Reflection

1. Did you find that being part of the Hunter College early college program better prepared you for your future college career? How so?
   I think being part of the Hunter College early college program has prepared me for future college careers. The early college program prepared by allowing me to experience first hand what it feels like to be in a college environment with college classes and students. Being in a college environment like at Hunter College I was about to pick up skills like time and study management. While at the same time experiencing the joys that comes with being a college student.
2. What were some obstacles that you faced during the course of this year? How did you overcome them? Write about a moment of great success that you experienced this year. What happened?
   For me a major obstacle that I had to overcome this year was math. Math was never an easy subject while in the High school and it wasn't a easy subject for me in the college either. I struggled a lot of times just to be at the same level as the class. However I am glad to say that even though I struggled. It was well worth the time and effort spent because I passed that class. And I learned something about myself I wouldn't have otherwise learned. I learned that at times one has to put aside there differences and focus. Differences like personality we're always an issue for me back in the High school. Yet as I worked with Hector. (Who at the time I believed was the most annoying kid in school.) I learned that when we look past the flaws and focus on people strengths. You might just discover as I did. that you can accomplish amazing things such as a higher math grade or even discover a news ways to study, like and Hector did. Since studying for long hours isn't easy for me or Hector. We decided that to overcome the “study slums” we would film all the work we did on the chalkboard to camera. The camera would record us teaching a subject in math which our math teacher had taught. I would review the scene recorded with Hector and we would than upload our video's online. Through our recorded films me and Hector were able to share what we had learned from that class and were even able to pick up on flaws in the film which needed correction at times. We also took advantage of a program on skype which allows a person from another area to see what another person on the same line is working on from there computer. This helped me out tremendously in seeing where I needed corrections in my mathematical understanding. I made great improvements in my math thanks to Hector and or use of technology and on the positive note. The work me and Hector did was even heard by Principal Kriesmen who though it was interesting how to students were able to use the basic forms of technology used by millions of teenagers each day for education. In fact a few weeks ago I was even called back to the High School to have the honor of presenting to a bunch of teachers and high end education officials. How to make early college programs like the one in Hunter College successful. When I mentioned to the group how Hector and I made use of technology to do things like share our video's on facebook with others. They smiled and commented on how it was great to see students use technology to help each other out. This great moment I experienced while in the High school however was probably just one of the best moments I had while in the college. Because one of the best moments I had while in the College happened the day before I was able to take my SAT's. I remember that day as being the best moment I had. Because it was during a month of activities when due to time constraints and a hard to follow schedule. I wasn't able to receive a lot of support to study for my SAT's. I worried tremendously as the day came to take the SAT that I wouldn't score as high as I wanted. Yet just as all hope was gone. I remembered an email I had received a few weeks prior that mentioned. That I could receive free math tutoring if I went to school early enough to receive it. I emailed Audrey Fields the teacher who was organized and told her about my situation. Ms. Fields who I got to say is probably one of the best teachers I have had. She calmly reassured me that I would get the help I needed the next day and not to worry about it because she would handle the situation and she did. The next day when I got to school there she was with the tutor waiting to teach me. The tutor's advice on how to look math problems allowed me to look at math problems with new eyes was a real source of help for me when I took the SAT that Saturday. Thanks to him and the help of Ms. Feilds. When I did take the SAT the next day. I was able scored move up 110 points on my math section of the SAT than I did the previous time's I took the test. I also made gains in the reading and writing section. Which allowed me to go from a 12,000 to a 15,000 score range. You can only imagine the joy I had when I went back to school and learned how my new SAT score's were higher than before. For me that was a successful experience.
3. Did you enjoy Fiction Writing this year?  What were some of the lessons that you learned this year that you would be able to bring into your writing in the future?
   There's a certain smile I always get when I glance at this question. Because every time I look at this question, the song here comes the sun by the Beatles always comes into my ears. The song Here comes the sun by the Beatles I feel illustrates the way I felt about my English class this year. It was refreshing and fun. I spent many enjoyable hours in that class and like the change of seasons that melts away the ice from the ground. My English class so to speak was that change of sunlight that really comes during a time when I felt like I was just dying to get out of school and English class just wasn't the exception at the time. I wanted change almost like the character in the story I wrote for English except that in my case. I feel as though I was able to change because of how much fun Ms.DeFeo made English class for me. I mean I know that sounds real clique to say. But English really was fun because Ms.DeFeo made it fun. She gave us projects like the one after winter break which challenged me to take an issue and sing it and make it interactive for the class. Now I would have usually said no to something like this if I was back in the High School. But in this English class I didn't have the luxury of saying no. So I tried it out and when it was over. I had more of a blast doing the event than I think I did in at first whining over it. I learned to open up my idea's and to not be afraid to take a risk at times when it came to my classmates. Because sometimes the risk did pay off. Like in the case of Veronica Perez. Who after the project said. Chris I didn't think you had it in you. It made me feel good to hear those words. Because it showed that some how even people cared that I was growing as a student. In another lesson that we had as a student I had to lie about something and have the class believe it. This was my favorite lesson of them all because I really had to think around a lie that the class could believe in looking at me and it wasn't as easy as I thought. But I made up a lie and to my surprise everyone believed it. I learned from that how to see the world through the eye of my characters and through the life I guess you can say. Through the eyes of people I didn't understand. Like the line from a john mayor song. I learned how to use half of my heart to feel a character. Which is a skill I promise to use not to create characters but to also understand people. People can be at times confusing to me. But I feel like when I was in Ms.Defeo's class the world make sense.And now that I look back on it. I got to say that Ms.DeFeo's class showed me how to grow and like the ending to my story became the catalyst to the shadow that changed. And though I will miss taking English class I promise to always remember the good times I had in the best Senior English class I've ever had.
4. a)What Hunter College courses did you take this year? b)Which were your favorite ones and why?c)If there was a course you took that you did not enjoy, what was it and why?
   a) I took this year English, history and geography 101 this year. b) My favorite courses was English, history and geography 101. I enjoyed each and every class because each class allowed me to see the world through different eyes. Through my English course I saw the world through the eyes of a writer. Which I got to say is vary interesting because when you see the world through the eyes of a writer. You always see something unique and special about it that you might have not seen before. Like the time I had to observe people while in the train. I never observed people as much as I did that. But when I did I discovered that behind every face on the train was a story that could be told. The people on the train became not just people the train. But part of a story which can be told from any perspective if I only let my imagination let it. Imagination is also one of the fun things I discovered while in English class which made it fun. A lot of times I think as teenagers we always associate imagination as being something that little kids who have nothing to do on there spare time do for fun. We forget about our imagination as we become young adults and right when all hope is lost of discovering that hidden side. You get an English class like mine and it's like being a kid all over again. Except this time I feel like it's a lot more fun. Considering that we did things in English class that I think I would have never done in a lifetimes. Like learning how to lie to make a story real, or acting out songs and singing them to the class. Those things which as crazy as at times they made sound were fun and enjoyable and they made this years senior English class probably one of the best classes I've ever had. Which isn't to say I didn't feel the same way about my other classes. Because I had fun in those classes as well, like in Mr. Froner's history class. Mr. Froner's history class is short probably one of the most informative classes I have ever taken while in High School. The lessons and idea's in this class really do go beyond the classroom in this class and into the real world. Lessons like how government and economics work were lessons that I got to see take place not just in class but outside as well. Mr. Froner himself is also a great teacher who despite his scary at times demeanor is a teacher who really does care for his students. As a soon to be former student of his I got to say. That I did not always see Mr. Froner as friendly as I do now. In fact truth be told I though Mr. Froner was probably one of the meanest. If not scariest teachers I had met while at Hunter College. I remember for instance the first time I had to meet at appointment and I got there late and I had to wait an hour to see him again. I though to myself gee that's not fair. But than I walked out the situation in my head and I realized that Mr. Froner had just taught me something about being on time to my appointments. A teacher had just taught me a lesson. When I saw Mr. Froner that afternoon I wasn't mad at him even though for probably a good portion I was still afraid of him. That soon went away when I saw how he went after students to make sure they did well. I mean I never met a teacher who cared about his student's like that to make sure they did well. This impressed on me the realization that even though Mr. Froner might at times seem scary. He is a great teacher and for that matter since he is a great teacher so is his class. The last class I enjoyed was geography. Geography was fun because Ms. Goffe always had a way of keeping the class fun. Although it was a struggle to stay awake in her class. She never got to mad at me any time my eye took a dip in the direction of sleep. She would just smile and say wake up. I learned she also was a pretty great teacher as well. c) I didn't have any classes I hated with the exception of maybe math. But that is just because I have never understood math to really enjoy it.
5. a)What do you still need to work on in order to be an even more successful college student? b)How do you plan on working on these skills?
   a)I need to work on time management and face book addiction. b) I plan on working on these skills by continuing to surround myself by those who want to study and by occasionally telling myself no. I can't go on face book today or right now.
6. a)Where did you study on the Hunter College campus this year? b)What facilities did you use at Hunter this year?
   a)I studied most of my time on the 3^rd floor of the Hunter College library. I also spent studied in the computer lab or in the 7^th and 6^th floor of the Hunter College Library. b) I used the computer lab along with the library and lounge area of Hunter College.
7. What have you learned about yourself by being a part of this early college program?
   I learned that there was more to me as a person than I really knew was there. I mean I knew what I liked and cared for. But I really didn't realize how much because of what liked and was accustomed to was holding me back from growing as a student until I became part of the early college program. The early college program allowed me to develop myself out of groups I had normally associated with in High School and expand above that. I grew a lot from this program emotionally, but also educationally as well. I learned that sometimes we need to take risk and chances to get any were and that really anything I put my mind to could be achieved as long as I worked out my mind to do it. For the first time in my education career I also learned what it was like to work out my own schedule and I learned time management skills. Learning time management skills were probably one of the hardest skills for me to learn. Because I like to do a lot in small spaces of time. But I think learning such a skill has really helped me a lot in ways that I feel went beyond the college. Learning time management allowed to schedule my events right, find time for studying and even go to a baseball game knowing that my homework had been done. I've also learned a final lesson which I promise to take with me wherever I go. I learned how to work in a group and give my best to it. That's a lesson I promise to take any were I go.
8. Where will you be attending school in Fall 2010?
   I am glad to say I will be attending Adelphi University in the fall of 2011. (But hey if Hunter College accepts me. I would gladly go there as well .)
9. a)What are your personal goals for the future? b)Where do you see yourself in 5 years? c)In 10 years? d)In 20 years?
   a) I think the question of what are my goals for the future is kind of a question that always makes me at times tear up a little bit. Not because I don't look forward to the future, but because I don't think the full realization that I won't be seeing my friends any more has really set in yet for me. I mean I know I will see a few but I the though of seeing a few isn't as happy as knowing I'll see them all. I mean it's like you grow up these kids and you spend your time arguing and fighting with them. Than senior comes around and it's like just as your about to get to know these kids. There taken from you and there gone because were all leaving. Even though you may wish that it just wasn't the case. Life I guess in this way happens, but I just wish sometimes it just happened a little slower for me to just enjoy because I know personally. I'm going to miss being a kid. I'm going to miss spending summers flying kites outside my apartment along the Brooklyn bridge. When there wasn't a care in the world except how much time I could spend with my friends and if tomorrow I would be back. b) Since I am now almost an adult my plans for myself in 5 years is to be finishing college and into my first year of being employed. I want to go into law and be a lawyer one day. But I don't know my mind is still changing and I say that with a smile because I think that's a good thing. I think my mind will change a lot before I leave college. But in what ever field I enter I promise to always give 100 percent to my work. I think I'll have a girl friend in 5 years and she'll probably be my first. Which I think is good but I don't know. Hopefully I'll be almost out of my parent's house. c)In ten years I hope to be working and possibly be living in New York. I want to say I will live in Central Park. Because it's always been my dream to one day to live by Hunter College and hang out still in the places I use to hang out with as a kid. I will be probably caring for my folks. Since in 10 years they will be 50. I think I still will be dating in 10 years as bad as that sounds. But I think in 10 years I'll know what I will want in 20 years. d) In 20 years I think I will be working with the possibility of owning my company or job. I will probably get married but I think I like the idea of still being single to mingle .I want to open up a foundation in 20 years to give back to my school and if it helps I want to know how my old teachers back in Hunter were doing. Meaning Mr. Froner and Mss.Defeo better be a live to that I see what they were up to. I'll probably will still have kept in contact with Michael during this time and I know my parents will diffidently need me to care for them. I also want to discover something or write a paper which could bare my name on it. I like the idea that maybe someday somebody could see the boy from Hunter High School and think he did something.
10. What advice do you have to give to future MHSHS students in order to help them prepare for this experience?
    I think the way this question is laid out is kind of hard for me to answer. So I wanted to answer this question in the form of a letter.
    Dear Future Manhattan Hunter Science High School students..
    If your reading this your letter. It is probably because you like me are going down the pathway that has been traveled by millions of seniors like myself who have crossed the same road that you will soon be going through. You will be entering your senior year in Hunter College and what a joy that will be. Hunter College really does offer you choices and opportunities that I believe couldn't be offered any were else. Your going to be part now of a community that really does care for you. Except that you being the High School students you were, are like me going to resist this sense of community because you are going to feel that it infringes on what your use to. For a while you might even still cling to the old ways your use to. But my friends don't resist this community but instead learn to embrace like many of us did before you. Come together as a class and learn how to look beyond each others faults. Smile at the bad. Look for the good and above all have fun. At Hunter you'll find yourself open to participate in things that in your wildest dreams you couldn't imagine participating in back in the High School like the debate team and swim team. If your the adventurous kind like I was. Join a club that peaks your interest and matches your schedule like the salsa club. Or take a risk and talk to some of these college kids. I mean who knows you just might find that you made a friend like the way I did when I talked to a few Hunter College students. In fact some of the best friend you might have this year might be Hunter College students. However the friends you will have for life you might just find will be the student's who like you will go through the same issues that many of us went through ourselves. So stick together and help each other out. You have more in common than you know and can even imagine and when you stick together you'll find that mountains really can be moved when you come together. Nothing could stand in your way when your together. Which is why I said before don't don't resist the community. If Holly or Mr. Froner or Ms. Defeo goes up to you to talk to you.. Listen to them and hear them out. They've been in your, they been in my shoes and they want to help you out. Remember that in your actions you represent Hunter. So make us proud. If you go out there and make a good impressions on the teachers. You'll make there job less harder and you might just find that a happy teacher is a great teacher. So go out there and make not just us proud but yourselves proud as well. Remember that your never really alone in this campus. Because in essence you are walking in the hallways of students before you who walked the same steps. But if it helps you'll probably do more fun things than I ever did. So go get em champs. Remember the future belong to those who believe in the beauty of there dreams. Which includes you. Your the future and you are our dreams.

Sincerely a former student