Reflection

High school has been a very interesting experience for me.  It has definitely had its highs and lows and many confusing experiences in between.  Overall, I feel like I have been equipped for not only college, but also life as a whole.  High school has taught me many things, both academically and emotionally.  It has revealed and exposed my true colors, both good and bad, and as a result, has built many aspects of my character.  My experiences at Ilocos Sur National High school have shaped me into the person that I am today. 
From this school, I have learned a lot about my personal qualities, such as my strengths and weaknesses, and my work habits and attitudes.  One of the first things that I had to learn at Ilocos Sur National High school, which consisted of my freshman, sophomore year, junior year and senior year, was responsibility.   I realized that after middle school, my teachers only had so much accountability for my grades and even actions.  Whether or not I turned in my homework or received a good grade in the overall class all depended upon me.  My teachers were no longer held responsible for whether or not I understood the lessons or even showed up for their class.  I learned to take initiative if I did not understand something and I consistently talked with my teachers about a plan that would help me to succeed in their class.  Fortunately, my working habits were never a problem for me.  I was always very disciplined and completed all of my homework, class work, and projects on time.  Yet, when it came to working with others, problems arose. I had to learn how to be humble myself and become receptive to the ideas and opinions of those around me. I could no longer continue to talk over others and disregard their thoughts.  In order to work in a group successfully, I realized that I had to be patient, flexible, and respectful.  Obtaining a positive self-esteem and self-worth was always a challenge for me.  It was hard for me to confront difficult challenges with the mindset of “I can do it,” because all that I could see was whatever was right in front of me. When I grasped the meaning of faith and being certain of what I could not see or understand, I had so much more confidence and security in myself and in my future.