Reflective Essay

Personal Qualities

In personality, I consider myself to be a sociable, laid-back, and humorous person. I am spontaneous and love trying new things and experiences, as well as being passionate in my own interests. I love to have fun just for the sake of it, but at the same time am careful not to get myself or others in trouble; I always try my best to have some harmless fun with everyone.

 

I enjoy talking and getting along with other people, and am always happy to support them individually, in group settings, and in discussions when needed. I tend to relate well to those who are around my age and those who share interests with me, and enjoy working with others.

 

I am also capable of self-management; I am punctual when it comes to important things to do and deadlines, and can manage my time and resources effectively in ways I see fit. In professional environments I practice self-control well, and am able to take feedback constructively in order to find ways to improve myself.

 

New Basics / Subject skills

Arts and media are my forte. As my family has been known to be artistically inclined, I have been drawing since I was six years old and have been drawing nonstop ever since. I am confident and proficient in the subject of arts and crafts, both traditional and digital. I utilize my skills and my knowledge in artistic techniques and styles to aid in visual projects and assignments, and to express myself freely as a hobby and form of entertainment for others. 

 

Math is another subject I am skilled in. I've been known to pick up mathematic and algebraic techniques easily as long as I understand its concepts. I am very confident in these skills and am able to do basic math off of the top of my head quickly with no trouble and can solve algebraic equations quickly. I know when to apply mathematics and arithmetic when needed and know how I can do it. 

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Thinking and Reasoning Skills

One would say that I tend to be more on the visual side of things when it comes to my thinking process, and that I can see well in my mind’s eye. Given my artistic background, this is true. I was always a visual leaner, and I am able to process and present visual information, such as pictures and graphs, adequately.  When I think, I also think visually; I imagine pictures alongside words in my head without any trouble at all. This is very helpful when I want to make things that represent visual information, such as graphs or drawings, and I always find it very fun to do.

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I also have creative thinking skills, which is useful when it comes to creating ideas for projects and how to build on them. Whenever I encounter problems that would hinder the progress of any project, I always find ways to work around those problems efficiently, such as brainstorming new or alternative ways to work around the issue or topic in hand.

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Interpersonal Abilities

As a person who enjoys working with others, I also like to do group projects as long as everyone makes an effort to work together. I strive to contribute to group efforts in order to get it done as quickly and efficiently. I try my best to either lead the group, to help finish up work that has to be done, to propose ideas and suggestions, and to help the group in times of need. With my ability to 

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Along with that, I also work to negotiate between people during group projects whenever there is a disagreement. Disagreements cause disruptions to the progress of the project, and I don’t enjoy when the project is not done efficiently or is done last-minute. Therefore, I try to find solutions to the problem and to find an agreement between opposing viewpoints in order to resume work.

 

Technology

I consider myself to be a tech-savvy person when it comes to technology. In fact, I have a lot of experience with computer science compared to my immediate family. I know how to work with computers and similar devices and have shown that I can quickly and easily learn about new technology. In fact, I do have a good amount of experience when it comes to coding, and I also want to pursue computer science and engineering in college and in a future career.

 

I know when to apply technology in my daily life and I know how to utilize it in order for me to get the best out of it, as long as I know and understand it well. I've had experience with different computer operating systems, from Windows, Linux, and Mac, and from Apple to Android. When I am tasked with something that involves some technology, such as working with a computer or setting up a machine, I am always happy to set it up and work with it.

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Last Word

Now, I'm not exactly the best at writing emotional pieces or conveying my own emotions, but I know that my experiences at ACLC are something that I can hold quite close to my heart. My experiences at ACLC have been incredibly important to me in terms of who I am right now.

 

When I first entered the school in 6th grade, I was shy and afraid of the many things that would come to me. I wasn't exactly the best at elementary school, due to language barriers and my inability to communicate well. However, over the years, the welcoming community of ACLC has taught me those important qualities I lacked: confidence and communication skills. I learned all of these alongside important subjects such as math, English, science, and history. Learning all of these have proven to be important to me because they're such important skills you'll need for your future and for yourself.

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I loved doing the activities that ACLC used to do, such as the CCC activities, the Romeo and Juliet play, the annual newspaper costume making on CCC, the annual cardboard boat racing, and more. I really enjoyed how this school values community more than other schools and wants to keep it that way. Involvement in the community and bonding with others are incredibly important things that not only I got to learn, but other students got to as well.

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I've dealt with ups and lows during my time in ACLC. There were times when my grades were good and bad, and there were times when I've felt either motivated or unmotivated. There were times where I was confident in my work, and times where I was doubtful about it. But seeing the determination of others and getting support from ACLC's facilitators and the community overall, I've done my best to be a good student overall. I eventually learned that it is okay to have ups and lows, as long as you keep your head over the water.

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I've met and made friends with people in ACLC too. The relaxing and chill atmosphere that ACLC makes it easier for me to interact with others. I've made friends who have eventually faded away into the background, and I have made friends who have decided to stay and become the best friends that I have today. They taught me so many things that I lacked, such as social skills and cues, and so many other things that I didn't know about myself. They made me feel quite happy and satisfied with my place in the school.

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Overall, ACLC has meant a lot to me in terms of self-development and learning. But... what now? I'll have to say that I will definitely miss ACLC when I eventually graduate. My experiences there have impacted me in many good ways, and I feel like because of these experiences, I feel like my future will be good. I have grown from an adolescent to an adult throughout these years, and I have definitely changed as a person. I'll miss the wonderful community and the people I've met there, as well as the quirky classrooms and buildings. If I ever get the chance, I'll definitely visit at some point.

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