Reflections

Introduction

“Who Am I?”

We began our senior year at Freestyle with the first unit being ‘Reflections’. The overarching goal of this unit was to answer the question, “Who am I?” To begin, in English class, after days of brainstorming and learning more about ourselves, we were asked to answer this question in an essay format known as the Common App Essay: where you have 650 words or less to answer this question in the way that you want to answer it. Also, in Digital Media class, we created digital mandalas using Adobe Illustrator. We then printed our mandalas onto a material of our choice: I chose wood. Finally, in my Film class, we were challenged to create a 2-minute video essay on a topic of our choice, that answered the main question of “Who am I?”

Throughout this process, I have learned that I have grown an immense amount in the last year. I have become more comfortable in my own skin. I am continuing to learn and familiar myself with the process of asking for help when I need it. I am learning that I can’t let fear get in the way of the quality of my products. I have deeply valued this unit of reflection and the projects within it because before starting a new year at Freestyle, I was able to realize how much I’ve grown and how much I’ve learned over the last year at Freestyle.

As a part of the brainstorming process for our essays in English class, we created a list of “Essence Objects” or objects that contributed to our character and values. The following is my list of objects that are a part of why I am who I am.

  1. A notebook: I am constantly writing things down; creative notes, schedule, journal entries, etc.
  2. A pair of white shoes
  3. Television: I cannot go one week without watching a movie
  4. A picture of my entire family and I
  5. My Claddagh ring: I never take it off
  6. Apple headphones
  7. A disposable film camera: I take these everywhere
  8. My soccer cleats
  9. A fold-out chair with a sun cover: Reminds me of my Grandpa at all of my sports events
  10. A piano: Never learned how to read music but I teach myself songs. (Everytime I see a piano, I can’t get off of it)
  11. My first blue ribbon from a horseback riding competition
  12. Compass
  13. Tom Hanks Biography 
  14. White rope bracelet from Nantucket
  15. A sailboat: I grew up on the water (thanks to my Dad).
  16. Popcorn
  17. A telescope: One of my favorite things ever is astronomy.
  18. The Silence of the Lambs DVD
  19. Clue: My favorite board game ever.
  20. My green sweats: They were the last thing my cat slept on the night before he passed away.