Personal Qualities, Work Habits and Attitudes
I came to ACLC in the seventh grade. At that time, I was quiet, small, and quite frankly terrified of everyone at ACLC. I stayed because coming to ACLC was my idea. When my mother and I came in for a tour, her reaction to the center was “I don’t know how anyone could learn here”. My reaction was quite different. The chaos of the center felt like somewhere I could think, somewhere my chaotic brain would feel at home. My prediction proved to be accurate. Over the past 5 years, ACLC has done so much for me as a person.
Being put in charge of my own education did wonders for my time management and my organization, things I have always struggled with. Project based learning teaches you how to speak in front of a group very quickly. As far as personal qualities go, I have discovered quite a few I didn’t know were there. I am now much more confident and social than anyone thought I’d ever be when I started here. I even run a bevy, something that makes me incredibly happy and I would never have had the guts to do a few years ago. I love giving back to the community that has given me so much. Running Anime Club is something like having lunch with your 15 younger siblings who all share the same interests. It’s a family, it’s chaotic, and it’s always an adventure. Every Friday at lunch I am so happy I found it in myself to thrive at such an amazing place.
New Basics
I love learning at ACLC. I love the idea of letting learners take charge of their education. For me, ACLC hasn’t only taught me English, math, science, and history. Sure, I have learned a lot from my academic classes. I’ve come out of ACLC a much stronger writer, speaker, historian, scientist, and artist. Along with my academic classes, though, I’ve learned skills like time management, group work strategies, and presentation skills. I have made countless prezis for countless classes, done countless projects with countless groups. The skills I have learned at ACLC have prepared me for work in the real world.
Thinking and Reasoning Skills
One thing that ACLC does well is teaching students how to learn how to learn. We even have a class entitled “Learning to Learn”. Through my experience with each facilitator’s individual teaching style, I have learned what works for me, what doesn’t work for me, and how to work with both. My decision making skills have improved greatly during my time here. I have flourished in the ACLC environment that allows and encourages me to think creatively- something I believe is essential to a good education. ACLC’s project-based learning approach has allowed me to apply my creativity to my schoolwork and my life.
Interpersonal Abilities
“Interpersonal abilities” has never been my strong suit. Being an introverted person with anxiety, socializing has always been hard. During my time at ACLC, though, I feel as if my social skills have vastly improved. By my second year here, I had mustered enough courage to join a bevy where I would have to socialize. This year is my second year running that bevy. Anime club not only gave me friends- it gave me the confidence to take up other leadership roles, such as becoming a summer camp counselor, something I did this past summer. My summer camp job wasn’t just a great leadership opportunity- it allowed me to improve my leadership skills, allowed me to teach others new skills, and provided me with a diverse work environment. “Interpersonal abilities” may not have been my strong suit when I first came to ACLC, but it’s certainly something I can do now.
Technology
Technology is awesome. Ever since I received a school email and learned to use the calendar during my first year at ACLC, I have loved using technology, especially when it comes to schoolwork. At ACLC, there is quite a lot of online work. Online textbooks, Google Drive, Jupiter Grades, etc. I use Google Drive for everything. Accessing it has never been an issue for me; I have access to my phone, my laptop, the school computers, or all three. I know how to fix the printers when they break, which is not uncommon. I know how to turn the school computers on- a surprising number of people don’t. Technology has been and is an integral part of my learning experience at ACLC.
Conclusion
Throughout my time at ACLC, I have grown so much. I can’t express how much I have changed for the better and how many good memories I have made here. From learning what a socratic seminar is to laughing when we had a fire drill because some kid didn’t unwrap their ramen before microwaving it, ACLC has given me so much. I have met some of my best friends here. I have laughed at stories of someone bringing their toaster to school. I have taught people to play scrabble and fix the printers. During the next few years of my life, I’m really going to miss this place.