• A discussion, with reference to specific examples, of your current strengths within this pillar

I would say my strongest pillar this semester has been problem-solving and collaboration. For these past few months, we were introduced to several new concepts, projects and labs that have required critical thinking and problem-solving. In our labs, we get the opportunity to interact with various people from our class to work on a problem together and complete a lab. I love meeting new people and getting different perspectives on labs we work together. My strong points include good communication and being a team player which is why this pillar is one of my strengths. I try to give my best efforts in labs and support others in my group by listening and taking in their insight. A memorable lab for me was the DNA in vial lab as I got to collaborate with people and look at everyone’s unique DNA. We shared our thoughts and theories about DNA and worked well together as a group.

• A discussion, with reference to specific examples, of areas for future growth within this pillar  

The pillar I want to see future growth is the Personal Responsibility pillar. If we have free time in class I try to make the best of it most of the time. Sometimes, I get distracted and have to check my phone which wastes precious in class time to do work. I have a lot of extracurriculars after school and every minute of free class time is valuable. My phone is my main distraction and I want to improve this pillar so that I can get work done more efficiently and quicker with no distractions.

• At least one goal within this pillar 
  • Ensure your goal is specific (avoid broad/general goals), measurable, and time-sensitive (met within this semester) 

A goal I want to set for my Personal Responsibility pillar is keeping my phone in my backpack at all times. Not on my desk where I can see it or in my pocket where I can feel it buzzing. This way, I won’t have a constant reminder to check my phone for unnecessary reasons.

Another goal I want to set for the Personal Responsibility pillar is creating a timetable to manage all my work. With extracurriculars and tons of homework from different classes, it is difficult to keep up and gets overwhelming at times. To resolve this issue, having a timetable set for different tasks will help me make more efficient use of my time and not be stressed about work.

FINAL SELF ASSESMENT: Did you reach your goal? Did you improve and make progress towards your goal? How could you have done things differently? Would you have changed anything?

• I believe I have made progress towards my goal. The goal I had set for my midterm assessment was to improve in my “Personal Responsibility” pillar. I had issues related to my phone, not using class time effectively and creating a timetable. I was mindful about these pointers and made sure my phone was in my backpack during class time. This helped me as I wasn’t constantly distracted by the buzzing sounds and reduced the urge to check my phone. I was also more considerate about class time as towards the end of the semester, the work load increased significantly and using class time was valuable. I created a plan that helped me section my work off and decided how much I was going to finish in class and what I was going to do at home. Finally, I created a timetable that managed all my extracurriculars and schoolwork. I devoted a few hours to homework, some for free time and the rest was filled up by my extracurriculars. Overall, I have tried my best to improve and I want to implement these tactics for next year.