As I brainstorm ideas for this essay, I recognize that I have not had a lot of experience at ACLC. I transferred halfway through sophomore year after realizing that a traditional school was not an positive environment for me as a student. Despite my short period of time spent at Alameda Community Learning Center, I have significantly developed as a person.
During my time at ACLC, I started one club and became the co president of another. By doing this I have made friends and become more confident in public speaking. I founded Current Events Club, and this led to an internship at an international women’s media organization. The non-profit, Global Press Institute, recently hired me to continue doing research for them in the Fall. In an effort to promote equality in the ACLC community, I led a diversity day class that taught and discusses the fundamentals of Feminism. The encouraging and accepting environment at ACLC helped me recognize that I am capable of enhancing my local community. In the future, I hope to continue the lessons in social justice and responsibility I learned at ACLC by becoming a journalist. I am excited to use the social skills I learned at ACLC as I continue my career in the media. ACLC has not only taught me social skills, but also academic skills. In Molly’s English class, I learned how to communicate analysis in a Socratic seminar and incorporate quotes into my writing. Terry taught me the basics Spanish that immensely helped me during my trip to Mexico over the summer. At Alameda High School, my mathematical performance was certainly lacking. I failed a semester of Algebra 1 and was barely scraping by with a C in geometry, however, the understanding teachers at ACLC helped me gain a better understanding and grasp of math. I re-took Algebra 1 at the college over the summer, and I earned an A, the first time I got an A in any math class over my academic career. By far, my favorite classes are history and government. Learning about my world and how society has developed to the modern day is truly fascinating. Jake’s hands off teaching style led me to become a self sufficient learner of history and today’s political climate. I eagerly read BBC news and the Times. I want to understand why society exists the way it does. My appreciation for the arts has grown a considerable amount in recent years through my interest in fashion. I have never felt embarrassed or scared to wear a bold outfit to ACLC, and that acceptance of “weird” has led me to becoming a more creative and frankly, outlandish person. By doing projects with the ACLC community I have developed my decision making and problem solving skills. This year, I got into leadership and I hope to implement some of the skills I have learned through leading clubs and organizing events. We held a fundraiser for victims of the Nepal Earthquake last year in Current Events. I successfully worked with a team to raise over two hundred dollars for the many victims of the quake. During the class I taught for diversity day, I exercised my leadership skills. I am still learning how to use technology. I have a functioning understanding of google docs, but I hope to grow my knowledge as a I build my website over this year. Google docs is really helpful, and I have gained a deep understanding of its functions over the summer when I worked for GPI. I have developed as a learner and citizen of the world over the past two and a half years at ACLC. Im sure I will continue to grow as I progress in my Senior Year. |