{"id":62,"date":"2018-10-04T15:43:15","date_gmt":"2018-10-04T15:43:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freestyleacademy.rocks\/~TylerB\/?page_id=62"},"modified":"2019-05-22T00:12:59","modified_gmt":"2019-05-22T00:12:59","slug":"reflections","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~TylerB\/reflections\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflections"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n

The Project<\/span><\/h2>\n

The reflections unit was a chance to develop a deeper connection with yourself\u00a0and step outside of our comfort zone to share something that may be personal to us.\u00a0 Throughout all of our classes, we really focused on ourselves and were able to speak what was on our mind.\u00a0 We were taught to share these feelings through metaphors, poetry, and visuals.\u00a0 As the unit is all about reflecting, it was also important to look back at how we have changed throughout all of high school and what we have developed.<\/p>\n

Reflecting<\/span><\/h2>\n

Just before senior year started, I turned 18.\u00a0 This was a big step up as I really felt like an adult, although not much actually changed.\u00a0 I felt a whole new responsibility\u00a0for what I was going to do with my life and brought a lot of thoughts to my head.\u00a0 During this unit, I was able to explore these feelings and thoughts.\u00a0 I learned that expressing some of these thoughts can really help you stay calm and concentrated.\u00a0 Throughout this unit, I was able to develop those thoughts and get them out of my head by sharing them creatively and connecting with myself and others.<\/p>\n

Personal Essay<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

Writing our personal essay was a way to focus on a certain event or subject and really develop it.\u00a0 After reading College Essay Essentials and critiquing a lot of other peoples work, we went into the process of creating our own.\u00a0 During a time where finding a good essay topic is important, especially for college, drafting and creating this essay was very helpful.<\/p>\n

“Who Am I?” Essay<\/span><\/h2>\n

After my first two years of high school, I wanted something more. \u00a0Although I worked hard, my classes didn\u2019t seem to relate to each other. I felt isolated because I struggled to see the connection between my academic subjects. \u00a0I listened to the presentation about Freestyle Academy, an arts, and technology program in my high school district, and realized I\u2019d enjoy a program where all my classes were connected. \u00a0I wanted to know what it would be like to study in an interdisciplinary environment, where the curriculum was related. However, my friends didn\u2019t understand my desire to move to Freestyle; to them, it was too much of a risk, both socially and academically, but I was willing to take that chance. What I came to realize was that I learned much more than just a new curriculum at Freestyle. \u00a0I grew into someone who embraced change and the risks that came along with that.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a Freestyle film student, I knew my work was going to be critiqued by my peers and my teachers. \u00a0The first time I showed my work, I was nervous. My first film assignment was to explain something about myself and in doing so, I was sharing intimate details about my life. \u00a0We were going to have a public viewing of our films where anyone could provide feedback on something that I put enormous effort into. I didn\u2019t know what to expect or how to prepare, so I just let it happen. \u00a0When I finally showed my work, I was surprised. My movie finished, the lights shot on, and I heard applause. A feeling of relief and happiness slowly took over my body as I realized I wasn\u2019t harmed by revealing details so personal. I was lifted by encouraging comments that supported my vision. \u00a0At the same time, the criticism wasn’t focused on me, but rather on what I could do to strengthen my work. I grasped the concept of how collaboration works, and that understanding changed my mindset completely.<\/span><\/p>\n

As my film was slowly picked apart with feedback and criticism, I found myself thoroughly engaged. \u00a0Lighting, composition, focus, perspective, the list of suggested revisions just kept on growing. I heard people speak who I had never interacted with before, yet they were discussing my film. I was appreciative of all of the support I was receiving, but I also had to learn to defend some of the ideas I strongly believed in. \u00a0The comments, while challenging, were essential for my growth as a filmmaker. When it was my turn to offer feedback on other students’ work, I contributed well-thought-out comments as I wanted to be as constructive as my peers had been.<\/span><\/p>\n

Following the feedback I received, I went back to edit my film with a different perspective. I was confident in my ability to decide what advice to take and what to ignore. Without the help of my classmates, I wouldn\u2019t have been able to create my best work. \u00a0I now understand that I value feedback, as it is a critical part of my creative process. Freestyle\u2019s collaborative environment motivated me to hear critiques from different perspectives so that I could keep an open mindset and consider new ways to approach a problem. \u00a0Learning how not only to accept criticism but also how to stand up for my ideas has helped me grow as a student and a filmmaker.<\/span><\/p>\n

I have discovered that I enjoy engaging and collaborating with my peers. \u00a0My decision to attend Freestyle was purely because I wanted the challenge of an interdisciplinary curriculum, but I learned so much more. \u00a0Having a strong social and academic bond helped me create the community I want. My experience as a Freestyle student has revealed that I want to be challenged, to work with people I respect, and to welcome the possibilities that come from having an open mind.<\/span><\/p>\n

Essay Audio<\/span><\/h2>\n

My audio is different from my essay as my audio was recorded before I had my finalized draft, but this audio is a good example of how much a draft can change based off of feedback.<\/p>\n