Week 1: What does "achievement" mean to you?

Molly said: I've been reading through all of these posts, and it's crazy to see how far we've come in such a short amount of time!!

Kim adds: I SO agree with you.

Oh wow, I apologize. I responded to Kim's input on the second page of this dialogue!!

I've been reading through all of these posts, and it's crazy to see how far we've come in such a short amount of time!! In support of Sara's points, I also have acquired some life skills outside of the classroom. Many of the skills I have learned have been provided through extra cirricular activities. Before high school, I seemed to have a naive perspective on the world, focusing selfishly on myself, my goals, and how I was going to benefit myself through the decisions I make in high school. However, as soon as I hit high school and exposed myself to the abundance of extra cirriculars provided, I learned to broaden my horizons to focus on more than just myself. By involving myself with my school's Service-Learning program, I have gained more critical thinking and solving skills than I could ask for. By taking my mind off of personal-oriented goals, and learning how to give back is the best thing I have learned from my high school experience so far. Since my involvement with my Service-Learning organization, I have learned that it was unhealthy to go through life with my original intentions, and it is beneficial to well-round myself, my engaging myself civally. I learned to change my perspective and once I helped myself out, I began to find passion in helping others. This journey has begun my freshman year, and I will continue with this passion for the remainder of my life. The experiences that have come my way is to be selected as a member of NYLC's Youth Advisory Council, as I have stated in previous posts. I have gained skills in public speaking, communication, leadership, planning and organization, research methods, taking initiative, cultural awareness, and many more. These have been acquired through training sessions, conferences, retreats, and other events. Through NYLC, I was offered to check out this site!! I am very grateful for the life skills provided outside of the classroom. If only these critical thinking/solving skills could be offered to every student at school, within the classroom.

Rich- Thank you for your positive feedback, it is great to have you here!

Wow--I am super impressed with the insightful comments and ideas shared! One of the problems in education, I believe, is that we don't hear enough voices of students. You have provided some powerful ways to think about some really complex issues. Please know that what we are discussing here is really difficult to figure out. It is likely that most of your teachers, principals, and parents work hard to provide the best educational opportunities for you. Yet, some students still do not succeed. Many questions remain for me: how do we learn from those students who succeed in spite of inequitable (and quite difficult) situations? Moreover, how do we challenge and transform structural and systemic barriers that prevent some students from reaching their full capacity to learn and live? How do we motivate students who do not find value in schools? These questions continue to trouble me as I attempt to solve problems in education. Thank you all for such powerful comments! We -- those of us who study education, teach, and construct policy -- need to hear your voices! Keep sharing your realities with us!

I like how much is going on in this first thread, I was impressed we have hit three pages already! I have a couple questions after reading everyone's comments-

Is it important for students to do well in classes even if they don't want to, or don't see the validity in a class, or how it pertains to their life?

Branching slightly from that last question, how important is it for public schools to be taking a liberal arts approach to education? Should this traditional method be reevaluated in order to increase achievement?

I noticed that one of the key ideas almost all of you guys pointed out surrounded interpersonal communication. In what ways do you think your schools currently help you broaden your "people skills" and build those sorts of life skills? I ask this because one of the Minnesota graduation standards is literally called "Interpersonal Communication" so technically Minnesota schools should be addressing this in some way.

My last question stems from your comment Matthew, should society's expectations for students be more based off of their personal achievements?

yes

Semeo -- Points well taken. Thank you!

Another question. When you say "is the student capable of achieving?" can I assume you mean in their life (beyond school)?

Kim - this is a reply to your question about the 12th grade graduate with a 10th grade math level. And to begin I don't think there is sucha thing as a "#grade" perfomance level in anything or there is no accurate way to determine ones ability in any field of study like that. I also feel that this readily  accepted concept in our society is part of the problem of trying to expand the definition of achievement, which i also feel is a big part of why this project was started.

Sorry if this is vague but I will say, all of my friends, and many adults I have known, can all admit to not being math wizzes, If I were to put it into levels, I would say most people I know ar enot far past 5th grade level. And the same people will tell you that it is because it's only 5th grade level mathematics that ever appear in a "successful" life. These people I know range from teachers, musicians, business owners, athletes, writers, etc.

So to bring it full circle, I want to say I somewhat dislike the way the question was phrased. I feel the question should be more is the student capable of "achieving." to which I would answer certainly.

Kim- Sorry have only periodically replied. To quickly answer your question, I have learned skills in counseling, project planning, community service and possibly most important of all leadership, which I find is essential in order to achieve.

In most of our school's today, there is this idea that how well you do on a test made up of more-or-less randomly generated information determines your ability to succed and function in society. Because of this, we learn from an early age what is "possible" and "impossible" and strive to learn what is neccessary to do what is "possible" and anything that goes outside of that scope is useless information. Because of this, most of us don't find it neccessary to strive to do something they enjoy, and strive just to do something they "can" do or are expected to. A lot of times I find people are not even aware of all the kinds of careers there are out there and assume once you get to a certain age you are going to have to work behind a desk from 9 to 5 to make ends meet.

But skills in leadership, and self motivation open ones eyes. When I actually enjoy learning or doing something, I'm going to be motivated to pursue a career out of it.

I know I may be unclear but I have 1000 thoughts in my head and plenty of points to make and I want to find a way to draw attention to each one.