Reflection Essay
I came into ACLC as a seventh grader. I came from a school where I had class after class and sat in a classroom for eight straight hours. During my first year at Wood Middle School I would have to stay up doing six classes of homework. But when I first started seventh grade year at ACLC, I was excited about the way the classes were run and how we had free periods. To me, my seventh grade year, ACLC was like a playground where I had all this free time to kick back and hang out.
ACLC was so different from other schools I have attended. It was louder, smellier, and free. Everything I did was up to me, whether I did my homework third period or went out back to play truth or dare. All of that was up to me to decide. My first year at ACLC was so fun because I used up all my free periods to just sit around and hang out. I never thought to sit and do homework. It took my grades from first and second semester for me to get my act up by eighth grade year. I had to learn how to manage my time and free periods better. There was nothing wrong with having fun, I just had to get my priorities straight, and balance the two.
My eighth grade year was all about me working on trying to get better work habits but still being able to have sometime to just chill and relax. That year I learned that if I wanted to get my work done, I needed to surround myself with people who did.
My freshman and sophomore years at ACLC were my most defining years in my entire academic career. Those two years were the years that I learned a lot about myself and how much I could handle. I think I have grown so much as a person; I have always been a social person, but only to those who I hung out with. In classes we did a lot of group work which was implemented for us to work with people we never worked with. I worked with people I never talked to, people I never even really knew. Eventually, I became to work outside of class with them. I learned how to work and learn from people even if I knew they were not people I would hang out with. I became friends with people I used to not like, and took the time to get to know them. I learned how to be a collaborative learner.
Being independent was also another key factor in my life that I have inherited over the six years that I have been at ACLC. ACLC has a system where you are given the freedom to succeed academically, but it’s up to you to take responsibility. At first I was a procrastinator and didn’t care enough to run my work in on time. On my own I discovered that procrastination isn’t the key to succeeding academically. I became independent by being proactive and taking control of my education. And I no longer procrastinate.
Coming into this school I never thought I would become a leader. It wasn’t until sophomore year that it was possible to take a leadership role in the community. I joined leadership and became a small group leader, helped plan community events, and lead CCC. Through leadership and the roles that I have I am able to actively participate in ACLC and be a positive for most of the younger learners here.
In conclusion, I will never forget the lessons that I have acquired here at ACLC. There have definitely been a lot of ups and downs, and obstacles that I had to overcome, but those are definitely memories that will be with my for a long time. All the skills I have gained, all the people I have grew friendships with, and the things I learned will always be apart of me. ACLC will always be apart of me, because it helped find out who I really am.
ACLC was so different from other schools I have attended. It was louder, smellier, and free. Everything I did was up to me, whether I did my homework third period or went out back to play truth or dare. All of that was up to me to decide. My first year at ACLC was so fun because I used up all my free periods to just sit around and hang out. I never thought to sit and do homework. It took my grades from first and second semester for me to get my act up by eighth grade year. I had to learn how to manage my time and free periods better. There was nothing wrong with having fun, I just had to get my priorities straight, and balance the two.
My eighth grade year was all about me working on trying to get better work habits but still being able to have sometime to just chill and relax. That year I learned that if I wanted to get my work done, I needed to surround myself with people who did.
My freshman and sophomore years at ACLC were my most defining years in my entire academic career. Those two years were the years that I learned a lot about myself and how much I could handle. I think I have grown so much as a person; I have always been a social person, but only to those who I hung out with. In classes we did a lot of group work which was implemented for us to work with people we never worked with. I worked with people I never talked to, people I never even really knew. Eventually, I became to work outside of class with them. I learned how to work and learn from people even if I knew they were not people I would hang out with. I became friends with people I used to not like, and took the time to get to know them. I learned how to be a collaborative learner.
Being independent was also another key factor in my life that I have inherited over the six years that I have been at ACLC. ACLC has a system where you are given the freedom to succeed academically, but it’s up to you to take responsibility. At first I was a procrastinator and didn’t care enough to run my work in on time. On my own I discovered that procrastination isn’t the key to succeeding academically. I became independent by being proactive and taking control of my education. And I no longer procrastinate.
Coming into this school I never thought I would become a leader. It wasn’t until sophomore year that it was possible to take a leadership role in the community. I joined leadership and became a small group leader, helped plan community events, and lead CCC. Through leadership and the roles that I have I am able to actively participate in ACLC and be a positive for most of the younger learners here.
In conclusion, I will never forget the lessons that I have acquired here at ACLC. There have definitely been a lot of ups and downs, and obstacles that I had to overcome, but those are definitely memories that will be with my for a long time. All the skills I have gained, all the people I have grew friendships with, and the things I learned will always be apart of me. ACLC will always be apart of me, because it helped find out who I really am.
