Critical Thinking:
I think critical thinking is a really important skill throughout our life. During these apprenticeship tasks, I effectively grappled with this skill. For instance, when I was having a debate with my friend about a certain topic, I needed to think ahead or prepare rebuttals to strengthen my arguments. Additionally, I also played a paper game called tic-tack-toe. When playing this game, I need to think of effective strategies to win this game. I believe that playing board games is very fun because we can develop our own skills while improving on our skills. I think I improved a lot from the start of my freshman year, because now, I am able to think independently when experiencing challenges and come up with diverse plans. Furthermore, I feel more patient and confident when I need to complete assignments that require critical thinking.
Creative learner:
I really enjoyed accomplishing creative learner tasks, because I love creating original artworks or music pieces. For example, I made an original piano song to reflect the beautiful autumn. Throughout this task, I was able to express myself with my interest in playing the piano, and to realize my surroundings through a different perspective. I also created a comic script about daily events that happened around me. I drew things such as my friends and fun events that happened in our friends’ group that enlightened my day. Furthermore, I also created a new book cover for a book called “Moby Dick”. This task encouraged me to delve into my own understanding of literature reading, and chose symbols that accurately represent the theme of this book. I believe these tasks improved my creativity by highlighting the importance of innovation and using creative ways to solve a problem. Therefore, I am very grateful to have these tasks and challenges.
Resilience:
From my perspective, resilience is the core value that can support us when we are experiencing hardship, because this skill allows us to be optimistic and prepared when facing obstacles. I did several tasks for this skill, for example, this semester, I decided to learn a new skill, which is MUN. This task showcased my resilience through my ability to step out of my comfort zone, engage with diverse perspectives, and navigate challenges in a collaborative environment. Although I faced challenges such as not fully understanding the procedures or different United Nation Councils, I eventually overcame these challenges and was able to raise POIs and speeches. Moreover, I also accomplished a gratitude activity about reflecting on positive events that happened in my life. For instance, I wrote that I am grateful for attending rehearsals with my friends and participating in the musical performance. This task allows me to realize the value of connection and shared experiences, which significantly contribute to my overall well-being and resilience. I believe those tasks improved my resilience and my ability to think optimistically when solving issues.
Effective Collaborator:
As a high school student, we are often involved in many collaboration projects. For example, we are required to work with unfamiliar people or your friends for a physics experiment, or we need to be effective collaborating with other schools or teachers. I believe these apprenticeship tasks shaped me as an individual who can effectively collaborate with all people. For instance, when I am participating in the school’s Eagle Innovator Program, I need to write business plans and schedule with my team members after communication. These works require us to be actively collaborating with each other to maximize our productivity throughout the project. Additionally, when participating in rowing competitions, I need to be proactively communicating and encouraging my teammates to do our best in the tournament. These experiences let me recognize the importance of collaboration, as it is inevitable to work with others for a project or for competitions.
Skillful communicator:
As a high school student, I have had many opportunities to develop my communication skills in both academic and extracurricular settings. For example, when I am working on group projects, I am often tasked with presenting information or leading discussions. One of the apprenticeship tasks requires me to promote a community event on a social media platform. I chose going to the cancer organization and assisting patients as the community event. I showcased my communication skill by posting advertisements on social media to incentivize people to help support organizations or others in need. Similarly, in my participation in the Challenge Success program, I often need to communicate effectively with my teammates to adjust our strategy and make real-time changes to the school system. These experiences have taught me the importance of being a skillful communicator, as clear, respectful communication helps to avoid confusion, build trust, and ensure that everyone is working toward a common goal.
