May 2019 Reflection

Part 1: This semester, I wrote an article about the pillars of NHS and how each committee has represented and displayed them. It was fun and a little challenging writing this article. It was difficult to focus on just one good thing when they had so many lovely activities and connections. It was all interconnected and I tried to show that with my style of writing. I tried to model my writing after the overlapping events the committees arranged. Unlike my previous articles this was more focused on NHS's contribution to RIS. It was about students assisting other students and promoting community and service. This encouragement of community service and education about issues, such as the stress high school students experience during exam time and the funds orphans need to further educate themselves, is to me, illustrates the problems and solutions to many global issues at a smaller scale. They might be very little action compared to the fundraisers many organizations throw for charities but every little piece helps. Every small problem solved is a bigger problem shrunk. My article may just be raising awareness but sometimes awareness is all it takes. Just one person's help can solve a large amount of the problem.

I also began an app that would help Elementary students practice Math and English. It is not complete yet but it's a long-term project that I have started. Students will be able to practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division in different levels such as easy, medium, and hard. Each level would change the range of numbers added/multiplied/subtracted/divided. I am currently programming the English aspect which is slightly different and more difficult and individual. Students will be able to practice their alphabets and vocabulary that I have outlined along with any synonyms and antonyms of that vocabulary. It's the randomization of the vocabulary, synonyms, and antonyms that are particularly difficult to manage, organize, and integrate. I also have to organize the information into a database for the student to view. After taking AP Computer Science Principles this year, I was eager to begin a project like this. It is my hope that I will complete it in college and publish it during or after.

Part 2: I did the original surveys and set up the folders in order to make it easier to follow through with looking at results and forwarding the surveys to RIS Students. My article was also about the promotion of NHS and community service. I talked about the foundations of NHS and the committees that make us so proud. I took particular care in outlining the activities they did and their intermingling and the issues they tackled. I wanted to inspire students to do the same as NHS and focus on not only helping others but also succeeding academically. Academic success can also be useful in helping others. Tutoring during exam time, for example, is a specific example of how older, more experienced and knowledgeable students were able to teach younger students in a peaceful area with snacks before their exam. The homely atmosphere they created made a great deal of difference to those who received help. I hope that through my article I have inspired RIS students to match NHS's initiatives action for action.

January 2019 Reflection

Part 1 : This year, I was at a loss at what to do until inspiration struck me from my past. My passion for English had led me to write a book for elementary students before. I had worked with several teachers to accomplish that. However this year, I worked not only with teachers but also fellow students. I understand my previous book was a bit too advanced and thus this year, I asked several classmates to edit for me. Mika, my partner in this, was my editor and illustrator. She put together my story with her pictures and ideas. While this was more of an artistic pursuit, I originally came up with this idea because of how books inspired me to take an interest in studies. I realize that my books may not go past this school but I feel that it still helped. Even in schools like these, a lot of students associate studies with the stress of tests, projects, and essays. Books have always sparked an interest in certain topics for me and thus I felt it could do the same for others as well.

I also participated in the Stuffed Animal Drive. I don't have many toys and I didn't really play with toys as a kid but I understood their value to other children. I simply preferred books and video games to actual toys. But despite my preference, I felt these children deserved toys of their own. I knew a lot of children lacked for toys and books and more and thus I had always wanted to donate during Christmas but I never found out how or where. With this opportunity, I went out and bought a few stuffed toys to donate. And I think I might do something similar next year as well or perhaps around Easter this year.

I am also in the process of writing articles for NHS and maybe other committees and clubs/communities. I began this last year with Ms Nicole and am continuing to coordinate it with Mr Taylor Siedell.

Part 2 : As a part of the Appreciation Committee, I made a lot of the surveys, that was sent out, after getting the LINE messages. I went through the previous year's surveys and edited it for this year and made separate folders for the quarters/qualities and separate form and spreadsheet combo for each class [freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors].

I also took initiative to set up an advertisement of the many committees at our school. Like I said, I am writing articles for NHS during the second semester. I am coordinating this with Mr Siedell. I felt this was important because a lot of students don't know about them. Most only know the ones they participate in and the popular ones that are on Facebook and the RIS website. I felt by writing about them would not only encourage students participation but also inspire new clubs and committees and inform a wider population [parents and teachers and so on].