helped me form my relationships and allowed me to see how diverse the world is.
Personal Qualities, Work Habits And Attitudes
I would say I’m a fairly sociable individual. I like to keep to my social circles when possible, but the only way anyone has made friends is by stepping out of their boundaries, even just a little. I enjoy working with others on assignments, but certain ones are better suited for personal responses than others. I cooperate well, even with people I prefer not to work with. I would say I’m friendly to all people, except those that really push the buttons, which has never happened in my experience. I am a little rigid when it comes to adaptability but I usually make it work. A great example of sociability is my first science fair in 6th grade. This was the only year, in my experience at ACLC, that allowed us to have partners. Me and San partnered together to create the pieces of the project and present it on a board. It was the first time either of us had done something like this. I was proud of it at the time because of it’s complicated question/experiment. I would also say that I’m a selfless person. I have also been called that by a few others. Friendship is one of my most important values and I care for the people in my social circles. I like to help people that are in need, not to feel better about myself, but to show generosity in the world. While I can’t recall a specific example, I can say that my priority of friendship has let me show how generous of a person I can be.
New Basics
I don’t always have the best listening skills, but I never miss out when it is needed. I’m always able to follow along, and when I get lost, I always find my way back. My listening skills haven’t failed me when I needed them the most. For example, I was in a 5th grade play that required me to walk onto the middle of the stage and present my lines with a, at the time, crappy Russian accent. I was able to remember my lines without pause and act out the few things I needed to. It amazes me now as I have terrible anxiety about presenting in front of other people. I would say my education and self-interest (via google) has sufficiently informed me of how the world works in terms of science. It has formed my thought process to question things in such a manner. As an example, I have been able to explain why certain things happen to your body when you put certain things into it. Specifically, how different consumables affect the brain and body. Fun fact: Anaesthesia works by temporarily blocking nerve signals between the brain and body, eliminating the ability for the brain to process pain and prevents you from remembering what happened during surgery.
Thinking and Reasoning Skills
I would say I’m a very creative person. I am able to generate all kinds of ideas and images in my mind that I think are ‘way out’ compared to most people. The stories I have written are great examples of this. The story I have worked on the most, which is actually a comic, is called Trinity Angel. John Rick and I started this thing and he illustrates it. I have written most of the lore/story. The interesting thing about it is that it involves real people at ACLC. Me, and a bunch of other seniors (and teachers) are in it as characters. They all have superpowers and unknowingly walk into an ancient battle between two multiversal entities, in which one tries to take over the universe. You are actually one of the characters, and your power is to be determined. As for visualization skills, I would say that I can do adequately. For example, in 10th grade, Lynn made us read a novel and we had to draw symbols as part of the weekly assignment on the novel. I was able to come up with symbols that represented the part of the book we read that week. While it was sometimes difficult to come up with a symbol, I was able to generate one without missing it. Although, I don’t pride myself and my drawing skills whatsoever.
Interpersonal Abilities
I have participated as a team member many times throughout my life in various ways. I like to help my group, but I often feel like I am not helping enough or giving enough effort. For example, Lynn runs an annual Mice and Men trial for the 9th grade class after they read the book. When I was there, I played Carlson and, in retrospect, could’ve done a better job. I forgot some points while sitting in the witness seat. I still participated on the prosecution team and supported them. Speaking of trials, I have also negotiated in my life. While this topic is particularly various in it’s subject matter, I can cite an example. I was recently meeting up with a friend, while keeping social distance (with masks), and we began to talk about personal stuff. I had brought snacks along, such as Larabars, and we negotiated on how many each of us would get. I practically gave him ¾ of the total, but he negotiated his point on why, even if it was in a joking manner.
Technology
I have been able to use technology throughout my life as intended, and sometimes unintended. Whenever I needed technology to do something I was able to do it. For example, I was trying to get a file from my phone onto a computer and using a USB didn’t work. So I tried to plug it into a different computer because I thought it was something wrong with it. That didn’t work and then I realized something, I sent myself the file via email and logged into my email on the computer. Problem solved. That was an example of applying technology to my desired task. Computer problems are pretty common. Everyone has experienced some kind of error in their technology, regardless of how significant. I could list countless examples, but I’ll pick one. My mother uses her computer constantly to do her work and she needs it throughout the day. One day during the end of summer, she was trying to login to it to start getting ready for the next school year, as that is part of her job. It wouldn’t turn on and that made her worried. I tried to help her by plugging it in, holding down the power button, etc. Eventually, I unscrewed the back where the battery is held and took it out. I waited a few minutes and put it back in. It booted up fine and I still don’t know what the problem was.
Conclusion
ACLC has meant a lot to me. As stated at the beginning of this document, ACLC has expanded my horizons and experience in regards to diversity, social skills and relationships, and project-based learning. It has undoubtedly caused me some stress over the last 7 years, but it has had an overall positive impact on my life. My friendships were formed here and my education and knowledge was expanded. ACLC, given all its unique facets, has changed me into the person I am today, and without it, I don’t if I would have attained a nearly as much enriching experience than that of a different campus.
We all have different qualities, and those not only diversify everyone from each other, but they also connect one another. Having a different experience in life can brighten everyone’s horizon on what the ‘life’ experience can be. Attending ACLC has allowed me to interact with a very diverse group of individuals that really built the foundation of my social relations. It has not only expanded my educational knowledge, but also helped me form my relationships and allowed me to see how diverse the world is.
Personal Qualities, Work Habits And Attitudes
I would say I’m a fairly sociable individual. I like to keep to my social circles when possible, but the only way anyone has made friends is by stepping out of their boundaries, even just a little. I enjoy working with others on assignments, but certain ones are better suited for personal responses than others. I cooperate well, even with people I prefer not to work with. I would say I’m friendly to all people, except those that really push the buttons, which has never happened in my experience. I am a little rigid when it comes to adaptability but I usually make it work. A great example of sociability is my first science fair in 6th grade. This was the only year, in my experience at ACLC, that allowed us to have partners. Me and San partnered together to create the pieces of the project and present it on a board. It was the first time either of us had done something like this. I was proud of it at the time because of it’s complicated question/experiment. I would also say that I’m a selfless person. I have also been called that by a few others. Friendship is one of my most important values and I care for the people in my social circles. I like to help people that are in need, not to feel better about myself, but to show generosity in the world. While I can’t recall a specific example, I can say that my priority of friendship has let me show how generous of a person I can be.
New Basics
I don’t always have the best listening skills, but I never miss out when it is needed. I’m always able to follow along, and when I get lost, I always find my way back. My listening skills haven’t failed me when I needed them the most. For example, I was in a 5th grade play that required me to walk onto the middle of the stage and present my lines with a, at the time, crappy Russian accent. I was able to remember my lines without pause and act out the few things I needed to. It amazes me now as I have terrible anxiety about presenting in front of other people. I would say my education and self-interest (via google) has sufficiently informed me of how the world works in terms of science. It has formed my thought process to question things in such a manner. As an example, I have been able to explain why certain things happen to your body when you put certain things into it. Specifically, how different consumables affect the brain and body. Fun fact: Anaesthesia works by temporarily blocking nerve signals between the brain and body, eliminating the ability for the brain to process pain and prevents you from remembering what happened during surgery.
Thinking and Reasoning Skills
I would say I’m a very creative person. I am able to generate all kinds of ideas and images in my mind that I think are ‘way out’ compared to most people. The stories I have written are great examples of this. The story I have worked on the most, which is actually a comic, is called Trinity Angel. John Rick and I started this thing and he illustrates it. I have written most of the lore/story. The interesting thing about it is that it involves real people at ACLC. Me, and a bunch of other seniors (and teachers) are in it as characters. They all have superpowers and unknowingly walk into an ancient battle between two multiversal entities, in which one tries to take over the universe. You are actually one of the characters, and your power is to be determined. As for visualization skills, I would say that I can do adequately. For example, in 10th grade, Lynn made us read a novel and we had to draw symbols as part of the weekly assignment on the novel. I was able to come up with symbols that represented the part of the book we read that week. While it was sometimes difficult to come up with a symbol, I was able to generate one without missing it. Although, I don’t pride myself and my drawing skills whatsoever.
Interpersonal Abilities
I have participated as a team member many times throughout my life in various ways. I like to help my group, but I often feel like I am not helping enough or giving enough effort. For example, Lynn runs an annual Mice and Men trial for the 9th grade class after they read the book. When I was there, I played Carlson and, in retrospect, could’ve done a better job. I forgot some points while sitting in the witness seat. I still participated on the prosecution team and supported them. Speaking of trials, I have also negotiated in my life. While this topic is particularly various in it’s subject matter, I can cite an example. I was recently meeting up with a friend, while keeping social distance (with masks), and we began to talk about personal stuff. I had brought snacks along, such as Larabars, and we negotiated on how many each of us would get. I practically gave him ¾ of the total, but he negotiated his point on why, even if it was in a joking manner.
Technology
I have been able to use technology throughout my life as intended, and sometimes unintended. Whenever I needed technology to do something I was able to do it. For example, I was trying to get a file from my phone onto a computer and using a USB didn’t work. So I tried to plug it into a different computer because I thought it was something wrong with it. That didn’t work and then I realized something, I sent myself the file via email and logged into my email on the computer. Problem solved. That was an example of applying technology to my desired task. Computer problems are pretty common. Everyone has experienced some kind of error in their technology, regardless of how significant. I could list countless examples, but I’ll pick one. My mother uses her computer constantly to do her work and she needs it throughout the day. One day during the end of summer, she was trying to login to it to start getting ready for the next school year, as that is part of her job. It wouldn’t turn on and that made her worried. I tried to help her by plugging it in, holding down the power button, etc. Eventually, I unscrewed the back where the battery is held and took it out. I waited a few minutes and put it back in. It booted up fine and I still don’t know what the problem was.
Conclusion
ACLC has meant a lot to me. As stated at the beginning of this document, ACLC has expanded my horizons and experience in regards to diversity, social skills and relationships, and project-based learning. It has undoubtedly caused me some stress over the last 7 years, but it has had an overall positive impact on my life. My friendships were formed here and my education and knowledge was expanded. ACLC, given all its unique facets, has changed me into the person I am today, and without it, I don’t if I would have attained a nearly as much enriching experience than that of a different campus.