Colaboration

First of all I want to say that My summer project wouldn't of been done without my aunt Valerie.  I had so many better things to do this summer and I would of done them if she wasn't there motivating me to sit down and write. It took me hours to do a post that was ok in her standards but now that I look back on what she did for me I cant thank her enough. So in a way this entire project is a collaboration between me and my aunt.

Literacy

This summer I read the book Adrift by Stephen Callahan. This book was an autobiography about how he spent 76 days lost at sea in a little raft. Not only was this book very interesting and captivating but, it is also very helpful as it gives you some helpful insight on what tho do in those situations. I enjoyed reading this book and I recommend that you read it as well.

Technology

 Yesterday I went to a meeting to get my mac book. Although it was a two hour meeting it was well worth it because now I can participate in class more than before. At first it was very hard to figure out because it is a entirely new breed of computers but, I eventually figured it out. The next day I got computer work in all of my courses and I was so thankful that I was finally able to access canvas and actually do the work.

Culture and the Arts

Today my Aunt and I went to the Whatcom Museum and explored the halls and exhibits. Everything there was unique and some of the art was breathtaking. What was most appealing to me was the Owl and the Woodpecker exhibit by Paul Bannick. The exhibit showed some beautiful pictures of owls and woodpeckers in flight, in their nests, and catching prey. The exhibit also told you how the birds are key parts of their habitats. Over all this Museum was amazing and I will remember this experience for the rest of my life.

Problem Solving

Over the first few weeks of August I had the privilege of going to  YMCA Camp Seymour. One of the things I will certainly look back on years from now is my experience at high ropes. First of all, high ropes is a very challenging obstacle course that you have to complete with a group of your peers. It takes both mental and physical strength to make your way across the courses safely. I feel the experiences on this course is a very good example of problem solving because as a group every single person has to make it to the other side of the obstacle course by helping each other out.

Global Citizenship

This summer I felt like giving back to the community. I decided to volunteer at the local pound.  For the most part my tasks were cleaning up around the pound but, when I saw animals getting adopted and the smiles on peoples faces this job became one of my new favorite things to do. Once, when I was sweeping, I realized that keeping this building clean and in working order meant a lot to the people and animals around me. Volunteering at the pound is how I was a global citizen this summer. Here is a picture of one of the pound's litters of kittens.

Career Development

Ever since the fourth grade, I have had a fascination with boats and the ocean. I have always wanted to work around them. Today I finally took a step in the right direction and met with my aunt's friend Shawn, who owns Pacific Marine Electric. Shawn gave me some very helpful insight on boating in general. First of all, one of the most important things he told me about getting and keeping a job was to show up on time and also to follow through with your work. Shawn told me that one of the best parts of marine technology is that there are so many trades and types of jobs to chose from.

Respect

I believe that respect is one of the most important things that keep us human. One time this summer, my cousin John came home from school and he told my dad that he had a panic attack. Then John asked to go outside and skateboard. When I got home from my mom's place and heard of this I didn't go and seek him out. Just after John got home, he told me up front that he didn't want to talk about it and I respected his decision. Another example of respect I experienced yesterday happened when I was with my Aunt Valerie. We were biking through traffic and she showed me all the hand signals and told me how they show respect for other bikers and drivers.  

Personal Well Being

I define well being as being physically fit and happy. My favorite thing to do for my well being is to simply go outside and do lots of stuff in the fresh air surrounded by the beautiful trees and nature. I will go biking, surfing, stand up paddle boarding, skiing, and even long boarding to keep myself active. Not only are these activities healthy, they are also good for the mind. After physical activity, I feel good about myself. Here is a picture of me stand up paddle boarding.

Self Directed Learner

Today I started this blog and through some trial and error, I'm now typing about how I am a self directed learner. First, I read the very vague and unhelpful directions. Next, I spent five minutes messing around with figuring out how to make a URL. Then I picked out a theme called picture window because the picture of the wilderness was very appealing and beautiful. After that, I figured out the format and page layout. Once it was all set up I messed around with a few things for a couple of minutes, for example how to add gadgets to the home page and how to add pictures to my posts and finally I was finished. Here is a picture that my Aunt took of me working on my blog.

Introduction

I created this blog as part of my Chariho High School portfolio. I am doing this so I have a place to document my experiences with the 10 expectations. The 10 expectations are: Problem solving, Literacy, Technology, Culture and the Arts, Self Directing Learner, Career development, Global Citizenship, Collaboration, Personal Well being, and Respect for others. I feel that this is going to be a very interesting experience and I am looking forward to starting this project.



Here is a picture of where I would like to live one day. I hope you enjoy reading my blog.