Reflection Essay Topic:
How have I developed as a scholar, creator, and activist, and how have I contributed to my school and/or community?
I am part of the group known as "Old LALA". We are the group of students who attended Los Angeles Leadership Academy Middle School during sixth grade and have continued attending LALA despite drastic geographic change. Before my first day of school as a sixth grader, on orientation day, I was introduced to what a scholar, creator, and activist are and how this school would help me become one or perhaps all three. The eight of us who remain from that original group have experienced multiple views of social justice and a variety of administrative expectations. Over those seven years of attending LALA, I can assert that I have had the privilege of being a leader with the qualities of scholar, creator, and activist.
As I stepped into sixth grade, I realized that I did not know anyone in this school. All of my friends from elementary school went to the local public school, John Leichty, while I came to an unknown charter school in Korea Town. I felt extremely awkward wearing straight-legged khaki pants and a black polo shirt because everyone else was wearing the exact same thing. This was completely different from my elementary school where everyone had a distinct outfit every day.
After receiving my class schedule, I ran to the restroom as I felt I was on the verge of having an anxiety attack. The thought of walking into an enormous room full of students I did not know and receive a lecture from a teacher that would probably not remember my name made me uneasy. It took me about five minutes before I was able to stop shaking and actually go to my assigned classroom. I clumsily opened the door and flung into the room. I was shocked. There were three other students in the classroom and the teacher was sitting on a desk. Little did I know that my first period consisted of only four students! The teacher led us through several ice-breakers where we all got to know each other rather quickly. My greatest surprise was discovering we were to address all of the teachers and staff at the school by their first name. I felt fairly comfortable and was excited to see how my next class would be.
Once I was given a quick tour of the school and knew the boundaries of LALA and of the church it was attached to, three teachers joined their classes to form a rather larger group. Yet, it did not exceed eighteen students. Here we were all told about the mandala awards we will be learning and practicing throughout the school year. This was the moment when I truly found out what it means to be a leader and why it is important in our community. After that class, I knew that this was no ordinary school. This is where everyone knew everyone, teachers not only knew your name but also your personality, students were always there for each other, and your advisory became your family. I did not just move schools, I embarked on a journey to find my identity where help was always available.
Seven years have passed now, and I can truly say I have changed because of LALA. Not only was I able to excel academically, I learned about social issues of which I was unaware and found ways to give back to our community. Reflecting on these past years before embarking on senior year made me realize that it was time for me to give back to this school. I was no longer going to be the short, shy girl that stuttered when greeting others; I was now going to take initiative and make my school a better place. Consequently, I took it upon myself to become ASB President and give back to this school: organizing school events, field trips, competitive activities, and being the voice of the students.
I have been able to push my limits as a scholar and constantly try my best in assignments. From making poster board presentations of a plant cell to writing six-page research papers on the theme of Brave New World, I can truly say that my capacity of a scholar has grown. I have always been in Gold Honor Roll, have received a perfect score on the CAHSEE, have taken four AP classes during my senior year, and will ultimately graduate as valedictorian. Having access to teacher office hours, various teaching styles, and a small student-teacher ratio has greatly impacted my academic result at LALA.
As a creator, I have been allowed to free my abstract mind and develop critical thinking skills. My artistic skills have greatly developed alongside my creator qualities, and I can depict my growth with two works of art that I have made. When I was in sixth grade I can remember having my first art-related project. After learning about cave paintings or parietal art of the homo sapiens, we had to create our own artwork that symbolized us. I sketched on my poster board for hours until I completely outlined my detailed drawings. This now had to be approved by the teacher so we can then obtain the watercolors she facilitated for us to paint our poster. She immediately told me I would not use the watercolors because she thought it was impossible for me to paint all of the small details. I took this as a challenge and told her if I did not meet the deadline I would submit to a punishment of her choosing. Having two weeks of detention on the line, I immediately go to work. I successfully completed my poster and received a perfect score on it for craftsmanship. My art skills have developed from using Dollar World water colors on a poster project to using Prismacolor pencils, charcoal, acrylic paint, pastels and various media to complete twenty-four art assignments for my AP Studio Art: 2-D Design Portfolio. LALA not only nurtured my left brain with knowledge but also enhanced the creativity of my right brain.
Possessing scholarly and creative capabilities, I must not only use it for my personal need but also for the benefit of others. Being aware of my capabilities, I have actively volunteered at The Salvation Army Youth & Community Center, organized two blood drives on campus in collaboration with the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, held a canned food drive prior to Thanksgiving, organized Cesar Chavez day where students and staff dedicated the day to giving back to the community, and various other activist events. The constant instruction of social justice and giving back to our community has empowered me to be actively involved in my community, and I will continue doing so throughout college and persistently in my future.
My perspective on my community and the world has greatly been impacted by the mandala awards I learned about in sixth grade. I aspire to do great things now and strongly believe I will accomplish it because I have been prepared well at LALA. After this year, all of "Old LALA" will be gone, and I know the school will continue having the social justice environment I was introduced to in sixth. Through my journey of becoming a scholar, creator, and activist, I have been able to grow as a student and as a person.
As I stepped into sixth grade, I realized that I did not know anyone in this school. All of my friends from elementary school went to the local public school, John Leichty, while I came to an unknown charter school in Korea Town. I felt extremely awkward wearing straight-legged khaki pants and a black polo shirt because everyone else was wearing the exact same thing. This was completely different from my elementary school where everyone had a distinct outfit every day.
After receiving my class schedule, I ran to the restroom as I felt I was on the verge of having an anxiety attack. The thought of walking into an enormous room full of students I did not know and receive a lecture from a teacher that would probably not remember my name made me uneasy. It took me about five minutes before I was able to stop shaking and actually go to my assigned classroom. I clumsily opened the door and flung into the room. I was shocked. There were three other students in the classroom and the teacher was sitting on a desk. Little did I know that my first period consisted of only four students! The teacher led us through several ice-breakers where we all got to know each other rather quickly. My greatest surprise was discovering we were to address all of the teachers and staff at the school by their first name. I felt fairly comfortable and was excited to see how my next class would be.
Once I was given a quick tour of the school and knew the boundaries of LALA and of the church it was attached to, three teachers joined their classes to form a rather larger group. Yet, it did not exceed eighteen students. Here we were all told about the mandala awards we will be learning and practicing throughout the school year. This was the moment when I truly found out what it means to be a leader and why it is important in our community. After that class, I knew that this was no ordinary school. This is where everyone knew everyone, teachers not only knew your name but also your personality, students were always there for each other, and your advisory became your family. I did not just move schools, I embarked on a journey to find my identity where help was always available.
Seven years have passed now, and I can truly say I have changed because of LALA. Not only was I able to excel academically, I learned about social issues of which I was unaware and found ways to give back to our community. Reflecting on these past years before embarking on senior year made me realize that it was time for me to give back to this school. I was no longer going to be the short, shy girl that stuttered when greeting others; I was now going to take initiative and make my school a better place. Consequently, I took it upon myself to become ASB President and give back to this school: organizing school events, field trips, competitive activities, and being the voice of the students.
I have been able to push my limits as a scholar and constantly try my best in assignments. From making poster board presentations of a plant cell to writing six-page research papers on the theme of Brave New World, I can truly say that my capacity of a scholar has grown. I have always been in Gold Honor Roll, have received a perfect score on the CAHSEE, have taken four AP classes during my senior year, and will ultimately graduate as valedictorian. Having access to teacher office hours, various teaching styles, and a small student-teacher ratio has greatly impacted my academic result at LALA.
As a creator, I have been allowed to free my abstract mind and develop critical thinking skills. My artistic skills have greatly developed alongside my creator qualities, and I can depict my growth with two works of art that I have made. When I was in sixth grade I can remember having my first art-related project. After learning about cave paintings or parietal art of the homo sapiens, we had to create our own artwork that symbolized us. I sketched on my poster board for hours until I completely outlined my detailed drawings. This now had to be approved by the teacher so we can then obtain the watercolors she facilitated for us to paint our poster. She immediately told me I would not use the watercolors because she thought it was impossible for me to paint all of the small details. I took this as a challenge and told her if I did not meet the deadline I would submit to a punishment of her choosing. Having two weeks of detention on the line, I immediately go to work. I successfully completed my poster and received a perfect score on it for craftsmanship. My art skills have developed from using Dollar World water colors on a poster project to using Prismacolor pencils, charcoal, acrylic paint, pastels and various media to complete twenty-four art assignments for my AP Studio Art: 2-D Design Portfolio. LALA not only nurtured my left brain with knowledge but also enhanced the creativity of my right brain.
Possessing scholarly and creative capabilities, I must not only use it for my personal need but also for the benefit of others. Being aware of my capabilities, I have actively volunteered at The Salvation Army Youth & Community Center, organized two blood drives on campus in collaboration with the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, held a canned food drive prior to Thanksgiving, organized Cesar Chavez day where students and staff dedicated the day to giving back to the community, and various other activist events. The constant instruction of social justice and giving back to our community has empowered me to be actively involved in my community, and I will continue doing so throughout college and persistently in my future.
My perspective on my community and the world has greatly been impacted by the mandala awards I learned about in sixth grade. I aspire to do great things now and strongly believe I will accomplish it because I have been prepared well at LALA. After this year, all of "Old LALA" will be gone, and I know the school will continue having the social justice environment I was introduced to in sixth. Through my journey of becoming a scholar, creator, and activist, I have been able to grow as a student and as a person.
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These images are of art work that I completed in my AP Studio Art 2-D Design class. Their purpose here is as evidence for my Reflection Essay #1.
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Reflection Essay Topic:
How would my life be different had I not attended this school nor worked with the students and staff here?
Everyone who has attended, visited, or simply looked at LALA can say that it is unlike any other school. Everything is simply different from the building, student population, and of course our social environment. We are not your average high school. The only experience I had in a public school was from Pre-K all the way up to fifth grade, and I am glad I spent the rest of my school years at LALA. I do not want to imagine how middle and high school would have been for me had I not came to this amazingly, different charter school. It was the best decision I could have ever made.
I can truly say that I enjoyed my experience with attending a public school, which is strictly for elementary school. Being in a school that had sufficient funds for unnecessary field trips, receiving pricey gifts before winter break from Santa, and being able to conduct as many in class projects as we desired was really fun as a child. The priority was always put on activities and events rather than on the education we received. The dream of any elementary school student! Then come middle school, I came to a small charter school where the student population was smaller than the size of my elementary school’s fifth graders.
None of my elementary school friends came to LALA; however, I live right across the street from my elementary school so every once in while I encounter them at the grocery store, sidewalk, church, or the local community center. Those encounters become quick recaps of what has happened in both of our lives. I have since then known of the whereabouts of only ten of the forty-eight students I had in my fifth-grade classroom. One of them will be attending UC Merced starting this fall, another is attending continuation school, another is working to support his wife and child, and another got heavily involved with drugs and gangs and now no one knows if he is alive or not. We all chose different paths, and I know LALA made sure I took the right one.
I could closely compare what could have been of me had I not came to LALA through my best friend of elementary school. We were extremely identical in elementary school and continue to be so that when we visited our elementary school teacher, he constantly mixed up our names. Our taste in music, sports, fashion, academic studies, and involvement in volunteer activities has always been the same. We have always been very similar, but our distinct school environments greatly impacted our decisions through high school. We are both graduating this year, but she will be attending community college because her grade point average was not eligible for any CSU. While I am working on my finals, class projects, and senior events, she is struggling to make up the classes she failed her junior year. To top it all off, I have no current obligations besides work and school, and she has to focus on getting to school on time and doctor check-ups for her pregnancy. We still maintain communication, but I tend to not take her time as much because I know our communication will only lessen when her child is born. I find it difficult at times to believe she is still the girl I used to match my Sketchers Light-Up shoes with. We both became fairly different now, and it is not hard to see what changed between us. Our choice of school of attendance was the turning point of our young lives, and LALA made sure I did not end up like her.
Had I not came to LALA I am certain that my perception of life would have been completely different. I have learned to love diversity and learn about other cultures that are not my own. I aspire to travel the world and emerge into various cultures and incorporate it in my life. Enhancing my knowledge of other’s beliefs, customs, and arts will allow me to prosper and live my life to the fullest. My time at LALA has allowed me to have an open mind and bond with individuals whose identities are the complete opposite of my own. I can imagine myself being like my close cousins who go to public schools. Due to the large size of the campus, as they put it, everyone separates into groups: the nerdy Asians, the hipster white kids, the techy Middle Eastern kids, the jock/ cheerleader white kids, and, of course, the Hispanics separate into the soccer players, gossip group, cholos, and paisitas. When I first heard them tell me this, I thought they were joking, but the look on their faces said it all. Their closed minds consisted of segregation and did not consider the possibilities of diversity and mixed cultures. These are my cousins? How could we be so different? What about the people who identify themselves with cultures they were not born into? The physicality of a person does not determine their personality. My point of view on diversity completely changed when I joined LALA in sixth grade. I was able to realize the reality of cultures around the world at an early age and was able to grow from it. For those like my cousins, it will be difficult for them to change at such a mature age but it is possible. If I was able to find my identity and understand the identity of others, they can do it as well.
LALA is different and that is because those who occupy it are different. The teachers all have distinct backgrounds. He may have been a missionary in Korea, had a gazillion other jobs before being a teacher, and have a mild Captain America obsession. The staff are no less different. A principal who had an acting career and gets to know you so much you can easily consider her a second mom. The students are the most interesting of all. Our ethnic backgrounds are mainly Hispanic, but we identify with cultures that our ethnic labels are not categorized in. We are breaking the status quo of what a Mexican, Salvadorian, Guatemalan, Oaxacan, Puerto Rican, and all other Latino students need to be. The LALA students and staff whom I have worked with for the past seven years have made me into who I am today, and I would never change it.
I can truly say that I enjoyed my experience with attending a public school, which is strictly for elementary school. Being in a school that had sufficient funds for unnecessary field trips, receiving pricey gifts before winter break from Santa, and being able to conduct as many in class projects as we desired was really fun as a child. The priority was always put on activities and events rather than on the education we received. The dream of any elementary school student! Then come middle school, I came to a small charter school where the student population was smaller than the size of my elementary school’s fifth graders.
None of my elementary school friends came to LALA; however, I live right across the street from my elementary school so every once in while I encounter them at the grocery store, sidewalk, church, or the local community center. Those encounters become quick recaps of what has happened in both of our lives. I have since then known of the whereabouts of only ten of the forty-eight students I had in my fifth-grade classroom. One of them will be attending UC Merced starting this fall, another is attending continuation school, another is working to support his wife and child, and another got heavily involved with drugs and gangs and now no one knows if he is alive or not. We all chose different paths, and I know LALA made sure I took the right one.
I could closely compare what could have been of me had I not came to LALA through my best friend of elementary school. We were extremely identical in elementary school and continue to be so that when we visited our elementary school teacher, he constantly mixed up our names. Our taste in music, sports, fashion, academic studies, and involvement in volunteer activities has always been the same. We have always been very similar, but our distinct school environments greatly impacted our decisions through high school. We are both graduating this year, but she will be attending community college because her grade point average was not eligible for any CSU. While I am working on my finals, class projects, and senior events, she is struggling to make up the classes she failed her junior year. To top it all off, I have no current obligations besides work and school, and she has to focus on getting to school on time and doctor check-ups for her pregnancy. We still maintain communication, but I tend to not take her time as much because I know our communication will only lessen when her child is born. I find it difficult at times to believe she is still the girl I used to match my Sketchers Light-Up shoes with. We both became fairly different now, and it is not hard to see what changed between us. Our choice of school of attendance was the turning point of our young lives, and LALA made sure I did not end up like her.
Had I not came to LALA I am certain that my perception of life would have been completely different. I have learned to love diversity and learn about other cultures that are not my own. I aspire to travel the world and emerge into various cultures and incorporate it in my life. Enhancing my knowledge of other’s beliefs, customs, and arts will allow me to prosper and live my life to the fullest. My time at LALA has allowed me to have an open mind and bond with individuals whose identities are the complete opposite of my own. I can imagine myself being like my close cousins who go to public schools. Due to the large size of the campus, as they put it, everyone separates into groups: the nerdy Asians, the hipster white kids, the techy Middle Eastern kids, the jock/ cheerleader white kids, and, of course, the Hispanics separate into the soccer players, gossip group, cholos, and paisitas. When I first heard them tell me this, I thought they were joking, but the look on their faces said it all. Their closed minds consisted of segregation and did not consider the possibilities of diversity and mixed cultures. These are my cousins? How could we be so different? What about the people who identify themselves with cultures they were not born into? The physicality of a person does not determine their personality. My point of view on diversity completely changed when I joined LALA in sixth grade. I was able to realize the reality of cultures around the world at an early age and was able to grow from it. For those like my cousins, it will be difficult for them to change at such a mature age but it is possible. If I was able to find my identity and understand the identity of others, they can do it as well.
LALA is different and that is because those who occupy it are different. The teachers all have distinct backgrounds. He may have been a missionary in Korea, had a gazillion other jobs before being a teacher, and have a mild Captain America obsession. The staff are no less different. A principal who had an acting career and gets to know you so much you can easily consider her a second mom. The students are the most interesting of all. Our ethnic backgrounds are mainly Hispanic, but we identify with cultures that our ethnic labels are not categorized in. We are breaking the status quo of what a Mexican, Salvadorian, Guatemalan, Oaxacan, Puerto Rican, and all other Latino students need to be. The LALA students and staff whom I have worked with for the past seven years have made me into who I am today, and I would never change it.
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