My Grade 9 Year
My first year in high school was fascinating of new experiences, challenges and growth. The first year of high school was very overwhelming if I was being honest. The amount of work compared to middle school definitely made me feel out of place. Especially, with all my peers catching up to the high school expectations and while I struggled to keep up. On top of that, I was nervous about making new friends and stepping out of my comfort zone to talk with people I was not familiar with. However, these challenges shaped my high school journey in ways I have never expected it to be. I made so many new friends, from people I knew, faces I have not seen since elementary and peers I met in my new classes. The constant homework, tests and quizzes pushed me to discover more about myself, all my strengths and my weaknesses, which allowed me to focus on growing in areas I struggled in. In addition, coming into high school, I was able to experience new clubs and classes that fit into my interests. Joining band in high school exposed me to the true delight of music. I was capable of learning a new instrument and to play music with a group of people who are truly passionate about music. The new pieces, the ability to come together to do something we are all so fond of, to play it to our peers, friends and our family. Taking this course in high school has showed me why I love being in band and love music. Another surprising highlight was joining a Leadership was class, I was skeptical of first, as I did not know exactly what it was going to be like. Surprisingly, I did not regret joining this class. The purpose of joining leadership is to help out the school community and where we live. Give back to it and appreciate it. This exposed me to the idea of being grateful and giving back to where I live, where I go to school. Leadership was a class where I could do my part in the community. This first year, I decided to focus on the civil engagement area, which highlighted volunteerism. This was probably the best decision I made throughout this year. I was able to volunteer through the community, from reading to children, cooking with children to help promote a non-profit business. Looking back, my first year of high school was hectic and demanding, but I would have not had it any other way. I overcame these challenges, found new interests and passions, and most importantly, I grew as a person. Those struggles taught me valuable lessons and I am thankful for the chance I was given to experience it all.
A Useful Educational Website
The TED website is an incredible platform that shows many educational videos, making it a valuable resource for people, especially students. Ted covers many different ranges of topics, from science to art, and personal development. I chose this website to highlight the importance of this website, because, as a student, I find it to be a very accessible resource open to anyone. Whether I am looking to explore new ideas or deepen my understand of a specific subject, being able to watch TED talks make it more engaging and helps me absorb complex ideas. I tend to watch a TED talk during a study break or in my own times, each video is designed to create curiosity and inspire many individuals. What I appreciate the most about TED is its emphasis on the power of storytelling. Speakers share their insights through different narratives that make learning feel more personal and impactful. The ability to connect education with inspiration and being able to be motivated to think differently, all through a video amazes me. I could see myself using the TED platform consistently throughout my education. In short, TED is more than just a website, but is a gateway to unlimited knowledge and can significantly help students expand their knowledge through a website.
A Useful Educational Video
I chose this educational video, out of all the educational videos I could have chosen, I selected this one because it speaks a struggle I have seen so many people face, the lack of perseverance. I have seen many peers, individuals and friends get stuck after a setback, unable to find the strength to stand up and keep going. The inability to stay strong, especially after falling down, can be hard. I have experienced this first hand, especially in the first year of high school. There were countless times when I felt as if I could not get back up after facing countless challenges. I was unmotivated, fearful of trying again and unsure of how I could move forward. This video really resonated with me, because this has happened to me countless times, but this video emphasizes that it is not about a single setback, or even multiple, but is how you stay loyal and strong for your long-term goals and passions. It is easy to let one fail make you feel defeated and make you feel as if you should give up. However, this video reminds me that these setbacks should not stop me from pursuing what I love. Instead of viewing them as obstacles in my path, but I am learning to see them as opportunities to grow and strengthen myself. I realizes that even when I felt discouraged my passion and long-term goals pushed me to keep going. I remind myself that it is okay to fail but the most important thing is how you stand back up. In conclusion, this video has had a very powerful reminder that setbacks are a opportunity to build grit and resilience, to push forward, It highlights the importance of these qualities, that are crucial for success and personal growth.
A Useful Educational Image
I chose this image because it beautifully represents my experience during my first year of high school. Entering a new environment with twice as many people as I was used to made me feel overwhelmed. I suddenly found myself surround with unfamiliar faces, finding new friends and trying to figure out where I fit in. The pressure to fit in and the constant worry about how others may perceive or view me created a negative mindset that I carried with me every day. This fear of judgement and the need to prove myself to others occupied my thoughts. As time passed, I realized how damaging this way of thinking was. It kept me in a cycle of self-doubt and a fear of judgement, preventing me from fully enjoying my experiences in high school. This negativity and pressure started to affect my confidence. However, after further reflections, I started to take small steps into changing my mindset. I recognized that I did not need to rely on the opinions of others to define who I was. Instead, I started to focus on myself and improving myself, not proving others, for my personal growth and development. The change of perspective became a turning point for me in my high school journey. I began to appreciate each step I took, no matter how small, it started to become something to celebrate. I realized that my progress was not always prefect and sometimes I would catch myself falling or stumbling along the way, but these were just important as moving forward. It was in those moment of failure that I was able to learn more about myself and what I was capable of doing. I understood that growth is not about achieving perfection, but about making progress and learning from every experience. This mindset has helped me keep a reminder of how far I have come and how much more I am capable of achieving when I believe in myself.
An Inspirational Quote
“Life has no limitations, expect for the ones you make.” – Les brown
I chose this quote because it carries such a powerful message that deeply resonates with me. It perfectly explains how life is only limited by boundaries we place on ourselves. Life is full of endless possibilities and we have the potential to experience and achieve anything we set our mind to. Often, it is not life that limits us, but is ourselves that restrict. afraid of doubt or the opinions of others. This quote resonates with me because I have often found myself limiting my own potential, thinking I could not achieve something because I was not capable enough. But I have realizes that with a strong passion and determination to put in the work, I can overcome these challenges. This realization has empowered me to be more confident in taking risks, trying new things and stepping outside of my comfort zone. I have started to see obstacles as a opportunity for growth. I am not afraid of failing because I know that failure is apart of my journey and I have the power to shape the life I want to live in, and the power comes from within me. With each step I take towards breaking the limitation I put on myself, I am becoming more aware of my potential and learning to embrace each step I take. This quote inspired me to keep pushing forward with hope, passion and an open heart.
Work Cited
– YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H14bBuluwB8. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.
A Quote by Les Brown. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/65680-life-has-no-limitations-except-the-ones-you-make. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.
“Nikki Miles on Instagram: ‘84/100 #100daysofillustrationforgood Be Proud of How Far You Have Come 🌼 Even If It’s Only a Little or a Lot✨’ | Inspirational Quotes, Words, Happy Words.” Pinterest, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/nikki-miles-on-instagram-84100-100daysofillustrationforgood-be-proud-of-how-far-you-have-come-even-if-its-only-a-little-or-a-lot–2251868557439261/. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.
“Lessons Worth Sharing.” Settings, https://ed.ted.com/?utm_term=free%20teaching%20resources&utm_campaign=TED-Ed+site&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=7777130675&hsa_cam=18739292599&hsa_grp=151439764548&hsa_ad=631444589734&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=aud-1339864686469:kwd-26721713&hsa_kw=free%20teaching%20resources&hsa_mt=b&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAiOa9BhBqEiwABCdG874sug5KO2QdBY-p58zMd1TeMl3A1_zH9x83Tlag5R62e3KLtyykbBoCpIkQAvD_BwE. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.