Personal Qualities and Attitudes

When I first came to Aclc I was extremely angry. I came from Oakland High School a regular public school, I've always to gone to public schools in Oakland my whole life and I've honestly adjusted to a certain vibe only Oakland schools delivered. Arriving at Aclc I was baffled by every students behavior, they weren't fighting, no one was hostile, but instead welcoming. There was no student athlete nor cheerleaders, it was a safe zone from everything in the world and I was stuck in it. I hated everyone's friendly attitude, it pissed me off to know that these kids were shielded for so long and I envied them. I still do, but I have grown fond of this school and I've learned to consider it a second home.

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New Basics

Aclc has made me who I am. This school creates a safe environment to help kids and young adults create their own personalities with little to no judgement by their peers. This safe environment has not only been an opportunity for learners to grow up and mature without interruption, but has also has allowed learners a safe environment to express their ideas. Unlike most schools Aclc’s queer community was and still is very large and strong. It amazed me a how young adults my age can be so passionate about a single topic, it wasn't an educational topic, it wasn't a topic forced upon them either, but it was a topic that the learners of Aclc chose.

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Thinking and Reasoning Skills

This school does not create followers, it creates leaders. Every student at Aclc is given multiple opportunities to flourish and expand their minds for themselves. Aclc’s free periods have been a prime example of learners taking part in their own growth, whether if it's doing homework, independent study or even skipping free periods and going with friends enjoying life; this all takes part in the growth of learner. Although learner's skipping of free periods pose threats to their safety and the school’s reputation. Skipping free periods are beneficial to a learner's growth, it allows learners to experience the teenage dream, it matures them, puts them through the Goonies lifestyle with their friends and creates a sense of community and ownership to the learner.

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Work Habits

Aclc might be flawed academically, but the leadership and community it built for me no other school could possibly have done. It doesn't turn boys into men, nor girls into women, but it turns followers into the leaders of tomorrow. We're all born leaders, but turned into followers by our parents and society. Aclc gives us our birth right back, it gives us freedom, it even allows the timid to express themselves through classes and school events such as Leadership and fundraisers. This school has served me greatly in not only my academic habits, but also my life habits.

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Interpersonal and Collaborative Ability

I've personally benefitted from all of Aclc’s characteristics ranging from it's free periods to leadership. I took part in a lot Aclc’s events such multicultural night and Aclc’s public festivals. Recently I have been voted to be JC clerk a student ran judicial committee clerk, this is another traditional student ran program that gives students to flourish as leaders. I am also taking part in my leadership class, which further more tries to involve the students in maturing and becoming leaders. I use to be hesitant to join these kinds of school programs and classes.

I've always felt like just smart members of the school were the only ones that joined. I mean I was right, but I also felt like I had to take part in learning to be apart of a team and to be a leader. I shouldn't exclude myself from beneficial things if there are people I don't like taking part in them, but instead should learn how to deal with them.

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Technology

ACLC has made me grow tremendously in my knowledge over technology. Never in my life have I ever had a school that provided me with computers, internet, free time and classes such DVS and Digital Music. I have both fallen in love and fallen out of love with video editing softwares and digital music making. David Dilworth has provided me through out the four years of my high school experience an experience I'll never forget and a new set of tools and skills that will help me wherever I go.

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