Seminar 3 was something very different.

In my understanding, a seminar is something similar to a discussion. Dictionary.com also states that

“seminar (noun): a small group of students, as in a university, engaged in advanced study and original research under a member of the faculty and meeting regularly to exchange information and hold discussions.”

This time, I didn’t think we had much of a discussion. I would say that it was much more like a sharing activity. In this seminar, we shared our middle school journey, and there was not much to discuss except for what the school has done(we shared that in common).

As there wasn’t much to discuss, I spent no effort trying to answer anything during the seminar. All I did was say that we all brought computers in sixth grade when someone asked me to respond to a question. Honestly, this seminar wasn’t much of a memorable one, either.

Saying nothing does not mean that I have nothing to say. I would like to take some space to talk about my last few years since I’m leaving.

6th grade was a prodigy. I guess because it was the first time doing the middle school program or something, we were all allowed to bring our laptop computers to school. Back then the ELL had way more people (I mean actual native speakers) like Brady, Ethan, Ray, Isaac, and Hanhan. Surprisingly, the percentage of girls was very small and I only remember 3 in our classroom. Mr. Aaron taught us and he was a nice teacher. Most of my memories came from the second half of the school year. That year, Covid came back and we all had online lessons again, and we learned the book Ender’s Game/Shadow. It was a really fun and unforgettable time with all the old class. (P.S. We had Drama back then and both CCAs’ and ECAs’)

7th grade was not as good. A majority of 6th grade ELL students left and we were left with around 10 people. Daniel wasn’t in ELL anymore, and the people who passed on were me, Matthew, Joshua, Toby, Johnathan, and Isaac. Mr. Aaron left and we got Mr. Stew instead. Mr. Stew was great, in a different way. He always read the literature with us(maybe because there weren’t many people) and encouraged us to think more about deep and philosophical ideas. I gained a lot of knowledge that year.

8th grade was fine and relaxing. As most of you know, the principal changed, we were forced to pay an insane amount of money to go somewhere twice a year, we were also forced to go to the Olympic Park place (Aoti) every Wednesday, and ninth grade was high school (that’s why eighth grade did the CP this year). The number of students in ELL gradually increased in unit 2; Isaac and Johnathan left; Daniel came back. It was quite easy as Dr. Terrett didn’t do much philosophical thinking with us.

Time is flying by. In the past years I can feel when the end of the school year is coming, but this year it seemed to come very suddenly. Perhaps it’s because I’m too busy? Maybe I’m used to school life? Or I’m used to having another two weeks of doing nothing except for self-study and watching documentaries after the end-of-semester test? Maybe it’s because all of it added together. Finally, I would like to wish all who decided to stay for high school to have a great year and achieve success in everything. Good luck.

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