The Graham School is a state-chartered high school names in memory of a businessman, Russell E Graham. Located in Clintonville, the school’s mission is to provide a rigorous academic education. The school’s expeditionary program connects all of its students in teaching, service and research roles with numerous area museums, businesses, and community organizations. The goal is to develop a sense of responsible citizenship and first-hand understanding of how each students can make a positive difference to our community.
Walkabout is a part of the school’s expeditionary program and is the culminating experience for second semester seniors. The objective of Walkabout is to provide the senior with an intense and significant experience that matches the Graham School’s motto, “Encounter the world, Engage the mind.” In line with the Graham School’s habits of learning, the objective of Walkabout not only creates a transition for the student toward the assumption of adult roles but also a significant understanding of self-direction, perseverance, teamwork and collaboration, service and stewardship, and especially adventure and risk.
Background
When I first came to this school I had been trying to get a job for a year and I could not go through with the process. The idea of becoming an adult and having a job frightened me. I knew that when I decided to come here, that I would have to take part in an internship. I forced myself into something that was not comfortable for me, so
The realization that I was unequivocally now a graduate student occured to me when I was sitting across from the counselor that I was interviewing for this project. The feelings I experienced beforehand were both excitement and anxiety. I felt nervous about being a guest at a high school and interviewing a seasoned counselor. However, I was thrilled about learning from a veteran in the field and having the freedom to ask the questions that I wanted to know.
I had a feeling that I would attend that school, and what were my chances sooner than later it was. The whole month of September I was considered or actually labeled as the new girl, which I highly disliked because I have a name. I had no friends whatsoever, gym class was the worst since I was always alone, and my teachers thought that I wasn’t bright as the other students were, but one day that all had changed. I can admit that out of the past seven years I have lived here in Laredo, Texas I have learned so much, skills that include communication, leadership, multitasked, and organizer. Have helped me in some part of my life to make me the young women I am today. Yes, I do admit I am not perfect I do make mistakes, but I have learned through past experiences to get up and try again as many times I fall. Many might say that my actions describe who I am, but the truth is that it is my character who describes me from in and out.
Ever since I was a preschooler and took my first trip out of my hometown, I have been hooked on the idea of journeying to new places and learning there. For me, Hotchkiss is a school that can make the idea a reality. Hotchkiss offers everything I am passionate in-- arts, academics, healthy lifestyles; what I value in my high school career-- academic challenges, fruitful opportunities, new possibilities to discover and gain from; and beyond. I also believe that I could positively impact the school with my own qualities of leadership, diligence, creativity, and more. Furthermore, the experiences at Hotchkiss that I have observed are truly unique and constructive, and it is a new, beloved dream of mine to take part in them someday.
When I entered senior year, I entered with a “get in- get out” mentality, enrolling in the minimum amount of classes with a majority of them having to do with business and I also joined FBLA. Through FBLA I was able to become “Assistant School Store Manager” and little did I know that it would actually be a great learning experience that I have been able to continue for most of this school year. In November,
I enrolled and then attended. During middle school, I became conscious about social issues in the world. This caused me to see things differently, which did end up in me losing friends. In seventh grade, my grandmother who was a mother to me, passed away from terminal cancer. It was another hard loss for my family and me. In eighth grade I applied to five schools but only got into two, ESSM and Mountainview Early College. I decided to come here since this school has more experience. It wasn’t my choice high school, but I am still glad I get to come to a magnet school.
Over this past year, a single most outstanding accomplishment that has been a seemingly constant source of pride for me above all else. The summer right before my senior year I took part in Miami Dade’s paid internship program. During that school year, my Information Technology teacher personally told me about the internship program and highly recommended that I go through with it. Eventually, time passed and there was a presentation about the internship and as soon as the presentation ended, I made sure to do all in my power to take part in it. At first, I will admit, I was not entirely sure what to expect from this experience; this was an entirely new experience for me. Despite this, one thing I did know that this internship experience would ultimately benefit me more than anything I have ever accomplished.
My feelings of doubt and uncertainty completely dissipated as I found my place within the Idaho State University community. I joined the Sport Science and Physical Education Department’s club called S.H.E.P.E.R.D. club and became the club’s secretary. I became more familiar with my professors, and discovered extraordinary friendships. It took a lot of uneasy feelings, and tough decisions, but I finally found my place at the university both academically and personally. As college students, we change every day. We are discovering and learning and realizing things about ourselves we never truly knew before. And sometimes that means that the place we thought was the right decision really isn’t. So I don’t think the question is ‘why did I choose Idaho State University?’ it is ‘why did I stay at Idaho State
I can fairly say that sophomore year of high school has changed who I am completely. In sophomore year I decided to take on miscellaneous experiences to gain valuable work ethic that will help me to persist in college. These include joining a sport, and being accepted into a three year paid internship after going through an interview.Being the daughter of parents with a restricted income has limited my plans of funding my college education. My father is retired and my mother is a housewife which minimizes our financial abilities, however, this doesn’t prevent me from my pursuit of a college education. Gathering a sufficient amount to cover for my tuition and fees has been on my mind since sophomore year of high school, so I started to save up.
I wanted to gain a strong reaction from people whether it was positive or negative, so I decided I would tell my peers that the Freshman Summer Program was just too intense, and that I most likely would not return in the fall. I chose six triple rooms on the fifth floor in De Neve Holly. I broke the social norm of common courtesy, so I walked in randomly to the first six doors that were unlocked at 11 p.m., which are considered study/quiet hours. I told all eighteen of my peers, “Hey, I think this is just way too much work, maybe UCLA was just not the right fit for me. I am probably not returning in the fall.” Their reaction of astonishment and concern stunned me, not only because it was a random thought, but I also barged into their rooms very late without ever really having talked to them. Surprisingly, not one single person turned me away. Instead, they argued that I am here for a bigger purpose and that everything would get better. Even though I did not feel this way and I valued my opportunities, their urgency in trying to persuade me to stay gave me hope that we are all here to help each other
When I was a junior in high school I wanted to go to a four year college, however I changed my mind and I decided to go to a community college because of reasons. The first was when I came from Ethiopia I felt like I got a second chance on my life. I wasn’t a bad student back there but I wasn’t a very successful student either. I was always in the middle. Because I got second chance I wanted to use it very well. I want to do big things in my life.
Being in this school has helped me explore my abilities. I learned how to crochet, and knit from my 8th grade science teacher. My journalism teacher believed in my intelligent and now I take part in student council. This school have thought a real support system because they want nothing but to see you be outstanding. How? What are you involved in at school? While attending the School for Human Rights I have been afforded the opportunity to take college level courses at Brooklyn College. Participating in College Now provided me with the chance to receive college credits. Taking the college now class has giving me a understandance of the level of intensity that I will have to perform at. This college class taught me true mean of studying whether it was by myself or with a group. What else has being in College Now taught you? I believe that I have a calling to help others that cannot help them. I am passionate about utilizing my personal time to serve the community surrounding me. In my high school and church I make desserts for bake sales to raise funds for school and church use’s. I involve myself in my local church by being a part of the Multimedia Coordinator team. Every year I interact with homeless shelters because my mom and I cook meals and bring clothes for them. I take pleasure in giving back and helping because I like to encounter different people and see the diversity. While focusing on my studies I will participate organization, and club to continue making a change. Connect community service with
This opportunity afforded me the ability to guide other students through the actual building process, as well as steer their experiences in community service and solidarity. It required me to take responsibility for each student’s experience and mold their trip, ensuring there was meaningful learning and reflection. I explained to my group how some students had become inspired temporarily; however, after a while, both interest and motivation waned. While the work we completed during our break was extremely important, it was the everyday actions once we were home that could make a lifetime of differences. Their commitment would be tested once they were back on campus and I tried to guide how they could stay true to the ideals and thoughts we developed while in Louisiana. My commitment to service may not have started with these service experiences, but they truly helped shape me as a person and provided me the opportunity to shape the experiences of
While I was in high school I wasn’t fully committed to my studies and believed I didn’t have the potential it took to get into college. I graduated high school early when I first turned 17 through a early graduated program because I followed the wrong crowd and believed I wouldn’t be accepted to a university anyways. After I graduated high school I wanted to move out on my own and get a low paying job and apartment so I could support myself because I was always worried about being a burden to my family. Struggling to make ends meet every month really gave me a good work ethic because this was the first time I experienced having to make ends-meet. I worked until the end of my 6-month lease and eventually ended up moving back in with my parents
Your website states the programs are rigorous and that you take pride in providing only the best education to your students. The college also seeks to help their students through internship opportunities, helping students with real world experience and potential employment. Without this opportunity, both can be hard to find when you are fresh out of college. This is a school that puts time and effort into the development of their students, what every college student’s needs. Now that I am older with a different perspective, I am more focused than I ever was before. Once my service contract is through, I look forward to being able to focus on my further education full time. It would be an honor to be able to attend a school whose student’s education and their future employment is a top
To start off with, as a transfer student coming from a local state college to the University of Central Florida was a huge change. It was a different change because it was the first time I was going to be away from home. I have spent the last twenty-one years under my parent’s wings and it was time to grow and flourish, but that is much easier said than done, it would also be much easier if I was not such a shy person. But my decision