Gr.11 Reflection: Athletics

The only sport that I practice and am actually interested in is taekwondo, so I'm going to write my reflection on it again and probably will write on it again next year for grade 12 athletics. So, for this year, I couldn't really practice a lot due to school courses and other stuff like the SAT and ACT. I could only show up in the gym to practice for a couple of hours on either Monday or Friday. Nevertheless, I practiced really hard and eventually got my third degree in spring of 2013. Passing the test and getting third degree in tkd was meaningful for me because it meant that I had transcended to a new level. In winter of 2012, I entered a provincial tournament and got second place in my group. Honestly, I think I should have gotten first place. It turned out that the one of the judges and contestants come from the same tkd gym. I was going to enter another tournament in spring of 2013 but due to preparation for the subject tests, I could prepare as well as I could have for the tournament. All in all, athletics this year was pretty much all taekwondo for me. I got my third degree and had won second place in a tournament.

Gr.11 Reflection: Service

In summer of 2012, I had signed up as a volunteer for Harmony Arts Festival held in Ambleside Park. Initially, I had volunteered because the festival was art related and I am quite interested in visual arts. But it turned out that most of the works I had to do involved putting up tests, moving desks, and clearing garbage bins. Nevertheless, I had awesome time volunteering. I made friends with other volunteers there and enjoyed the overall atmosphere of the festival. I volunteered for an entire week for 4 hours each morning. Morning volunteers were often given the job of setting up the festival before it started. We would set up tents, pick up garbage laying around the park, move desks to each booth, and more. All of this sounds pretty boring but I had a lot of fun doing it, probably because I enjoyed the company of other volunteers there. I am definitely interested in volunteering again for 2013.

Gr.11 Reflection: Academics

This year, I took three AP courses which, in the beginning, I thought I would not be able to manage. I took AP Calc BC, AP Physics B, and AP European History. I had a lot of ups and downs with all of the courses. To begin with, for AP Calc BC, I made solid improvements throughout the year. I got near 50% on the first test I took. But by the end of the year, I was able to raise my grade up to around mid 80. The course was enjoyable overall in the fact that I am rather comfortable with math. I definitely had more trouble with AP Physics B. I learned Physics 11/12 through an online course, so I wasn't as well prepared as others in taking the AP class. I didn't quite like electrostatic and thermodynamics unit. But I really enjoyed modern science unit; it was very interesting. I found AP European History to be quite challenging as well. By taking this course, I'd realized that I am more of a quantitative guy. The course was definitely enjoyable overall; it was very interesting and the topics we would discuss in class were quite fascinating. All in all, academics this year was definitely challenging for me.

Gr.11 Reflection: Art

Throughout this year, I worked on many pieces of art. Among all of them, the one I am most proud of is the Remembrance Day poster. I worked on the poster outside of school. The procedure in making the poster is quite simple. First, I got myself an idea. Most of the times with my artworks, I first think of the message I am trying to convey in the art piece unless the piece is something like landscape painting or still life drawing. With the remembrance day poster, I tried to show that the commitment that Canadian soldiers make are real and the sacrifices that they make are also very real and therefore we should show them our gratitude. Second, I sketched and sketched and sketched until I got myself a layout that I really liked. Then, I made a model of the sketch; I got myself bunch of dried maple leaves, a pair of boots, poppy, and dog tags. Fourth, I drew on and on until the drawing was complete with depth and tone. I won  honorary mention for the poster competition and my work is being put up in a war museum.

Gr.11 Highlight: Choice #3 - Human Services

I got 100% in Human Services. Everyone gets 100% so it's not anything special but the number just made me feel better. I worked for Ms.Dow as her Human Services student.

Gr.11 Highlight: Choice #2 - First Place in B.C. for a Poster Contest

I got first place in B.C. for a Remembrance Day poster contest. I won 250$ for it. My poster is sent to Ottawa currently to compete with other provinces' winners' posters.

Gr.11 Highlight: Athletics - Tae Kwon Do 3rd Degree

I got my third degree in Tae Kwon Do in April of 2013. I was quite excited with this because it meant that I am being acknowledged. I'm going to try to get fourth degree by 2015 or 2016.

Gr.11 Highlight: Service - Youth Appreciation Award

This year, I got a youth appreciation award for volunteering in my Tae Kwon Do gym as assistant instructor for the past 3 years. I didn't realize this even existed until Mr.McLean nominated me for it.