Semester Reflection: Part One

Choose at least three (3) of the following and answer them in depth. I will quote from your answers in your report card comments, so please take time to edit & revise your writing, ensuring that it is ready for public consumption. For each answer, be sure to use specific evidence & examples.

• What have you learned about the way you learn, work, and/or collaborate?             I have learned that I am capable of being the leader in the group, I have learned to use my strong voice in a positive, yet productive way. While working in Randy's class I have learned to be in a group while being the leader/project manager. In the tenth grade I would stepback and allow whoever wanted to be leader to be "in charge".
• What project was most valuable to you, and what have you gained from it?Ampersand was the most valuable project, while working on Ampersand it taught me a lot about myself, I proved many people wrong about my work ethic, I showed that I am capable of extra work, leadership roles, being organized, and staying on top of things.
• Describe one valuable mistake you made this year.                                                          One mistake I made this year was thinking I had more time then usually did. There have been a few times when i had papers to write and I held them off for a while and I would rush the night before it was due to rush and get all my thoughts together so my paper would be on time.
• What is your greatest strength as a student in a project-based learning environment?                                                                                                                         The greatest strength I have in a project-based learning environment would be my ability to work with instructions but not always having a teacher  hold my hand throughout te entire project. For example I have my Engineering project Karl went over the rules, how touse the tools, and assigned us a project. I loved engineering class because of the freedom I had as a student to create a project, my partner and i worked well with eachother, and Karl wasn't need every minute to answer questions we could figure out for ourselves.

Writing Reflection

Please answer both of the following with substantial, thorough, thoughtful, well-revised, multi-paragraph pieces of writing that feature direct evidence, specific examples, and a high degree of honest self-reflection.

My writing has improved dramatically this year, I went from poor punctuation, and through throwing all my thoughts onto paper, to developing high quality pieces of work. Using as many Writing Tips I could. If you take a look at my ( American Icon Project.) you see a paper written to the best of my ability then, after obtaining all of my knowledge from Randy's Writing Tips, I have grown as a writer, and I enjoy showing off my work. Before learning to incorporate the Writing Tips into my writing my previous writings throughout this school year have I was constantly used "ing" Verbs, and failed at Activating my verbs. Now, when I am assigned a writing task. I just need to worry about what exactly I am going to write about, and not whether it is good or not.

A goal I have set for myself would be to re-learn how to come up with a conclusion. Ending any form of writing has been a struggle of mine, and I would love to feel more comfortable with ending essay's, articles, etc. Usually when ending anything I write I reflect back on previous statements by saying "Like mentioned before, Randy is the best teacher because he has a great bread. This is logical because, facial hair is amazing." I would like to learn a more useful vocabulary, and how to form my argument, and evidence in a "and there you have it" way.

Historical Reflections

Of all of the historical figures we have studied this year, including—but definitely not limited to—Presidents, philosophers, politicians, leaders, social movement-ers, and the many everyday people that have contributed to American history & culture, who would you most like to run into in college?

When I go to college, I would want to have Franklin D. Roosevelt be a speaker in one of my courses. I would like to think he changed American for the better, and he has a lot of experience with world issues, politics and beyond. He would be there to be a mentor, and an educator for future politicians. He would speak about International Relations, and anything in between.

"This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly"

My choosing the great Franklin D. Roosevelt is because, He has taught me so much already, although I was only taught about him by my teachers. He has changed the way America is ran today, I believe of he still was president he would be able to save America, yet again. I would have him speak in my World History class, we would educate everyone about everything America before he was President, and after his passing. He would share his great wisdom, and motivate to all college students to make American even more amazing.

Literary Reflections...

If you could bring one character from any one book that we have read this year with you when you go to college, who would bring? Why?

Chris McCandless, My sweet, and understanding counselor. I would go to him for advice on anything. Chris, would be the best person to talk to about life, emotions, and everything in between. Being experienced in life with struggles, and triumphs. Chris would help me get though college emotionally stable. He would converse with me on a understanding, professional, yet personal level, sharing his feelings about his own situations and relating it to what I am going through. Being a lover of nature, he would teach me to become one with the world and to calm myself in any type of situation. Chris would teach me to live for myself and not under anyone else's standards. He would teach me how to live stress free, and happily.

“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.”

Chris McCandless knew exactly how to live to please himself, and not always others, leaving his family due to their expectations of him. He became a stronger person, he decided to travel on his own Into The Wild. Throughout hos travelling he met a lot of people whose lives he had touched, and had an impact on. He was a free soul and was very inspirational.

“I read somewhere… how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong… but to feel strong.”

Chris, one of the most inspirational characters I have truly admired. I would love to have him in my life while in college, as a friend, and a counselor.