Bryce Walker
Exhibit: Grammar Worksheets Benchmark: Academic Skill: Top piece of work in English English has never been my strong suit. Grammar and punctuation have always been a part of that struggle. In classes related to English I have to try extra hard to achieve a high grade and maintain my 3.8 GPA. I have to put forth a great effort toward English because I can’t comprehend it as well as a math or science subject. I am always for going the extra mile to get better at something. In these worksheets, we were assigned to correct punctuation in the given sentences. I went above and beyond to perfect both of the assignments and it helped me in the long run. These worksheets represent the best work I have ever done in English. Grammar is very important when being applied to daily life. When you write a formal document, you must use proper grammar and punctuation to make the document look appropriate. There are many rules that apply to proper English. Following all of them to a T is nearly impossible. The purpose of working extra hard on the sheets is that I need to apply grammar to my life at the highest level I can. If I want to get a good job or create a formal letterhead, I need to use the proper grammar techniques. Through the hard work on these assignments and the perfecting of them, I achieve a 100% on both and got a 91% on the upcoming test. Even though English is not a main subject in the major of engineering, it still pertains and plays a crucial part of it. In Civil engineering, a lot of things are explained on paper and they need to be understood. With proper usage of English, the explanation of things might come easier than sought out. |
Exhibit: Two Geometry homework assignments
Benchmark: Academic Skills: Top piece of work in Math Math is a subject I have always excelled in. Many of the teachers and staff members have helped me improve my intelligence in math related areas. One in particular gave me the greatest understanding of a math class I have ever had in any class. I have always enjoyed math, I tend to like things I am good at and it comes into play with math. My favorite part math is geometry/trigonometry. These certain geometry assignments were about figuring out the circumference and areas of circles. It was a very tough assignment but it helped me on forthcoming tests and assignments. These assignments may not mean a whole lot, but it represents that I’m willing to do the little things to achieve a good grade. I did my homework very thoroughly in this section to get a better understanding of it. Identifying shapes and the measurements of shapes has always come easy to me. Although it came easy, circles were very tough for me because they added multiple formulas to the mix of original formulas. After a well taught lesson and achieving a 100% on the homework assignments, it led to an A on a future quiz. Math is a skill that is needed in the field of engineering. The ability to do math at the highest level possible and being able to apply it is very important. If I am not very good at math and/or don’t know when to use it, I won’t be a very good engineer. Math classes at Hanover-Horton have helped me understand math and the usage of it at a greater level than other schools would’ve. |
Exhibit: Biology Test, Cell membrane packet
Benchmark: Academic Skill: Top piece of work in Science Science has always been a subject where I excel. All the teachers I have had in science were willing to help me in my studies and they broadened my learning capabilities. I enjoy all the time I have in my science classes. It doesn’t matter what part of science it is, I usually love the class and I enjoy learning about things that involve science. My favorite part of science would have to be Biology. I liked learning about living things and how they interact with their environments. Especially, I liked learning about cells. These two pieces of work are some of my best work in science. They represent something I am very interested in and something I want to learn more about. Cells have always come off as interesting and unique to me. They are very complex structures with cool parts such as the cell membrane. This part of the cell contains a double layer of phospholipids that allow things to go in and out of the cell. I worked extra hard on the packet because I want to pursue anything that intrigues me with a good work ethic. Cells happen to fit in that category of things that interest me. I ended up getting full credit on the packet that helped me on the test. As you can see, I received an A on that test. Engineering is a very complex field; you can pursue many different parts of it. As an undecided engineering major, I need to be open to learning about new things. I realized that cells interest me so I decided to figure out more things about them. With this new found interest, this may mean I want to pursue a biomedical or chemical engineering degree. My deciding field of engineering will have to come in the near future, but I am not just going to base it off this one worksheet and test, even though, this will help my future decision. |
Exhibits: LAS Ch. 18 section 1&2 worksheets
Benchmark: Academic Skill: Top piece of work in Social Studies Making the transition from middle school to high school was very tough for me. A lot of my courses got harder and I had to improve my effort on all assignments. During my freshman year, I took a class called Later American Studies and it was very challenging. These two worksheets helped me get a great score on a very hard test. The chapter 18 section 1 worksheet helped me oversee the chapter and understand key concepts. The section 2 worksheet improved my understanding on what happened in the Watergate scandal. I remember it like it was yesterday, when Mr. Hornbeck said we’d be taking the hardest test of the year in LAS. I knew I had to take the necessary preparatory means to get a good grade on this test. I chose these two worksheets because they are the reason I got the grade I did on the test. I thoroughly filled out each worksheet to the best of my ability. When the papers were returned to me, I was already confident I got a 100% on both sheets and that’s the grade I got. The test was coming up soon and I knew what I was going to study, those two worksheets. I went over the first worksheet multiple times; I knew all of the key concepts and the basics of that chapter. Along with that, I went over the second worksheet just as many times. I could recite everything that happened in the Watergate Scandal. As I took the test, everything seemed so simplistic. I knew everything; it was almost like I was cheating. When my test grade was returned to me, I already knew it was a high score and it was a 93%. This situation is just an example; I usually prepare profusely before every test. Getting ready for big tests will help me prepare for things I come across in my young adulthood. Things such as applying for housing at Western Michigan University take a lot of preparedness. As a future engineer, I need to be prepared for conflicts crossing my path. Engineers are looked to as problem solvers and are usually the ones expected to solve it. The precautions I take through everything I do will help me with this matter. |
Bryce Walker
Exhibit: Business Management packet Benchmark: Academic Skill: Top piece of work in Business Management Business Management is a class that I enjoyed very much. I had a great teacher that taught me the basics of business management. I have always been interested in how a business works, how money is distributed throughout the business itself and how promotions work. The main thing I was interested in was how a business can be built from the ground up. In Chapter one of business management, you learn the basics of businesses and how they work. This was the most interesting part of the class and I tended to study it extra hard. This packet represents my best work in this class. It was the first step into understanding the make-up and processes of businesses. Without visually seeing the process of a working business it is hard to learn about them and have it taught to you. But, the teacher I had painted the picture pretty well for me and the other students. This packet was the start of fully understanding businesses. While achieving full credit on the assignment, I kept up on my work and studied hard which led to an A- in the class. Although most engineers don’t need a business background, they should know how they work. Most likely, these engineers will be working for a big business and not knowing how they work and what a business might ask from you could hurt your job security. Having this skill could only help in the future. |
Bryce Walker
Exhibit: Accountability sheet Benchmark: Academic Skill: Top piece of work in Physical Education Physical Education is my favorite subject and working out will always be a part of me. I have had great teachers that have showed me all the right steps in the weight room and ways to improve my athletic ability. Through their stern and serious teaching tactics they could get a point across very easily. They made us fill out accountability sheets to keep track of how many sets and reps we did in the weight room or gym. The sheet is organized in columns to help the students understand what they need to account for. This accountability sheet represents one of many piece of my best work in physical education. With the great teaching from my mentors and these sheets, I became faster and stronger throughout these four years. But, getting to the point where you are seeing results is not easy. You must constantly be increasing weight, sets and reps in the weight room. Along with that, you need a multiplicity of exercises in your routine. This sheet helped me stay on track and on top of my training. I have always achieved a 4.0 GPA in this class and have always been into working out. It is not a requirement for engineers to be physically excelled. But, this a definite attribute to have. In civil engineering you must be able work in an outdoor environment. For some of the work that is required outdoors you must obtain some sort of physicality. I will not have this problem with everything that has been taught to me about training. |
Bryce Walker
Exhibit: Film Study Test Benchmark: Academic Skill: Top piece of work in film study Film study was one of my favorite classes. Before this, I did not know there could be so many things left unnoticed in a film. The multiplicity of genres came as a surprise to me. My teacher explained a movie very well prior to us watching it to give us an idea of the film and keep us intrigued. In this test we had to study the history of film and what made film into what it is today. I filled out this test to the best of my ability. This is my best work in film study thus far. Film can paint visual pictures that books and written work can’t. Answering questions while following along in the movie is way different than you think. We watched some classic, historical films such as The Great Train Robbery and Workers Leaving the Lumiere Factory. I get more out of visual representation just from this class. I took many study hours over the history of film. I ended up achieving over a 100% on the test and the class is going very well. Engineers do not need a background in film. But, they need to be able to interpret things visually and apply. Engineering is a hands on/visual job and you need to have this skill. I have obtained that through this class so I should have nothing to worry about. |
Bryce Walker
Exhibit: International Film worksheet Benchmark: Academic Skill: Top piece of work in International Travel International Travel was a very interesting class. I wouldn’t say the class has material you need to learn, but it is more of a skill that it is good to have. We learned about things that were beyond traveling like learning basic phrases in many languages, how to use the military alphabet and planning a trip to another country. At the beginning of the class, we researching European countries and we were learning about the country of Ireland. This is the sheet that went along with the movie. This worksheet is my top piece of work in International Travel. Many people may overlook this class and it may be sought out to be a blow off class. I think this class teaches a skill that most have to learn on their own the rough way. Even though a class may be considered “blow off”, I still put in the necessary study hours and work ethic as I would in any other class. This worksheet displays the hard work I have put into this class. I got an A on this sheet when others are not doing it or blowing it off. For engineering, you do not need a class in International Travel. Although, many engineers get vacation time and they need to know how to utilize it. Now I can apply this skill to my life and maybe save money on expensive trips in or out of the country. |
Bryce Walker
Exhibit: Spanish 2 Writing Test Benchmark: Academic Skill: Top piece of work in Spanish At first, Spanish was very tough for me. Learning a new language can be at times as hard as it sounds. Baby steps are the key in learning Spanish. If you don’t know what you are doing at the very beginning of the class, it may ruin your entire understanding of the class. I had to make sure I was my learning slow and steady and my teacher agreed with that motive. In Spanish 2B, we took a very hard test over verb usage of the Spanish language. It was very hard and it took a lot of study hours. This test represents my best piece of work in Spanish. Using the proper verb tense along with using the right verb is very hard. The amount of study hours I put into this class is unsurmountable. In order to achieve a good grade in this class I knew I had to put in the extra hours to get the grade I wanted. This writing test represents my hard work and how it paid off. I got one of the only 100%’s in my entire class which is something I am proud of to this day. Engineers need a foreign language in their background. A lot of group work comes with engineering and some of the other engineers might not speak fluid English. You have to know at least the basis of another language to be an engineer. I feel like through taking two years of Spanish that I achieved this skill. |
Bryce Walker
Exhibit: Question of the day Benchmark: Academic Skill: Top piece of work in 21st century communications 21st century communications is a new class at Hanover-Horton. It was a class I liked and something I was very interested in. We learn about current issues around world and we interpret them as a class. Along with the class, the teacher said it would be a learning experience because it was her first time teaching the class. This sheet has the question of the day on it and that is how we kept up on recent news. This is one of my best pieces of work in 21st century communications. Many people don’t know how important it is to watch the news regularly. There could be some public information given out that you may need to know. Our teacher showed us how to properly follow news through liable resources and how to interpret it. To achieve this, we followed up on new through Question of Day essays and we would explain what the news meant to us. It was a big part of our grade so I took these very seriously. This mini essay is one of my many 100%’s in the class. As I grow into a young adult I need to do things more independently. To keep up on news such as amber alerts, weather conditions and breaking news needs to be done on my own time. I feel as if this skill has been achieved through this class and I now know the basic of keeping up on the news. |