You briefly met with a college recruiter last week, and you reviewed a number of questions to ask about colleges. This must have gotten you thinking about your future, so tell us about it: Without any strict requirements, write about your expectations, goals, fears, concerns, questions that you have concerning your future in college. Additionally, now that you know that recruiters want to hear about you and your intellectual interests and pursuits, how do you think being an aware Academic Leader will give you an advantage when applying to the college of your choice?

Last Friday, we met shortly with a college recruiter from Baldwin Wallace University, and she presented her slideshow then answered our questions. The whole process got me thinking about when I do start having to start doing those interviews myself. I have many fears for college, from the interviewing process to taking my final exams. Yet through the stress, the panicking and tears, I have no doubt that the outcome will exceed my expectations thoroughly. I also acquire many goals and expectations not only for the whole college experience, but personal goals for myself.

When I think of going to college, I think just like any other average teenager: partying, no parents and complete freedom. But when I think a bit deeper, I also imagine the interviews, competitiveness of getting into the school, and cramming for finals. However, I am very optimistic towards the whole college experience. I look forward greatly to living in a dorm and having multiple room mates, eating Top Ramen every night to save money, and meeting new people from around the world. Academically, I expect not only the different classroom and number of students, but also the lack of professor-student time in a bigger university. I imagine that the classes I take will give me a rude awakening of the difference between the sheltered ISC we attend and the “real world of academics”. I understand that I must be organized as much as possible, and balance my academic and social life. Another thing I look forward to is the athletic privileges. I know it will take blood, sweat and tears to make the volleyball or soccer team but I am willing to work. I am devoted and enthusiastic about my sports, and can’t wait to represent my school in playing. Some of my goals for my college years is to not get below a C in any of my classes, and to meet at least one new person a day.

Even with all of these new and exciting experiences in the somehow near future, I cannot shake the sheer terror I have exiting my high school life and continuing onto college. It is like the end of a chapter in my life, flipping onto a fresh page unwritten on. We all have that gut fear that we will get lost on campus, go to the wrong class the first day, or get stuck with a smelly room mate. One of my worst fears is not getting into the university of my choice and having to attend a junior college first. I plan on going to a four-year university on the west coast in the United States, especially a University of California or University of Washington school. Some of my other fears are failing a class, not understanding any of my subjects, making no friends, and doing bad in my interviews. Hopefully, I will overcome these anxieties and have a phenomenal college experience.

In Academic Leadership, we cover a variety of subjects, from giving public speeches to studying them, learning about great leaders to becoming one, and discussing a wide range of topics. Some of the ways this class can help us get into the university of our choice is first off, starting early. This class is an IB prep class, and if we are prepared for IB, hopefully we will do well and receive our IB diplomas and that will reflect positively on our resumes. As well as academics, we learn crucial skills for taking interviews and speaking in front of the recruiters.

I have many expectations, fears, and goals for my unbelievably close college years. I want to make the most of my years in high school with my friends, living with my parents, and being a kid. All I can say is simply, I’m excited.

"I've learned one thing, and that's to quit worrying about stupid things. You have four years to be irresponsible here, relax. Work is for people with jobs. You'll never remember class time, but you'll remember the time you wasted hanging out with your friends. So stay out late. Go out with your friends on a Tuesday when you have a paper due on Wednesday. Spend money you don't have. Drink 'til sunrise. The work never ends, but college does...”  -Tom Petty

　

Tips on the first week of college:
 http://www.studential.com/universitylife/freshers_guide_2010/survival_tips

How high school is different from a University:

http://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/eng1/comparison.html





　
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"In our first two weeks, you have read several articles, seen several videos and been engaged in several discussions related to the concept of academic leadership. At this point, and in your own words, what does the concept mean to you? What subjects or interests do you have a sophisticated, intellectual understanding of that you may want to turn into a major academic project in this class? How do people sometimes abuse academic knowledge to manipulate others? How would you feel if someone used your work to manipulate others (as Jared Diamond claims Mitt Romney has)? How can creating academically sophisticated, intellectual leaders help prevent such people from taking advantage of others the way they do? How can this create a stronger democratic society?"

            Academic Leadership in itself is an interesting concept for me. Never in the states was there a class you could take, even as an elective, that taught you the skills I’ve learned by being here for just a couple weeks. Some of the things I look forward to during the time period we have in class have a wide range. From taking about serious issues such as government and war to laughing and sharing ideas with one another, Academic Leadership has been a beneficial experience so far.
         The ideas I have for the major academic project this year are still extensive. One idea I had was somewhat nurtured from Ms. Barker’s history class, the connection between history and the Olympics. I thought that would be an amazing subject to study, since I have a strong love for both the Olympic Games and history. Yet, some people started to think of that as their project as well. I want my project to be thought up on my own, and to be new, undertaken and original. So I started to think of things I am enticed in. I immediately thought of music. I remember reading an article about how music affects the brain, and how you learn and think better while listening to it. I also have a couple vague brainstorms somehow involving sports and studying.
          In this world, some people don’t acquire the love of learning anymore. Many students are not only going to school and not caring about studying anymore, because in some societies, failing class is “cool” if you get good grades, you are considered “nerdy”. Thankfully that doesn’t stop most students from earning their diploma and continuing their education. On the other hand, people can abuse their academic knowledge in many ways. They can use intelligence to advertise and trick people into buying their products, and make money on others’ lack of knowledge. In the health care industry, there may be a desire to retain market share for a product, creating incentives to exaggerate its efficiency and safety. These things are just some ways academicians abuse their scholarship for their own sake. If somebody used my own work to employ others I would feel not only violated, I would feel ashamed and discouraged. If you spend time and effort on a project and gain knowledge on a new breakthrough discovery, only then to have your work transformed into something in fact the opposite by an arrogant other, I could only imagine how Diamond feels. He says at one point in the article, "I was especially interested in his (Romney) remark because he misrepresented my views and, in contrasting them with another scholar’s arguments, oversimplified the issue." I think Diamond had every right to say what he feels, because Romeny did in fact manipulte his words.
         In a sense, we do have leaders that are academically sophisticated and intelligent in this world. I would argue that Barack Obama is one of them. Yet, there is still crisis in America, and no matter which leaders we have, even if they possess all outstanding qualities. Some ways they do help is creating new laws, such as the law against piracy in order to stop people who take advantage of others. Yet those laws also have negative consequences, as the article states (Anti-piracy) below. In Gardener's essay, he states that "Leadership is a word that has risen up above normal workaday usage as a conveyor of meaning." I think what he means by that is being a leader is not to be taken lightly, and the word "leader" should only be applied to the very elite.
          Democracy is made of many different components, such as the involvement of active citizens, the protection of all human rights, a political system for choosing and replacing government through the vote of the people, the laws apply to all people, etc. Our leaders are often the people we look up to as role models, as in the activity we did the other day. Most of us would like to be like our leaders in one way or another. I think some ways to become a stronger democracy would be health care programs, rule of law, and civil societies.
         Overall, I think I will really enjoy taking Academic Leadership this year. As I stated before, not many students in the world have a class dedicated to learning new academic skills, becoming a leader for yourself and others, and many more. I look forward to sharing my thoughts and ideas with the rest of my class for the rest of the year.
　
　
Democracy:
http://www.stanford.edu/~ldiamond/iraq/WhaIsDemocracy012004.htm
Anti-piracy:
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120215/04241517766/how-much-is-enough-weve-passed-15-anti-piracy-laws-last-30-years.shtml

Musical activities affecting the brain:



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