Semester 1 Reflection

Throughout last semester I have been doing my best to reach my academic goals. For example, I've been keeping an average report card which I find good minding my capabilities. I believe I could have done better in areas such as Chemistry and Algebra, which have always been my weak points, unlike English or History, for example. I think that to improve those areas in which I struggle the best thing I could begin doing is studying more, and harder. Some of the things I'll definitely start doing is what the Washington Post suggests in a recent article. There's some pointers which could definitely help out. Another great resource I could use if I see I can't improve any further is the tutoring program that the school offers. I did try it twice last year and I saw it worked, but stopped. At this point in the semester, I'd say my results are somewhat improving compared to previous semesters.

I manage my time efficiently, which makes doing homework much simpler and less stressing. If I don't stay after school to catch up on work and finish any assignments, my time at home is balanced between homework and everything else. Having a good routine is the best thing to follow in order to efficiently complete work and study for assessments. Even between sports (soccer and volleyball) practices and any matches I watch at home of my favorite teams, I'm always able to manage my time well and complete work. At least an hour of homework is always done. Also, I've been asking teachers a lot more than usual about terms or lessons that I might have a hard time understanding in class or even when doing homework. That's definitely something that helps in cases of doubt.

Regarding my academic future, I am still oscillating between attending college in the US or in Europe (preferably Italy or Spain). In the U.S. I still don't have any specific in mind, but Ohio State is one I've been looking at. In Europe, the University of Rome is at the top of my list for its journalism program. If I chose to study in Spain, my options are between the Autonomous University of Barcelona or the Universidad Complutense of Madrid. I've had the chance to talk to alumni of the Complutense, and they've said great things about it, which only stimulates me more.

OSU's magnificent campus

Academic Leadership has been a different yet rewarding experience, in my opinion. The "Promises" unit was great because it opened our minds up to a reality which others face that we have no idea about. I wrote about it here last semester. This semester began with a more in depth view of what awaits us next year during the IB courses. We learned about the IB Learner Profile, summarized in the video: 

The IB Learner Profile takes on the following ideas to make a student a successful learner: