I have grown throughout this year long process by learning
rather than being taught. Open source learning has taught me to utilize the
internet as a resource and also to put passion into learning. It has also
taught me to take risks and to step out of my comfort. An example would be my masterpiece.
I have never shared my findings and ideas to anybody yet I managed to do it
that day. It also managed to teach the English requirements as directed by the
state. My writing skills have improved a little since I began in the fall. I
feel a bit more confident as I write and started to organize my ideas more. My
reading has improved a bit with all the new vocabulary terms I learn and as for
my thinking. It has improved so much. It feels like a door has been open and I
can see a light with many imaginative ideas.
The class was given a high sense of trust from our instructor.
We deserved that high level of trust because without it how else could you
approach open source learning? We have earned that trust by just saying that we
wanted to give open source learning a chance. Not everybody has honored that
trust. The majority of the class didn’t because they are still stuck in the
traditional school mind set. Not only that but they didn’t do the work, keep up
with the blog or the journal. I say since the past month May I have begun to
honor that trust by doing my masterpiece. The rest of the time I spent in the
class I was like everybody else doing nothing trustful.
While have experienced this course I
have strengthen a passion I have. The best way I can describe my passion is
being a human textbook. I have looked up a wide variety of ideas, concepts and
facts ranging from the traditional math and science to video games and philosophy.
Throughout the year Preston talked about utilizing our greatest resource we
had, the internet. At first it flew right past me but as he kept saying it to
us it finally got inside my head unconsciously. I began to look up more
information as the year progressed and before I knew I used that passion as my
masterpiece.
The course wasn’t all work there
were a couple of laughs in there. One would be my friend presented his
masterpiece and they used inappropriate music. It was so funny because the song
wasn’t made for a presentation and Preston called them out on it. Another funny
memory was when I presented my masterpiece and I got flipped off by my teacher.
I was glad because it felt like a friend flipping me off so I laughed. Those
were my favorable moments that I remember from the class.
Passion was a reoccurring theme in
our masterpiece project. Our masterpiece project was our grand senior project
where we presented on what we were passion about to everybody in the class. I saw
passion over and over again but actual passion and not just passion that was
made up at the last minute. Eddie who reported on why he wanted to be a
paramedic gave us a personal story on what drove him to choose that. He said
that a paramedic once saved his life so now he wants to do the same. Another
college wanted to better him so he took up boxing as a means to get a shape and
now has deep appreciation for the sport. He is making progress and has told me
that he would to get with boxing. Another college named Daniel baked the class
food as means to show what he has learned. He loves to cook and has even gotten
a job in a restaurant where he has a mentor to guide him. He will pursue his
goal into becoming a chef. Two more colleagues decided to put their projects
together into one. Xavier and Robert came together to form a better idea. They
will provide clothing made from street artists. Their passions drove them to
create their first shirt and are planning on making a website for the public.
I have not completed this journey. The
journey on my life has just begun and I plan on taking on this adventure head
on. This is my hero’s journey and I will complete it. From now on I will be living
life how I want it and experience all that this world has to offer and more. I
could not find a mentor because I did not know exactly what I want to do so it
made it tough. At least now I know what I am interested in. It was a challenge
trying to break out of that traditional school mentality because I have spent
all my school life being taught and not learned.
