What are the most important things that you learned

in AGS this year?

Fish 1

Merritt Fish
Webster
English 2
6 May 2016
Sophomore Year Reflection
Sophomore year: a year full of ups and downs. Im not going to lie; its been a
rollercoaster. Over the course of the year I have learned many things about the world and
myself . I am so proud of the person that this year has shaped me into, and I hope to
cherish the last few weeks that I have left as a sophomore.
First, I have learned so much about the world around me. Simply being in AGS
has made me culturally aware of what is going on in the world. The most memorable
experience this year was by far Costa Rica. I loved getting to emerge myself into the
culture for a whole week, and learn about the lifestyle of the Costa Ricans. More
specifically, when we visited the fincas, the owner of the Roots finca explained to us that
he would much rather be living in his home on his land rather than living in Donald
Trumps mansion. I was almost jealous of their lifestyle, and their pura vida.
In addition to new knowledge about the world, I have learned so much about
myself. Not only have I become a better person, I have become a better student. The
dreaded idea books that kept me up so late have paid off. My writing has drastically
improved, and as much as I dont want to believe, I am lucky to have written each entry.
In addition, my classes have provided me with endless knowledge that Im sure I will end
up using later in life. As for becoming a better person, I have made new friends who have
made me become the person I am today. Simply being in AGS has allowed me to get to
know people that I normally wouldnt gravitate to, and these people have ended up
becoming some of my good friends. In addition, group projects have made me a better
person because I learned to work well with others. With the three group projects this year,
I have worked with 12 other students, all with different strengths and weaknesses.
Because of this, I have also learned to be more patient. Working with others requires
patience, and I have definitely learned it.
Throughout this year as a sophomore, I have progressed as an AGS student by
following the four pillars: recognizing perspectives, taking action, communicating ideas,
and investigating the world. I have been able to gather many examples for each of these
pillars during this year. When we traveled to Costa Rica, I investigated the world, when I
read and analyzed the Ramayana, I recognized perspectives, when I talked to the
community about the TGPLAN project I communicated ideas, and finally when I created
an upcycle project, I took action. These are only a few of the many things that I have
done this year in order to get closer to graduating as an AGS student.
In conclusion, sophomore year has been a blast. This rollercoaster of a year was
not only stressful, but fun, and as the ride comes to an end, I am sad, but I look forward to
the many more adventures to come and much more knowledge to learn about myself and
the wonderful world around me.