Malik 1 Aadil Malik Ms.

Whisler Portfolio I March 26th, 2012 Reflection When I started my Graduation Project in 2009, I began with a preconceived notion that my life purpose was to be a teacher. I wrote letters to my teachers from when I was in fifth grade, particularly to a teacher named Mr. Ryan Reed, in which I wrote: When I started this year (9th grade), I really thought back and said to myself that my true inspirations are my teachers. I believe knowledge is the key to life, because without it life would be at a pause and standstill with no pursuit. Throughout the project, I began to realize that my passion for teaching was starting to transform into recognizing different methods of expressing it. I see, after the progression of three years, how much I have evolved into the person I am today, but at the same time - how the principles I valued have remained instilled. The process seemed tedious at first a longitudinal project spanning over my entire high school career that would force me to narrow down to two careers of my choice to study. As I went on, with both my project and my personal life, I became less apprehensive of my decision to choose education as my primary career of research. I interacted with those who are in the career of education every single day for the majority of my life, but I didnt want that to serve as an excuse for easing the process of my graduation project. By the middle of my tenth grade year, I had known that education probably wouldnt be what I would go to college for, but I continued my project with the conviction of knowing I had chosen it for a definitive reason. The reason became clearer as I interviewed and shadowed my 8th grade history teacher, Mr. Anthony

Malik 2 Olseski it was because I perceived myself committed to the duty of every teacher: being a catalyst for change. Teachers are not only leaders in the classroom, but leaders of society what they teach and how they teach their subject has a direct effect on how future generations perceive their world. I knew that I wanted to be a mover-and-shaker, a leader, and a teacher and the most significant realization I made throughout my graduation project was that I could become all of these things without restricting myself to a label or category of study. Mr. Reeds response to my letter that I sent him in 2009 has left an indelible mark on the evolution of my character throughout my graduation project. He wrote: You made my day when I read your letter. To know that I had something to do with inspiring you to maybe become a teacher is an amazing thing to hear. Honestly, there are other jobs in this world that will pay more, have you travel more, provide you with big fancy offices - but enjoying yourself and knowing that youre making a difference in peoples lives is whats worth the most. I always believe that being a teacher is the best job for those that are dedicated, patient, open-minded, and most importantly creative (and youve always proven that!). Though many things have drastically changed since the infancy of my graduation project; I went from being a shy kid to a Spoken Word Poet, from a new kid to President of my student body, and from someone who believed his voice would never be heard to having my voice heard by tens of thousands across the world on my blog, many things have also stayed the same. I still believe in the core principles that were echoed in Mr. Reeds words of wisdom, and I still want to become someone who demonstrates a yearning for the spread of knowledge. The desire to work with other people and mutually benefit from our collective efforts is what had motivated me to focus my graduation project in the career field of education. The realization of whether or not I pursue this particular category of a career was not the outcome I desired. What I desire, and have always desired, is the

Malik 3 opportunity for self-discovery, and as much as it took almost three years to find myself where I am today, I will continue this discovery throughout the rest of my high school career, throughout college, and most importantly throughout my entire life.