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Kira Kasarda
Mr. Stro
ERWC Period 1
2 February 2024
Reflection Essay Option #1
Over the years, I have worked on and improved my writing skills, so it only makes sense
that the essay I’m most proud of was written as of recently. Last semester, I took economics with
Mr. Fish. He gave us an assignment to write him an essay explaining what we would do if we
were left on our own after highschool. I really enjoyed the idea because the essay not only
compromised reasoning and the importance of knowing how much to spend and save, but it
incorporated a creative writing aspect that I love. In that essay, I was able to talk about things
with an understanding I hadn’t been able to speak about before, and I was forced to do a few
mathematical calculations which had to increase my IQ a little bit. Overall, the improvement of
my writing format and the usage of my expanded vocabulary also helped me to learn and
understand new concepts that I would need to use if I was truly on my own.
Looking at my high school transcript for over the past four years, I can say that my
progression in English has pretty much stayed flat. I’m not saying I didn’t learn things; because I
did- but I received a letter grade average between an A- and a B+. The thing about my grades is
that they would flip flop every year so I found myself struggling at different concepts from
different units. Unfortunately, Math and English aren’t my strong suit anymore which is sad
because I used to love to write and be in the accelerated math class. My listening and speaking
skills have improved though; especially my speaking skills. When I first entered high school, I
would skip school on the days I knew we had some sort of discussion or seminar. Now, I gladly
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show up to class without the anxiety of possibly saying something correct because who cares? If
there’s one thing I took from an English class it’s that making mistakes and welcoming those
mistakes are the best way to improve yourself and the subject matter.
If there’s also another thing I took from an English class, it’s what I need improvement
on. How can I sound professional if I’m lacking in important categories? Well for one, I know
that I said my speaking skills have improved, which they have, but literature circles and socratic
seminars are a little different than presenting. When we have discussions with smaller groups, I
can complete conversations with ease, using eye contact, my listening skills, and retaliating with
questions. But when I am presenting in front of the class and everyone else is silent, I find it
harder to use those skills and tend to stutter and no longer make eye contact with the audience.
Hopefully in college I’ll be forced to take some sort of communication/public speaking class to
help me continue my growth in those categories.
Attending Great Oak High School has prepared me academically and mentally. Great Oak
is known for its higher test scores and higher intellectual students. Not that either of those
statistics have anything to do with my experience but the school itself is fit to teach at a higher
educational level. I’ve taken Pre-AP and AP classes, put myself in classes I knew I didn’t want
to take but knew it was the smarter decision, and have learned the importance of becoming
engaged in my learning. I found that being present and cooperative in class is the best way to
prepare myself for college and beyond. Great Oak has also taught me about the fundamentals of
how to be prepared for the near future. I’ve learned how to be economically prepared, how to set
myself up for success, and have gotten into colleges with the assistance of the G.O. process.
Great Oak has also forced me to learn new learning and studying techniques that can help me
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preform better on the test and for future assignments to help avoid academic burnout.
