Celeste Vazquez

Learning has been an important part of my life, given that I have attended school for more than half of my existence. The new knowledge that I gain daily ultimately serves a purpose in my academic life and my personal life. For instance, I have learned mathematics in sections every year. The concepts build up on each other as the fundamental structures move from a broad view to a microscopic view or vice versa (depending on the topic). Every school year has introduced more math elements. However, it always contains the basic math rules (e.g. addition, subtraction) that were taught in elementary school. As I continue to develop in my math skills, I also continue to develop in my learning abilities. In many of my classes this year, I was required to reflect on the material that I learned. For example, in my Advanced Placement U.S. History class, I was given an assignment which included answering questions that were focused on the different chapters that we read in that semester. This study guide was a group project that had each member complete a piece of it (so that the final product could then be assembled and copied). Once the assignment was completed, we each had a study tool for the final and the AP exam. After reading through the answers of every question, I was then able to reflect on the material and actually obtain a more solid understanding of each topic. I had to learn many concepts independently this year, especially for my history class. Because there is such a large range of historical information, I needed to read The American Pageant on my own. I could not easily retain such a large quantity of material and so, I created flashcards of key identifications (that I could later use as another study tool). Although the flashcards were homework requirements, the content that I would write down depended solely on me. As I thought of how helpful the flashcards would be before the AP exam, I took the assignment seriously, making me analyze the text carefully and then synthesizing the information effectively enough to fit it onto the card. This process has allowed me to practice an independent skill that will ultimately help me with other college courses. I have developed as a life-long learner because I was able to discover my strengths (e.g. motivation, determination) and weaknesses (e.g. trouble with focusing, oscillation in self-confidence) and use them to my advantage. Throughout this year, not every single one of my assignments was perfect; however, I considered each as a learning experience that ultimately allowed me to gain more qualities and to make certain that neither one of my weaknesses hindered my development as a student. I plan to use these qualities throughout my college experience so that I may have a good chance at graduating with excellent grades. As long as I continue to practice and develop these skills, I am sure that my life beyond high school will be pleasant despite its challenges.