AGS Reflection
I still remember the day I got a letter in the mail from the Academy for Global Studies informing me if I had been accepted into the program. I opened the letter holding my breath, knowing that this could dictate my whole high school experience. My stomach filled with butterflies I read the letter, there it was it said accepted. I was filled with so many emotions but most of all I was excited for all the amazing experiences I would have in the next four years through this amazing program. AGS is a program that provides students with the means to travel and serve across the country and around the world, allowing them to gain crucial experience and knowledge regarding cultures different than their own. This is a reflection over my time in AGS along with my amazing volunteering opportunities that I took part in.
Through traveling with the Academy for Global Studies program I experienced many opportunities to volunteer in diverse communities across the globe. Through this high school program, I have traveled to Heifer International in Arkansas, experiencing a simulation of living in a third world country, to Costa Rica, visiting family-owned farms and native tribes, to New Mexico, where I got to emerge myself in Native American culture, and will travel to Chiang Mai, Thailand in January of 2020, where I will get to work with various organizations to improve education for students living in unsafe conditions. Each of these experiences have opened my eyes to the needs of the world and the similarities and differences of cultures. Because of this program, I have had chances to experience and discover the unique cultures behind many fascinating people. These personal perspectives have led me mature into a more understanding, educated, and worldly person, recognizing and appreciating diversity. AGS has given me the opportunity to learn in a more hands-on way through intensive group projects. Throughout each year in High school and being a part of AGS we had an area of focus specific to each year. Starting in freshman year, we focused on building gardens for a community close to our school for families who lived in government housing and who were in need of a sustainable garden to grow plants and vegetables. Continuing on, in Sophomore year we worked on a project called Think Globally Problem Solve Locally Act Neighborly(TGPLAN). In this project my group and I picked the issue of global warming and how we could take action in the Austin Community. To raise awareness and taking action, we put together a lesson plan and taught a class of 5th graders about how they can reduce their own carbon footprint. As my journey continued into junior year, we focused on Native Americans because our trip was going to New Mexico. Specifically, a group and I dug deep into how women's roles have changed in Native American history, and how colonization has influenced this change in our IBL Project. Currently during my senior year I am working on my capstone project. For this project my group and I are focusing on the importance of a healthy learning environment. At Austin High many students feel trapped in windowless classrooms, so to help students have a healthier and enjoyable learning environment we are creating an outdoor classroom at out school, that students and teachers can utilize. By creating this outdoor learning space we hope that it will transform the learning experience that students will endure at Austin High. All of these projects have been taught me life lessons and how grateful I am to AGS for broadening my perspective. Being apart of AGS these past four years have taught me so much and provided me with experiences that I will never forget. The biggest thing that I came back with was to be thankful. Not everyone is given an opportunity to travel outside the classroom, outside of their comfort zones, and discover what learning really is. To feel what a culture feels and to contribute positively to ones life is not something that can be taught in a classroom. It feels as if just yesterday I was a freshman walking into my first day of high school, excited for all the amazing things AGS has to offer. Now here I am as a senior reflecting on all the lessons, experiences, and accomplishments I am so grateful to have. I will truly miss being apart of such a great community of people, but I am excited for the next chapter of my life. As I take all the lessons I have learned with me, I hope to continue growing and broadening my global perspective. |