Reflection of Sophomore Year
AGS has taught me so much this year, from learning things within the classroom in a fun interesting way, to traveling outside of the classroom all the way to Costa Rica. It has given me the opportunity to learn and experience things I never thought I would. I have learned so much about myself, the world and how each thing connects to one of the AGS pillars of learning. The things I learned this year through AGS not only opened my eyes, but it has increased my global intelligence and has made me an overall more globally aware person. I hope to increase my global intelligence through AGS and the rest of my life.
I have learned so much about the world, whether it be through lessons, activities, projects, traveling, reading a novel, or even watching a film. One of the projects that stood out to me this year that taught me more about the world and what I think was a crucial lesson, was the TGPLAN project. TGPLAN stands for Think Globally, Plan Locally, and Act Neighborly. We were assigned a group with a global issues we were interested in. I got Global Warming, and we were tasked to find a way to help this issue and take action. My group and I first did our research on global warming, to get a more in depth understanding of the issue. We realized that urbanization has a big effect on global warming and the environment as well, so we decided we also wanted to focus on that issue. Then our group got together and brainstormed ideas of how we were going to take action. We went through many ideas but then we came up with the idea of going to an elementary school and teaching them about global warming, urbanization and how they can reduce their personal carbon footprint. We thought this idea would be fun and effective because we think it is important that kids learn about global warming from a young age, so they can get in the habit of recycling, composting, and reducing their overall carbon emission. Next we contacted several different schools, to ask if we could teach a class of students. We finally got a reply from Zilker Elementary, and set up a date to teach a class of 5th graders. We made a lesson plan that included a powerpoint with videos, to give a background on global warming and urbanization. Then we created three different simulations for the lesson plan, the first one called the balloon game, the second called the bean simulator, and lastly the small group simulation to help wrap up the lesson. We taught the class everything in our lesson plan, and everything went super well. The class was engaged and interested in what we were teaching. After our take action portion of the project, came our individual advocacy projects. I made a documentary of our take action, footage that I took around Austin, including facts about global warming and urbanization. Next we put together a presentation about our overall TGPlan project that we would present at showcase night. I was able to make in impact on the class I taught, by teaching them about the effects of global warming, urbanization, and how they can reduce their carbon emission. It had a great impact on myself, because I was able to learn all about global warming and urbanization as well. I was also able to get the satisfaction of knowing that I made and was able to make, an impact on others. The most eye opening project that we did this year for me, was the Teach-For-A-Day project. This project included many elements and gave us an in depth background on a specific country, that helped me not only learn about the world but helped me learn more about myself. My group and I had the country of Mexico. We read The Devil’s Highway, and watched the film Under the Same Moon, read poems and short stories, all to get a background from different sources, and different ways of writing. After learning about Mexico it was time to make a lesson plan. We decided we were not only going to teach about the culture but also about immigration to the United States from Mexico. We created a lesson plan that consisted of a power point, 3 stations, and then a fun arts and crafts activity and food from mexico, that taught the cultural side. Then it was time to teach, we went to O'Henry Middle School and taught two 7th grade classes. The lesson plan was successful, with the students being engaged and interested. This project really opened my eyes on the issue of immigration, and it truly touched my heart hearing what these people have to go through. I was really invested and interested in this project, with it impacting me so much. Which is why it has been one of my favorite projects of sophomore year. Getting to learn more on immigration and learning different perspectives of the situation was so interesting, and I loved that at the end of the day I got to pass along the information to the group of kids I taught. It was an amazing feeling getting to teach a topic that isn't widely talked about in school and maybe changing the kids perspectives, and making an impact. These two projects have taught me a lot about the world. I have learned that the world has many global issues, and that it is important to take action and advocate them so others are more aware, because we can not ignore these issues. I have also learned more about the world, and more specifically Mexico, and how every country is different with conflicts and issues. It also taught me the history of Mexico and the US and how it has lead to the outcome of today, with the topic of immigration. I learned that there are many countries like Mexico, where a big portion of the population lives in poverty. But also that the stable countries like the US are not doing much to help the ones in need, and in some cases like with Mexico are making the situation worse. This year has taught me a lot about the world and has made me an overall more globally aware person. Everything that we learn in AGS connects to one or multiple of the four pillars, Investigating the world, Recognizing and weighing multiple perspectives, Communicating ideas, and Taking action. All of the pillars are a very important part to essential learning. All four have helped me learn so much, and will continue for not only the rest of high school, but for the rest of my life. The four AGS pillars of learning should be used, learned, and explored by everyone, inside and outside of the classroom. At the beginning of the year we learned about and defined “global intelligence”, “global citizen”, and “youthquake”. All three words being every important through this year and as we develop as a human being. GQ also known as global intelligence is not like and IQ, where it testes your smartness or based on what grade you get on a test. A GQ is something more, something that you can develop as you mature, something that can open your mind, something that you have to practice. Global intelligence is “all of who we are”, inside and outside, things we have experienced, how we have developed as a human being, and how we are still developing (Mark Gerzon). It involves much emotion the good, the bad, the confused. GQ “is our ability to use all our faculties in ways that cross the borders that separate humankind” according to Mark Gerzon. This year I have been able to increase my GQ by doing, practicing and learning several things. I have traveled far from – and close to – home throughout the year. I traveled abroad this year to Costa Rica, but it was no ordinary trip. We got to dig into the culture, get to know the locals, connected with people from around the world, but we also got to know our own community better from 1,700 miles away from where we call home. During the trip I got to know classmates better and develop stronger friendships with the people around me. This trip was eye opening and at times a culture shock because it’s not everyday you are in a different country, living like the locals. But even when close to home I have learned a tremendous amount. We took a day trip to San Antonio this year, where we learned about Latin American culture, by exploring their art and food. But also learning that this culture surrounds us and is not located in only one part of the world. Even when going to Zilker Elementary, and O'Henry Middle School, we learned more about our community, and got to spread the information with others that can also make a difference, not only in our community, city, or state, but in the world. This year I have also spoken more than one language. Throughout my life I have grown up speaking both english and spanish, with them both being apart of my culture and who I am. When we were in Costa Rica visiting a finca family, mine did not speak english and there was no one to translate, except me. I had never translated to a group of people before, and it was really interesting experience, because when you know a language you sometimes feel like everyone can understand it as well. It was also fascinating getting to engage with my finca family on another level because we spoke the same language. Through this year I am proud to say I have increased my GQ and even though I am still in the developing stages I am excited to learn more and to further increase my GQ throughout my lifetime. AGS has also taught me a lot about myself as individual. I have learned that I can be an effective member of a group. With the many group projects we have had this year I have learned to better communicate with group members. I have also learned to work as a team to make the best product, by managing my time, being responsible and by making sure to not let my group down. I have also bettered my public speaking with the group presentations, and teaching to others. By knowing how to make the best presentations and having confidence about what I am presenting, all making my public speaking improve. As a writer I have learned how to write an effective essay through Idea books, but also how to be creative with my writing through the historical fiction short story. This year I have come a long way with my writing by, learning literary devices and plot devices, using MLA format to cite my sources, how to organize my ideas, reasons, and evidence in a logical sequence, and how to be able to introduce and develop a clear and precise claim. This year I have also been able to grow as a thinker, by learning about many topics that affect myself, others, or both. This year has been no ordinary year for no ordinary high school student. Getting to be apart of AGS and the opportunities it has given me is amazing, and something I am truly grateful for. Even though this year has been stressful at times, it has been an overall great year, with many great and eye opening experiences, new friendships, fun and interesting projects, travel, and making me an overall better and more globally aware person. With only being in AGS for two years I am amazed with how much I have not only learned about the world but also myself. I can’t wait for the next years to come, and how much more I will learn! |