Before this course we had never been given the opportunity
to pursue what we wanted nor the liberty to learn as we pleased. This is a lot
of trust but I feel that we deserved it. I believe every student, every
individual should have the opportunity to follow their passion as they wish to
and be able to learn in their own manner, not as dictated by a system. However
this does not mean that every student will honor and respect this opportunity.
Of course there will be individuals or simply situations in which they will
confuse this opportunity as one where they can do nothing and exert no effort.
I believe everyone in this course felt like this at least once this school
year. For one it was expected, we had never had so much freedom and at first
didn’t know how to handle it, but also it was precious time wasted for while
the days passed we could have been doing amazing things. In the end however I
believe we all in one way or another extracted valuable learning from this
refreshing trust that we were given.
Three pieces of literature that have left their mark on me
would be Invisible Man, Hamlet, and Brave New World. The one that I enjoyed the
most is Brave New Word, for I see John the Savage as a character that describes
parts of my own self. He fights against conformity for he knows that this is
what strips away humanity and identity. He stands alone against a world devoid
of love and individuality, for this I admire him. Although it was a piece of
fiction it spoke volumes of truth and was immensely powerful.
I went through a phase in which I felt that the flame
smoldering within me, my passion, had sputtered out. I was disconcerted with
this. This year however, I was able to reconnect with it. My passion is and
always has been our world and its people. My passion is helping those in need
and working with every person that I cross paths with. My passion is learning
from every situation, every individual, and every experience and taking from it
new knowledge but leaving behind a piece of myself. My passion is the art of
living and the continuous human learning process (my Masterpiece).
All the Masterpiece presentations were unique however I
observed the theme of self-expression in many of them. For example Laike’s
presentation involved art which served as a medium to her own self-expression
and thoughts which she was able to share with others visually. Jisu was able to
utilize music to express her own feelings and specific experiences. Yun Soo was
able to express his own culture and heritage throughout his Masterpiece and
Terry used his love of nature to express an important facet of his being.
Lastly Lupe’s presentation was self-expression among the Senior class which
allowed us to learn things from one another on different levels.
I will not complete my hero’s journey until the day that my
heart stops beating, sounds a bit dramatic but I firmly believe that my journey
is a continuous adventure throughout my life. I will go through many different
things along my journey that will each continue to add value and knowledge into
my life and I will never stop transforming. Every situation and every person I
have the honor of meeting will contribute as mentors along my journey and
enlighten me constantly. I will undergo and return from a variety of journeys
and this is just the beginning. I will conquer many challenges, have many
mentors, and return enlightened many times and with each new experience I will
change. My final hero’s journey will be all of them compiled together and the
effect I can have on others’ lives, which I believe are all connected.
