Category: Coffeehouse #2 (Page 1 of 3)

Through out my college years there are few things that I wish it didn’t happen to me but it did. Back when I was a fresh in city tech, I made a american friend who really helps me in my all of my classes. He’s Canadian, from London. We met in our physics class, we started talking by me asking how the his “show work” is simpler than the professor’s writing. I ask then asked him for contacts because I believe he is more “trust worthy” than my Asian friends who fail the previous quiz. We really had fun together, we went out for bicycle ridding, jogging and work out(gym) together sometime. But things started to gone bad when that happened. Some time in April, I just left my calculus class, I saw my graphing calculator was missing so I went back to find it. He was holding it, I was happy he found it for me, but when ask him to give it back to me, he denied. How did I know it was mine? Because I saw my handwriting in the back of the calculator in Chinese. We argued, at a point I even wanted to call the security guard to help me get it back, but I didn’t, I know its not worth it anymore. I decided to not talk to him anymore. A lost of an object can help me determine what kind of person I’m Making friend with is really worth it.

During the Fall of 2019, the beginning of my 12th grade year, I was playing my last soccer season for my high school team(Law and Tech Jets). I was heading into the season feeling prepared to give it my all, but a bit scared over the unknown challenges that were to come. The team knew that our biggest challenges were facing these two very challenging teams in the league, Emma Lazarus and NYC iSchool . I believed in the team and was very hopeful to try and win the league. The league started off with a sensible loss, it was our first game and we faced Emma Lazarus. We knew we were up for a challenge, but a 7-1 loss in the first game can have a mental toll in you if you’re not prepared for it in case. But the ambiance in the team was always good enough to pick our emotions up before and after a game. After that, the sun vanished the clouds and our team went on to win the next four games! The four games that we won were filled with so many amazing and some suffering moments. I remember the four games being crazy fun because some crazy and unexpected goals were scored, we won a game or two where we came back from losing in the first or second half of the games, and the team gained so much hype and confidence from winning four games consecutively. And for me, this boosted my confidence so much because I felt more effective as a striker, as I was scoring more goals and giving more assists to my teammates than my previous season. My statistics in the team were improving, showing that my hard work and knowledge was paying off. But after our fourth consecutive win, we had to face NYC iSchool. The team was so confident in each other heading into this game as we were in our best levels of soccer yet. We knew we had the fight in us as the four previous wins were there to prove it. Our training sessions before the game were filled with intensity and lots of motivation as we wanted to bring a fight to them in our soccer. But we also knew that we had to stay more defensive and be ready for what was coming. The game went on with lots of intensity, but it ended with a 4-0 loss for us. We took the loss knowing we did our very very best. We had to win our next and final game and have Lyons Community Soccer Team lose to enter the playoffs. This went on to happen and we had to face NYC iSchool in the playoffs(Semi-final) to go on to the finals. The team was already very honored to be in the playoffs because we knew that entering the playoffs was always a challenge, but our hard work led us there. We lost 4-0. It was a hurtful loss for the team, but we took out the best things from the loss and remembered that that was our best season yet and that the team has improved so much as it was shown during the season. We stayed 3rd place and left home happy, even though we wanted more than that. But I cannot forget how amazing that experience was for me. And now looking back at it almost two years later, it helps me not stay down and unmotivated during the pandemic and during my hard times in college. I learned that there is no reason for me to believe that I’m not good at anything or that my descended level of soccer and fitness will forever stay like that. I had to overcome many mental obstacles and remember how amazing I was playing soccer during those times, and to not forget them. Because I was not that good at soccer for no reason, I did not score 5 goals and gave 6 assists in 8 games for no reason, I did not always bring some fear to my rivals for no reason. I learned that no matter how hard I fell to the ground from my mistakes, I can get up even stronger and recover from it like a warrior, and not forget the person I was once. And now I am ready to get back at playing soccer and hopefully being one of the best in the world. It can be good to dig back to the past but remember the good things. Just like Tame Impala says “If it calls you, embrace it, If it haunts you, erase them.” 

(Yes, looking back at the bad things can help you learn from your mistakes, but that’s another topic to talk about. Hopefully re-reading the lyrics can help understand what I mean.)

Growing up I was always expressing my creativity through art, no matter what form of art it was I was always proud of my work. From pre-k to middle school I did art consistently, I was into every piece I did with so much passion and pride. Then everything hit a sudden stop when I got into high school. I went to an arts high school as an art major, throughout high school I have taken about 3-4 art classes each class was nothing like the last. My first one was very “wishy-washy.” My teacher at the time was angry at every little thing to the point where she blew up at the whole class causing her to leave mid semester. All that taught me is that perfectionism brings out the worst. My second art class was very straight to the point when it came to the assignments and required many presentations. My teacher wanted us to explain every detail of our work; every line, every mistake, every placement. It was more of a “why did you make that choice” instead of a good constructive criticism. He taught me that questioning is good and how artists must explain their pieces so the observer can really feel them. My third art class was a lot more strict when it came to the projects, we had to follow and stick to the task he assigned us. The teacher was also monitoring every student, I remember him keeping a book dedicated to the students where he would keep track of the stage of work we would be in and grade us based on the amount or work instead of quality. We also could not disagree with him if we were not comfortable with the task, we had to abide by his idea of art no matter what. All those experiences in class just creatively drained me, I had no intention or want to even make art anymore; it was so bad that I had to eventually just stop taking art classes. During my senior year, I dropped my major and just took my core classes. I felt a lot better but I ended up drawing on every paper I had in sight in my other classes. Looking back and reflecting on my art experience in high school made me realize that no one should suppress or stop your creativity and how art is almost as subjective as beauty is; everyone has their own art style. Art should be an experience between the artist and the viewer with no secondhand opinions or critiques from others. 

some of my learning experiences I had in my life time would be my experiences in school. Even though the assignment ask for five years i wanna go back a little more to my elementary school days. Starting school as a child for me was weirdly exciting. I got to meet people start friendship and plan my life. Sure i had many futures i wanted to plan but for me the planning was all worth it. As i hit middle school sure i was moving ahead but i didnt like it. Middle school for me was the worst. to me its basically a block path for me to get to high school, but also the experience was tough and i hatted it. High school however was phenomenal. I loved it. it was like a place where i can be me and all my teachers would love me and i would love them back. it was a place me and my friends can talk and play. Of course the work got done and we always did what we had to do but to me it was like my second home, my intellectual home.

A place where i feel safe where i have the help with any of my problems whether it was school related, health related, social related, or even when i just needed to talk. weather it was for advice questions about work and question about life. so i thank my intellectual home my high school for giving me life.

I’m very excited to share my learning experiences. learning new things it’s a different excitement for me, I know “learning is not easy but it can change a life” I learned many things in my life. Second Language, driving, cooking, typing, but I don’t know how to play the piano but one interesting thing is the piano. I love piano instruments but I don’t know how to play them. Finally, I learned the piano. In my high school. I had a music class which is the piano. The piano is my favorite instrument. it seems like it’s very easy to play. When I played piano one week I thought I could not take it anymore because it was very hard to play with the right fingers with the right keys. It was very difficult for me.

my few classmates can play the piano because they had a piano class before and they have experienced how to play. My teacher was nice. He always helped me to learn. how to put my finger on the right keys and how to memorize the keys.

I made a friend, who is good at piano. I always sit with her and she shows me how I can practice. I can play with one hand but I can not play with two hands at the same time. I feel difficulty with that because I can not move two hands fingers at the same time. one day my teacher saw how I play and he told me it’s good but you need little practice to play faster.

I practice the whole class. then I feel it improved. Then I practiced a lot when I learned piano. Then I believe the practice is important to learn. As a learner, I want to say that don’t give up. “work hard, makes dreams into reality”

Going back to about the 5th grade, I remember a time all my friends and myself were excited on making the basketball team. I had played basketball for fun but never took it too serious. The day of the tryout arrive and I believe I am playing good but it was clear that was not the case. I was one of the select few people that did not make the team. I watched in anguish as the rest of my peers celebrated making the team. It was one of my earliest experience of heart break that I ever experienced. This caused my confidence to become low an d not want to play basketball again. Every time the team would play and lose I would unknowingly feel a sense of satisfaction because I was not on the team. Which was a petty thing to do but I guess it was my way of coping with the disappointment. The following year I am now in middle school and I am taking basketball more serious. I am playing almost everyday and watching tutorial videos to learn the game more. In March of 6th grade there was tryout for the basketball team. Although i thought i was prepared I feared of not making the team so I cowardly did not go to tryouts. I regret making this decision. As my friends talked about the tournament I was forced to not talk about the topic because I could not relate. The summer going into the 7th grade I played basketball as much as I ever did. Almost everyday I was playing pick up games in the parks. I was volunteering to play all types of age groups. I felt and saw myself become better each week. I was very proud of myself. Basketball had grown on me and I fell in love with the sport. I watched how slowly I became better than or on the same level of my peers in the span of 2 months. My 7th grade year I joined a professional 14u team where my skills were developed and learned the game even more. Also, 7th grade tryouts came around for my school and this time I made sure I attended. This time around the drills were easier and I did exceptionally well during the scrimmages. I was prepared, I took the game serious now, and my confidence sky rocketed. I was placed on a team in the 7th grade tournament. I felt accomplished and proud of myself. This accolade boosted myself esteem and made me more happy at the time. During the game I scored about 9 points and at that time that was a lot. My friends was impressed sed with how my performance increased throughout a short period of time. I was not surprised at all because I knew how much work and training I had put in. But my journey did not stop there. I continued to play basketball, watch basketball, and learn more about basketball. I played basketball the rest of my middle school years and high school years. Without basketball I don’t know where my life would have went. It is still crazy to think with my first experience from basketball came from heartbreak to not making the team in 5th grade. To using that pain to become the best player I can be. This goes to show if you really want something it can be achieved with hard work, determination, and belief. Whenever I feel like I can not achieve something I think back to the sad kid in 5th grade and realize there is nothing in this world I can not accomplish.

Dawson Lockhart

I have countless times where I have learned something and had a big “ah ha!” moment but I’d say the one that impacted me the most was when I sat next to someone in a waiting room of a hospital. This is not much of an educational experience but it was more like a life lesson. For some context: I have gone with my father, and my two brothers to the emergency room because my younger brother was having problems with his asthma. I always liked being in that waiting area, I don’t know why but I did; fast forward a little bit, a boy around my age sat down a chair away from me. I saw that he was shaking. At the time, it was cold so thought he was shivering because he was cold and didn’t think much of it until after awhile he kept shaking.

I felt like something was wrong. I figured I should talk to him, I thought maybe he was having a panic attack and needed to be calm. I am not a very social person, still not but, at the time I believed maybe he just needed to hear that he was okay, that everything will be okay. As soon as I built up courage to begin a conversation, he was called into the emergency room. I felt a great negative feeling come up, I believe, I felt guilt. I felt bad that I didn’t tell him he was going to be okay. I’m not saying it was my fault he was shaking but I felt like, although I may not know what he’s going through, maybe I could’ve distracted him temporarily from a conflict he was going through. I came to firmly realize that everyone goes through something on the daily. People have rough days but we can’t see that and should be mindful of others; I should realize that I’m not the only on on this earth, there are others. I know this is like an obvious thing to know but this really cut deep, and till this day he pops up into my head and I still hope/wish he is doing okay.

A major learning experience that I can recall is one that I regret and would never forget. I believe when I was 15 or 16 years old, I had a dog named Mopi at the time which was a Boston terrier type of specified dog. I used to be best friends with the dog when I was younger because it grew up with me, and my brother who is older than me got it from a pet store around the time I was born so I grew up with the dog. I used to take that dog out all the time to the park and everywhere possible because I loved seeing him happy. Basically, I did that over and over till when he grew very old, and I didn’t know that dogs died at such a young age mainly because of my lack of education on dogs at the time so when my dog died when I was 15 or 16 years old, I felt so hurt because he was my best friends like I had said earlier I’d taken him all over he was always by my side. Sometimes I just feel that he will always be by my side and I appreciate him every day for making me smile all the time. You might be saying “Where is the major learning experience in this story” and the major learning experience is how thinking at the time how my dog lived a short life made me really appreciate how healthy I am and when I remember the good old days back when I was running in the park with him just makes me always want to live life happy and with no regrets. His death is made realize how the people close to you at any time could lose their life in a snap of a finger and telling them that you loved them is something that should be done all the time.

Sincerely, Kai Campbell

A meaningful learning experience I had would be not giving up so easily. This has been a problem for me, we tend to give up so easily instead of just trying. The thing about me is I try until I know I can’t do it anymore and then I just give up. But when I put my heart into it, I make sure I don’t give up. My close family members motivated me and told me whenever I felt like giving up, always say “I got this” this has been my go-to phrase ever since. There was a time when I was 16 years old and I was so motivated to get my permit, that I would do anything and everything just to learn how to drive. Once I got my permit I was learning to drive but I was so nervous to take my road test. There was a point where I gave up practicing my turns, how to park. I was so annoyed by it that I just didn’t want to do it anymore. How much I wanted my license I just gave up practicing because it was so hard and I just knew I would fail my road test. I would see my parents drive so good and wonder why couldn’t I be like that. After practicing almost everyday I finally built the confidence to book my road test. The day finally came when I went to take my road test. Everyone had high hopes of me passing my test. I practiced one last time before, once I sat in the car I started to panic. I was so nervous I didn’t know what to do. At the end I finally ended up getting my license first try. I was so happy. This was a meaningful learning experience because this was such a thing for me, this was something I was really looking forward to. Throughout my life I didn’t put so much effort into anything, even after giving up at a point I still managed to motivate myself and get up again to push myself into getting better. Once you put your heart into something, nothing can stop you no matter what. You just need to have the right motivation and it will all work out at the end. 

I have had many learning experiences in the past 5 years but the one that stands out to me the most is quite recent. In my senior year in high school I took a trigonometry class, I have always admired the intricacy of math but never dared to engaged with it and deal with it head on unless I absolutely had to. English and the other subjects acted as my crutches all the time that I fell short in math. I knew my position with math but I needed those credits so, I absolutely had to take the class.

I think it was fate. I had to have that learning experience and It might have been my teacher, my need or both but it was a revelation. I had learned more math in a class than I had learned in a semester and I was so proud of myself because I never knew I had it in me. I was now good at mathematics and like magic I fell in love with it. My teacher was amazing and played a big role in helping me find my love for math. At times when I was confused, he taught with such understanding that the knots in my brain would unravel and in an instant I’d get it. I chose to talk about this learning experience because it has impacted me the most. My passion for mathematics aided in my career planning and it is now a big part of my college experience. Although I had to take the class and was not really enthusiastic about the idea at first, I am glad I took it. I learned so much in such a short time and got to experience first hand the beauty of mathematics while having fun in the process.