Another Semester Gone, Another Self Reflection

This is crazy! I can't believe that we are now in January. Maybe it's because time flies when you're having fun! Or...maybe it's because it has rained almost everyday and there is no snow. Anyways, snow or no snow, it's January and exams are just around the corner so it's time to do that weird reflection thingy. I am very proud of the grade 12 leadership class! This has been a make or break semester, and we've definitely made it...awesome! Overall, this semester has been an extremely positive experience for me. Gr. 12 LEAD is a little family.

It's been a great time helping to organize events; orientation dance, halloween dance, orientation week, 10 Days of Festive Fun, IDC Idols, Pep rally, Adopt a Family, Pay it Forward, Coffee House, recycling, hot chocolate/cider days, and much more! I think every event was done well, but the coolest part about the people in our class is that even when something wasn't going exactly as planned we were able to pull together and improvise or make the most of the situation, and still make it amazing!

I honestly don't know if I would do anything differently. I'm happy with how the semester went and I'm so thankful that I got to be a part of this. Maybe someone else would be able to analyze my involvement this semester and let me know what they would have changed. But I'm happy with the work I've done and I wouldn't change a thing. I hate this part. I would give myself around a 90%.

Thank you so much for being our fearless leader! I'm so proud of everyone, it's been amazing watching the class grow, and become leaders. WOLF PACK FO LIFE.

#30. Grade 12 Leadership

In a word...supercalifragalisticexpealadocious. This class has been one of the best experiences in my high school career. Believe it or not, we've become sort of like a small family. Together we've worked hard to a c h i e v e many wonderful events to be put on for our school. We've raised awareness and brought c h a n g e to the students. Our classroom is unlike any other place. It's a place where we are free to e x p r e s s, because everyone is treated with respect and s u p p o r t. We learn a lot about what's happening in our school, and in our world. And at some point along the way...maybe with out even realizing it...we've become LEADERS.

I am 100% in support of the grade 12 leadership class becoming a full time part of the IDCI community. I think that the school is capable in organizing stellar events even without gr. 12 leadership, but I strongly believe that the class helps events run more seamlessly. It also helps things to run more efficiently, because instead of having to meet once a week, we are able to meet once everyday! That time is priceless!

I think that the admission process is fair to have to apply and interview. If students feel strongly enough about being in the class, then they won't mind putting in the time to apply. I wish it was possible that kids were allowed to be in the class all year long, even if they realized they wouldn't be receiving an extra credit. I think this could still work because some grade 12s would be willing to take it instead of a spare, therefore they wouldn't be sacrificing a credit. Or grade 13s. For example, I would have been willing to take the class in second semester as well!

I can't believe my IDCI leadership class journey is coming to and end, but I know it's just the beginning of new leadership experiences to be had!

#29. Charissa Newkirk Article

I loved this article! I think it's such a brave and incredibly mature thing for a 16 year old to say. Everything she says in the article is absolutely true to our current societal ways. We think extremely short-term, and define happiness in very materialistic ways. Like her friend proves, today we live in a very "get rich - quick" society. We have lost sight of what is truly important, and become desensitized to the things in life that slowly suck the life from our souls. Facebook, social media, cell phones, the internet, all make it so much EASIER for us to communicate with the world...in the least emotional way possible. We are losing our ability to show compassion with other human beings. In reality, we are just becoming even lazier.

#28. So Ken Robinson...

When I heard we would be watching the 18 minute presentation Ken put on at TED, I was worried I would be bored...falling asleep. However, I was pleasantly surprised about how funny he was! I need to start by saying that the funniest part in the whole talk was when he said the Nativity joke about "We have myrrh, gold and...Frank sent this." I think I took away a valuable lesson from the talk, mainly that everything in our modern world is changing and advancing...except for education. It's weird really that people haven't put much thought into how our education works. It works for everyone because it's easiest. Teachers don't want to change how they teach, students don't feel passionate enough about the issue to do anything about it. And those who DO want to change things, will be shot down by the teachers and adults who don't want to change. I've learned from watching Ken's lessons in class that Creativity is extremely valuable and as we grow older, we stop protecting our creativity. Instead we trade it away for a job that gets us good money, a stable job and an easy life. We begin going through the motions (beginning with attending school everyday) because we are stuck in a pattern that this is what you should do in life.

#27. Tebowmania

I have to admit I have changed my opinion on the whole "Tebowmania" that has taken the world by storm. At first I was skeptical of how everyone had suddenly began idolizing this quarterback. Sure, he seemed like a nice enough guy, he prayed a lot on the field...even if he wasn't the best football player. After hearing you (Mr. McG), read the article about how Tebow is a leader OFF the field, I began to develop a much higher respect for him. It intrigued me to learn about how he spent time with kids, and adults who suffered an illness or difficult time in their life. But what the important lesson is, is how he didn't discriminate about who he chose as a special "guest" for his games. It didn't matter to him race, religion, nothing matter except for the fact that they had endured something that Tebow respected. I also found it refreshing that he admitted that winning or losing really didn't matter to him. He didn't spend his pre-game time preparing for the big game, or spend his post-game time analyzing his every move. He spent these (what he would claim to be mere) moments taking the time to make a HUGE difference, and impact in peoples lives.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMK9FKMG3Nc

All He Does Is Win...