Reflecting on My First Year

My Grade 9 Year

This year I have learned and grown, physically and mentally. In the beginning of the year I had less care for school than I should have, but eventually I learned to really love working hard and so I tried my hardest in everything I did. This year I have been focused on learning and working more than any other school year. Some of the most important things I have learned was not just simple grade 9 material, but quotes and speeches from certain teachers. I have learned to persevere and pick delayed gratification over instant pleasure from the book,” The Odyssey ” in Mr. Cook’s English 9 course. I have learned to never give up, and the importance of caring for others from Mr. Ryzuki’s PE course and speeches, along with is analogy of School being a buffet, every piece of learning is there, it’s just your choice to take it. This year I overcame a lot of my academic bad habits like procrastinating about school work and studying, through learning discipline and focus. I realized the ways I learned were ineffective, meaning I had to find my real way of learning, which to me was listening to audible lectures and taking many practice worksheets. I’m proud of how much I have grown in a short year, but I will grow even more.


My Favorite Website

https://www.canva.com/
In this year of learning I have found the need to create many designs for posters and assignments. I found Canva, which is a very user friendly, but nice looking way of creating posters and presentations. It helped me in making my digital footprint assignment, along with my English ADL movie project.

My Favorite Video

My Favorite Image

My Favorite Quote

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breath, to think, to enjoy, to love

-Marcus aurelius

Works Cited

The American Revolution – OverSimplified (Part 1). www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzALIXcY4pg. Accessed 10 May 2023.

ADL-Financial Literacy

Succeeded Calculations
Goal = 120,000 & above
3 year GIC

80,000 x 1.042 = 83,360
83,360 x 1.042 = 86,861.12
86,861.12 x 1.042 = 90,509.29

1 Year GIC for one year of savings
10,000 x 1.035 = 10350

Adding all 3 years worth of savings together
10,350 + 10,000 + 10,000 = 30,530
30,350 + 90,509.29 =120,859.29

Final Amount
=120,859.29

Used EXCEL



Failed Calculations ( GIC 3 Year done incorrectly )
80,000 x 1,042 = 83,360
83,360 + 10,000 = 93,360
93,360 x 1.042 = 97,281.12
97,281.12 + 10,000 = 107,281.12
107,281.12 x 1.042 = 111, 786.93
111, 786.93 + 10,000 = 121,286.93

does not work because you can not add 10,000 into a GIC each year if it is a 3 year plan, as it is non renewable.

Another possible Solution
40,000 x 1.075 = 43,000
43,000 + 10,000 = 53,000
53,000 x 1.075 = 56,975
56,975 +10,000 = 66,975
66,975 x 1.075 = 71,998.125
71,998.125 + 10,000 = 81, 998.125

40,000 x 1.035 = 41,200

41,200 + 81,998.125 = 123,198.125

Justification for our solution (Strengths and Weaknesses)

StrengthsWeaknesses
Risk free (Guaranteed payback)Low risk = low reward (Less money than you can make with ex. Stocks
Higher interest rate than a regular savings accountOnly 800$ extra
Non-redeemable (cannot take money out & cannot add money)
strengths % weaknesses 2/3

This solution was one of the best possible for my risk tolerance, as when I took the survey I had a low risk percent. Although it does not have many strengths, it trades this off for a guaranteed chance to make enough money for the house. For many other people they may find confidence to invest into stocks for a high risk, high reward.

Group Reflection (Collaboration questions)

Working with my group was easy, as I already knew one of the members quite well, and I found it easy to connect with and support my other group member. I contributed ideas to the group, how stocks rates averaged, I also would do calculations alongside my group members to speed up the process. My other group members also did the same, supporting and collaborating, sharing ideas. I ended up using the final solution we all came up with, after going through 3 other ideas we settled on a 3 year GIC + a 1 year GIC in savings. I think my ability to collaborate in this project is a 4/4.

Core Competency Reflection

“If there is disagreement within the group, I find it helpful to” try every idea that the group comes up with. Whenever the group would disagree about different interest rates or different solutions I found it very important to listen closely to each idea. Along with trying out every solution or idea.

I can take on roles and responsibilities in a group; I do my share. I do this by helping out in each area I can in the work while also focusing on one thing. For this project I focused on creating calculations along side my group members to brainstorm solutions for each question. Than proceeding to share.

I can form new ideas to create new things. I can also build on the ideas of others. I formed ideas through thinking of new solutions and creative ways to get 15% of 800,000. I also built on others ideas like using a 3 year GIC, than adding on to it by using someone else’s idea but advanced such as putting some savings money into stocks for a year.

I can ask and respond to questions to be an active, supportive listener. I could ask the teacher and helpers questions if I was unsure. I listened to my group members ideas and I listened to the teachers instructions. Through listening I was able to deepen my understanding of this course, that I knew nothing of beforehand.

1984: The Movie

My Movie

Plot, Character, Setting, Mood

This projects goal is to make a movie version of the main plot points, to interest the viewer. The start of the book gave me enough info to think of what Winston looked like. Descriptions such as the varicose ulcer above his ankle, and his body type being described as frail. His age also gave insight on how much he would care about his body. Being a member of the outer party, his outfit has to be blue overalls. Figuring out what plot points to add without spoiling the story was difficult for me. Plot points that introduced or described the setting, other characters, or the rules of their world, and ones that further deepened my understanding of the story were all included. Figuring out the setting of the book can be easy, in this book the setting was directly told to the reader, London, Oceania, approximately 1984. But in other books it may be difficult, languages the characters speak, their names, and even the accents they are written with can be giveaways. Famous landmarks can also giveaway where the story takes place. Finding out if the story resides in the future, past, or present, can be difficult. The story may seem that is in the past, but our past, to figure this out you may have to check the copyright of the book. For example, you may think 1984 is a book about the past because the year we are in, the Copyright is as old as 1949, and the book was published in 1949, meaning it’s about the future. Mood is the piece of literature’s or art’s ability to give the reader feeling. Through the way characters talk, think, the color of the environment if it’s visual, the descriptions of the sounds and setting, these can all instill different feelings into the reader. Mood and atmosphere are powerful because they bring the reader into the book. I picked this song because it’s mood is calm and relaxing, as people believe the area they live in is the normal, and that it is peace, I still added rain effects to give a more gloomy mood. In conclusion, this project help give me an extended understanding of the world and characters in the book.

Core Competency Reflection

This is how I select images and words to create impact for different audiences. As shown in this project I picked images and music that made the book feel more impactful and real. Using eerie images and music to give a feeling of danger and a false sense of relaxation to the reader. For different audiences in other projects, I may make the information more direct, with more writing. If I was making a presentation for younger age groups I would use more colors and examples to further engage the audience.

When I need to boost my mood or re-focus I resort to a lot of my hobbies. Weightlifting has become one of my passions. While I do it I feel calm and peaceful, like I can focus on just the workout, and my music. Being able to just push and pull weights for an hour, especially alone helps me calm down and de-stress about everything that’s going on. Music, as mentioned earlier, helps me focus, especially while reading which I discovered I enjoyed doing.

In discussions and conversations, I help to build and extend my understanding by asking questions to further my own understanding. Asking questions that will keep the conversation going and to make the people think about what they say. If I don’t understand something during a discussion I will ask for answers, and an explanation to them. I also attempt to contribute my ideas too.

I seek, develop and weigh options as demonstrated by my time management with projects this school week. Having near 4 projects at the same time, and prioritizing my time and choices on how I will collect info and work on the projects. Prioritizing my Spanish project, as it was the most difficult, and waking up early to do the art and ADL project.