REFLECTIVE ESSAY
It’s hard to tell if I am more melancholy or relieved about graduating. On the one hand, I will finally be able throw myself into the world and learn from direct experience, and not have to worry about making my bed for my parents’ satisfaction. On the other, I am leaving the place that has essentially been my home away from home for the past seven years. It’s a common theme that seems to happen among every student here, but the time at ACLC has helped me grow so much as a person, and no length of essay could ever explain the magnitude of how much such a humble place has shaped me into the being I am today. However, here is a mere five paragraphs that touches on some basic things ACLC has done for me, although the impact of the school has gone so much deeper.
Personal Qualities, Work Habits, and Attitudes
I always had a constricted area of comfort when I was a child, and then in 6th grade I was thrown into an Algebra 1 class that was full of high-schoolers. I was young, inexperienced, and absolutely terrified. However, as time went on, I realized that I was just as intellectually capable as anyone else in the class. Most of my classmates, upon finding out that I was a mere 6th grader, were in awe that I was enrolled in a math class much higher than my grade was associated with. That boosted my self-confidence, and I went forth into my middle and high school years knowing that I could handle anything, whether it be hard classes or intimidating social situations. Just as long as I persevered and put my heart into anything, I could accomplish any goal. This mentality has carried me through the triumph of solo and collaborative projects. I value going to the extreme of creating first-rate products, and that has never let me down in my high school career. I will work practically to the ends of the earth to create the best work I can both for myself and for the other people I work with in group projects. If another person’s grade counts on the part of work I do, I would feel insanely guilty if I let them down. My standards for myself are almost too high, and although that puts a lot of stress on my shoulders, I am proud of all the work I have done, and that’s what really matters most to me in the long run.
New Basics
Throughout my time at ACLC I have been immersed in so many different fields of study it’s impossible to mention them all, though everything I have learned here has been very important. I never had a favorite or least favorite subject, so anything I could absorb from a community of wise facilitators and peers, no matter what it was, added to the expansion of my universal knowledge. I have proven to be at least proficient in every subject I have tackled, though in recent years I feel I have excelled particularly well in English. Not only is it the most expressive and personable subject at school, it lays a strong foundation for every other subject except math. Knowing how to write well helps me communicate my ideas all the more better in subjects such as science, where I can write out research papers and science experiments thoroughly and comprehensibly. English has also thought me to think beyond what is right in front of me, to analyze the world and ask questions. Though that was only taught for specific lessons in class, I will carry those skills around for the rest of my life.
Thinking and Reasoning Skills
ACLC is a school that doesn’t serve exact directions on how to succeed on a silver platter. There are so many opportunities, both forced and optional, that require you to think and solve problems on your own and with other people. I can’t even count how many times I have been in a tough position and had to think of some wacky solution just to accomplish something as small as building a gingerbread house without frosting. Things such as how to shoot a short film in one week with a zero dollar budget and compromised filming locations have been much larger problems to solve, but a resolute mind and at least ten minutes to sit down and plan things through have resulted in a product that I am more proud of than anything else I have done.
Interpersonal and Collaborative Ability
I am naturally a very shy person, and I don’t think that will ever change. But I can call upon this inner extrovert and be a fierce leader, capable of talking in front of lots of people and leading groups and activities. To name a few, I have been a leader and editor of the school newspaper, The Speakeasy, since freshman year of high school, and a member of leadership since junior year. I have passed down the wisdoms of being an editor to my successors in Speakeasy, and imparted knowledge to my small group as well as the new learners at last year’s Hannah Camp. In classes there is a constant collaboration that goes on between learners, and just being in the classroom has enhanced my communication skills. I still have doubts that I am a socially competent person, but I just summon my inner extrovert and pretend that all is normal. That side of me comes from all my leadership experiences at ACLC conglomerated into this essence of outgoingness. Without those leadership opportunities ACLC has given me, I’m not sure I would be as social as I am now.
Technology
Modern technology has been exposed to me for my whole life as it evolves throughout the ages, so I am practically dependent on it. In fact, a lot of ACLC work has to be done on the computer, so there is no other option. Everyone has to know how to use online websites that are part of class assignments, so naturally I have become very adept in that area. I have a faulty desktop computer at home, so the endless hours I have spent troubleshooting, frustrating as it is, has increased my knowledge of how computers work. That knowledge has come in handy many times, one being when I worked extensively with computers and various programs at a precollege program I attended. Despite ACLC’s reputation for having technology crashes, having tools such as computers and their advanced programs at my fingertips have been a great thing.
Personal Qualities, Work Habits, and Attitudes
I always had a constricted area of comfort when I was a child, and then in 6th grade I was thrown into an Algebra 1 class that was full of high-schoolers. I was young, inexperienced, and absolutely terrified. However, as time went on, I realized that I was just as intellectually capable as anyone else in the class. Most of my classmates, upon finding out that I was a mere 6th grader, were in awe that I was enrolled in a math class much higher than my grade was associated with. That boosted my self-confidence, and I went forth into my middle and high school years knowing that I could handle anything, whether it be hard classes or intimidating social situations. Just as long as I persevered and put my heart into anything, I could accomplish any goal. This mentality has carried me through the triumph of solo and collaborative projects. I value going to the extreme of creating first-rate products, and that has never let me down in my high school career. I will work practically to the ends of the earth to create the best work I can both for myself and for the other people I work with in group projects. If another person’s grade counts on the part of work I do, I would feel insanely guilty if I let them down. My standards for myself are almost too high, and although that puts a lot of stress on my shoulders, I am proud of all the work I have done, and that’s what really matters most to me in the long run.
New Basics
Throughout my time at ACLC I have been immersed in so many different fields of study it’s impossible to mention them all, though everything I have learned here has been very important. I never had a favorite or least favorite subject, so anything I could absorb from a community of wise facilitators and peers, no matter what it was, added to the expansion of my universal knowledge. I have proven to be at least proficient in every subject I have tackled, though in recent years I feel I have excelled particularly well in English. Not only is it the most expressive and personable subject at school, it lays a strong foundation for every other subject except math. Knowing how to write well helps me communicate my ideas all the more better in subjects such as science, where I can write out research papers and science experiments thoroughly and comprehensibly. English has also thought me to think beyond what is right in front of me, to analyze the world and ask questions. Though that was only taught for specific lessons in class, I will carry those skills around for the rest of my life.
Thinking and Reasoning Skills
ACLC is a school that doesn’t serve exact directions on how to succeed on a silver platter. There are so many opportunities, both forced and optional, that require you to think and solve problems on your own and with other people. I can’t even count how many times I have been in a tough position and had to think of some wacky solution just to accomplish something as small as building a gingerbread house without frosting. Things such as how to shoot a short film in one week with a zero dollar budget and compromised filming locations have been much larger problems to solve, but a resolute mind and at least ten minutes to sit down and plan things through have resulted in a product that I am more proud of than anything else I have done.
Interpersonal and Collaborative Ability
I am naturally a very shy person, and I don’t think that will ever change. But I can call upon this inner extrovert and be a fierce leader, capable of talking in front of lots of people and leading groups and activities. To name a few, I have been a leader and editor of the school newspaper, The Speakeasy, since freshman year of high school, and a member of leadership since junior year. I have passed down the wisdoms of being an editor to my successors in Speakeasy, and imparted knowledge to my small group as well as the new learners at last year’s Hannah Camp. In classes there is a constant collaboration that goes on between learners, and just being in the classroom has enhanced my communication skills. I still have doubts that I am a socially competent person, but I just summon my inner extrovert and pretend that all is normal. That side of me comes from all my leadership experiences at ACLC conglomerated into this essence of outgoingness. Without those leadership opportunities ACLC has given me, I’m not sure I would be as social as I am now.
Technology
Modern technology has been exposed to me for my whole life as it evolves throughout the ages, so I am practically dependent on it. In fact, a lot of ACLC work has to be done on the computer, so there is no other option. Everyone has to know how to use online websites that are part of class assignments, so naturally I have become very adept in that area. I have a faulty desktop computer at home, so the endless hours I have spent troubleshooting, frustrating as it is, has increased my knowledge of how computers work. That knowledge has come in handy many times, one being when I worked extensively with computers and various programs at a precollege program I attended. Despite ACLC’s reputation for having technology crashes, having tools such as computers and their advanced programs at my fingertips have been a great thing.