Actually, I feel that this seminar was really too short. Last time, we spent nearly a whole class discussing just one question, but this time, we covered nine questions in one class. Apparently, the time for each person to speak and the time given for everyone to think and respond to each question was insufficient. I think we should have more time for contemplation, expressing opinions, and responding to others’ viewpoints. Of course, some time gets wasted on ineffective comments, and those making such comments often don’t realize their own issues, which unreasonably wastes everyone’s time. The teacher has noticed this issue and suggested a way to improve by not counting these discussions towards our grades. I think this idea is great, but it may still not fully compensate for our lack of time. This semester is ending too hastily; if we could reschedule this seminar for next week, perhaps all our scores could improve a bit.

I’m not satisfied with my performance this time partly because of the inadequate time and partly because I was too accommodating. I always feel reluctant and end up giving others the chance to speak, but they don’t appreciate it and instead say things that are useless and of no value. This is detrimental to my own performance, wasting an opportunity to speak and lowering my score. Although later on, I believe I said some valuable things (like in the last question about “What will you miss most about middle school?”, where I brought up some deeper points), I’m still not entirely satisfied.

I actually liked that a few questions were about what you thought when you first transferred here and how you think now. I found this quite moving, listening to everyone who basically all transferred in sixth grade and various experiences like being allowed to bring laptops to class in sixth grade, and so on. It made me reminisce about my own childhood involuntarily. My experience is completely different from everyone else’s—I transferred here in eighth grade. The unfamiliar environment and people made me quite uneasy. As I answered, “I’m not worried about grades but about relationships, various kinds of relationships with classmates, teachers, etc., because school is like a small society.” My middle school years were somewhat fragmented and divided because they involved a significant change. I had been in the same place for seven years, and suddenly in eighth grade, I stepped out of my comfort zone to come here. I’ve grown a lot through this experience and learned many lessons. Undoubtedly, these experiences have enriched my memories of middle school. I’m content with my current life, circle of friends, and hope to maintain the innocence of middle school as I move on to ninth grade.

1