Alex+N's+reflection+page

__**Enrty One: Day 1&2 - St. Andrews Primary School, 2/8/2011**__ The first couple of days have been very exciting yet exhausting. There has been alot of information to take in and lots to organise. After getting settled i have really enjoyed my first two days here at St.Andrews. I worked with the prep class both of these days and loved it, although it was hard to get their attention sometimes. I liked reading with them and helping them to achieve goals they thought were beyond their reach. I found that when in the prep classes you were never sitting around doing nothing you were always moving around the classroom with something to do. The prep teachers were very kind and welcoming and really got me involved in everything they were doing in the classroom.
 * COMMUNITY LINKS**
 * Reflections**

__**Entry Two: Days 5&6 - St. Andrews Primary School, 9/8/2011**__ Now that we have got the hang of everything we were able to make the most of our experience here. It is coming towards the end of our first week and the days are passing faster and faster. I have discovered that there have been both postives and negatives about this program. I found that the staff were not as friendly and helpful as we'd hoped which was a bit uncomfortable sometimes when we were to ask questions. But on the other hand during my time at St.Andrews i have got to know my partner Zane very well and even through we were very good friends before this I feel that now we have created an even better friendship. We have also made lots of little friends which was extremely cute.

__**Entry Three: Days 8&9 - St. Andrews Primary School, 12/8/2011**__ Today was my last day at community links. Zane and I both had the opportunity to attend the St.Andrews Athletics carnival to assist in the events. It was a very exciting day for the kids and I really enjoyed myself. This was probably the highlight of this program. When we had finished at the Athetics Carvival we went back to the prep classes and said our good byes which was very sad. Overall my time here has been great, i loved working in the prep classes and getting involved but have also realised that i do not have the patience to become a primary School teacher and have a new respect for them. However one of the challanging experiences has been trying to communicate and ask for assistance because the staff were not very helpful and did not seem like they wanted us there. In the past 2 weeks i have gained lots of experience and gained skills that will be able to assist me in future opportunities.

__**MELBOURNE EXPERIENCE:**__

On the 1st and 2nd of August we the year 9 students of Mackillop College met at the Werribee Train Station. We were all very excited with high expectations of what the next two days had in store for us. For some it was their first time in the city and for others it was their first time catching public transport. Melbourne Experience gave everyone a feel of what we have to explore in Melbourne. We looked at culture, history and art along with out main focus’ of Poverty and Sustainability. I thought it was a great experience and made people enthusiastic and want to go back and see more of the city. As my main focus was Sustainability I felt that I got a good understanding of where it sits in Melbourne and how we actually are quite a sustainable society. During our time on the tours we saw “green sweepers” keeping the streets of Melbourne clean, recycle and rubbish bins and rubbish collectors in the Yarra River. I think it tied in well with what we are looking at in class and I really enjoyed myself along with a lot of my peers. (194 words)

Each week for 10 weeks you will need to make a relection about your experiences. Each reflection is expected to at least 200 words in length.

The topic or questions you are asked to reflect on at listed below. Copy these questions to your individual reflection page.

**Week 1**
__**What is the best piece of advice you have ever received**?__

The best piece of advice I have ever received was from my Mum. She told me that I should always be kind to others and be greatful for what we have and to always think of those who are less fortunate than us. I found this to be a very valuable lesson because in life because today we take everything we have for granted and dont appreciate anything until we witness those who dont have anything at all. Being kind makes you see things differently, when you are kind to someone or do something to go out of your way for someone else, you feel good about yourself and in todays society, there is not many people like that so i find her to be a big inspiration. I look at my Mum as a role model I think the is a great example of this. She always puts her family and friends before herself and looks after everyone as best she can. She is a very selfless person and is compassionate towards her peers and relations.

Week 2

 * __What would happen if you threw a piece of trash on the ground? What if everyone did?__**

If I threw a piece of trash on the ground it would not only make our community look untidy but also effect the living state of surrounding animals. If everybody did the same the whole ground would be filled with trash and there would many other problems such as un healthy living habits, drain blockages and plain poor hygiene. It would also de-value the area so no-one would want to live there, it would be dangerous and it is something that is so simple that we can prevent from happening. There have been many issues that arise from this issue. Humans and animals would become sick and perhaps spread diseases, there would be termites, rats and mice everywhere and it would be very unsanitary. A good example of this is animals that are severely injured or killed because of plastic in the ocean or on-land animals eating the scraps on the floor as well as the packaging. If one person starts throwing rubbish on the ground then soon people will follow and these problems will become a reality and already have started to.

Week 3
__**What would you do if you saw a friend cheating - report it, confront the friend or nothing - and why?**__ __**What do you think courage means?**__ __**What do you think makes a good friend?**__

If i saw a friend cheating I probably wouldnt confrount them about it because I wouldnt have the confidence to say anything. Although I believe that it is the wrong thing to do and it is not helping that person in any way I still don't think that if it was one of my best friends i would not confront them.

Courage means that you should have the confidence to go up to that friend and tell them that what they are doing isnt the right thing. I do believe that a good friend should have the best interest in that person and tell them that they shouldnt be doing that but personally if I was put in that position i dont think i would be able to confrount that person. If it was the opposite way around I would like my friend to tell me to stop doing that, but on the other hand it would be very embarrasing for my friend to have to confrount me saying that they saw me cheating.

A good friend is someone that you can trust to always be there for you and tell you right from wrong. In this case a good friend would tell that person that they should stop but it really depends on if you are very confident towards that person and considering how that would make them feel, e.g..embarrassed, ashamed,

Week 4

 * __What is your most indispensable possession and why?__**

My most indispensable possession would be my camera. This being because when taking photos i feel like i see things differently through the lens. When you look back on photos you can spot out things you may not have noticed before and capture your favourite moments with one picture. My camera is like my memory, going back in time to revisit these memories in your life where you can remember every little detail like it was only yesterday. I suppose it is probably the photos rather than the camera that i treasure but its the object that captures those moments that is the "indispensable possession".

**Week 5**
__**What do you think about people polluting the environment?**__

We are paying lots of money to stop pollution in ourenvironment. Why are we doing this? well,all of us do it. We cause pollution by getting to school every day. Majority of us get driven to school every morning, the other half take public transport and a very small percentage of people walk to school. Yes, public transport is more sustainable but all of these chemicals in the air and fumes from cars are effecting our health, our environment and our wildlife. No it is not only us, big business companys and manufacturers are polluting our air with all of these products we don't necessarily need. This is our earth and we need to reserve and preserve for future generations. People being careless about our environment because I don't think people understand what may happen if we continue with this behaviour.

**Week** **6** __**How do you feel when you do something wrong?**__ __**How do you feel when you do something that is very good?**__

When I do something wrong I feel guilty and remorseful. This being because it is a natural feeling when someone is telling you that you have done the wrong thing. You learn from doing something wrong more than if you did it right. This can be a lesson and rather than a bad thing it can turn into a positive. When you do something wrong you become a little it angry and annoyed so you try harder to achieve that next time you do it. It is like there is a little switch inside you that flicks and you are determined to do it better.

When you do something good it motivates you and makes you feel good about yourself. You try as good as you did the first time if not better so you can achieve your end result. You becomee more generous with your emotions when you do something that is good because you feel happy and proud. This meaning that you are more patient and take time to help others and be in a better mood.

**Week 7**
__**I wish there was a law that said... This would be a good law because...**__

If there was a law that said every child should have the same rights no matter what background, what religion, what environment or what social status, every child has the right to have an education, fresh clean water, a safe home and someone to look after them. We take all of these simple things for granted and take advantage of these things. The main issue is money and it causes too many problems in society today. I believe that this would be a good law because it means fairness and equality for every child up to the age of 16 and until they are at least capable to look after themselves and perhaps assist taking care of a younger sibling. Having children looking after and caring for babies ie. taking on the mothers role at the age of 5 or 6 must be so hard on them, and we complain when we have to mind our baby brothers or sisters for a few hours while our parents are out. This would also decrease the big numbers of homelessness and poverty around the world and could put the government in a very good position to actually do something about the real problems happening outside of parliament house.

**Week 8**
__**When you are angry, how do you look? When are you happiest? When have you felt lonely? When do you feel proud?**__

1.When I am angry my lips purse, i fold my arms and my eyes narrow. When I asked my Mum what i look like when I'm angry she replied with "ugly" which wasn't a very helpful response. But I know that personally when I see someone that is angry it doesn't put me in a very good mood either so it desnt just effect my emotions but the people around me, 2. I am happiest when I am dancing. I love to dance and i love making other people happy when i dance.I feel like i can express through my dancing and tell people what I am feeling without saying any words. 3. This may sound funny but I can't think of a time where I have ever been really lonely 4. I feel proud when i accomplish something I have been working hard at, when I set goals and achieve what I set out to do. I feel proud when my Mum and Dad say positive things about me and i feel proud of others when they achieve something or when they do something nice. I am in a better, more caring mood when I am in a happy or proud mood because it puts you into a different mind frame and you automatically want to make others feel that same feeling you do. It feels good when you know you have done something and you are proud of yourself because in your mind you know that all of that hard work you have put in had payed off and you can always tell in your result.

**Week 9**
__**Which quality do you dislike most about yourself - laziness, selfishness, childishness - and why?**__

One of the qualities I do not like about myself is laziness. This being because there are a lot of things I would like to do that i don't or haven't done in my lifetime. I hate the feeling when you know you could have done something but you just couldn't be bothered at the time and then you miss out later on and beat yourself up about it. I also dislike my selfishness, I know that everyone has a selfish bone in their body but when I do something for myself instead of others or leave someone else out or put myself before anyone else I feel very guilty after woods which isn't a good feeling. I know I am in a better mood when I help others and be more generous which is better than feeling guilty or upset. I would never do something intentionally to be selfish but there are choices in life where you decide to do something and you don't realise that you are actually being selfish and not thinking of others. I know that my Mum has said to me before that I have made some self involved decisions without thinking about how they effect others and I havnt even noticed it myself.

**Week 10**
__**Why do you think prejudice exists in the world?**__

To answer this question i had to look up what prejudice meant, which is an assumption made about someone without having adequate knowledge to do so without guaranteed accuracy. It is a preconceived judgment. People can be prejudice for differences such as race or social class. People sometimes feel better about themselves if they see weaknesses in others. People do not understand these differences so they try to justify it to themselves that they may be more superior. People these days don't sit down and take the time to understand people and they are threatened by things they do not know.