SIMON WALTER FALL TERM 2016 PERSONAL NARRATIVE

Introduction
This term was a difficult one for me... it took me a long time to get an internship and I still
need to get a lot of required work done. Still, I managed to pick up steam near the end and I
have a few things that I'm really passionate about that will spill over into Spring term.
Learning and Project Plans
I left both my learning plan and all of my project plans undone... I've never been one for
planning when I know exactly what I want to do and now, in order to gain proficiencies for the
work I've done, I need to write up and submit rubrics.
Meeting Learning Standards
Apprenticing- It took me five weeks to get an internship, but luckily I had some hours
logged from the farm-to-school workshop I attended over the summer that made up for most of
those that I missed. When I finally did get settled at ECHO and the SBHS Art Department,
though, I found both experiences to be valuable in their own ways.
Communication- I expressed most of my learning through writing, as I always do, and
created art for my own enjoyment.
Civic & Social Responsibility- I didn't specifically aim for any of these proficiencies this
term, but I did participate in Socratics (especially the discussions).
Reasoning and Problem Solving- I worked for some time on the required science project,
but ultimately ended up scrapping the idea I had been going with, as I hadn't been that
interested in it to begin with. As a result, I didn't gain any proficiencies this term- although I am
taking a stats class at CCV that will net me some of the ones I need.
Personal Development- I didn't aim for any of these proficiencies either, but I took care of
myself as best I knew how (as I always do).
LTI Experience
As mentioned before, it took me five weeks to get an internship. I had a shadow day at
reSOURCE, but the environment that employees created made it hard for me to succeed and I
didn't end up returning. I got an internship all set up with Orchard Vet before finding out that
they were already hosting another intern and I would have to wait until spring. I tried a few other
vets and doggie daycares with no success and ended up going with backup plans I'd had since
last year- ECHO (having already established volunteer positions) and the SBHS art department.
So far my work at ECHO has been all cleaning and feeding the fish, even though I came there
with the idea that I would be working directly with the animals. It's tedious work that I don't feel
particularly fulfilled by, but it gave me much-needed hours and gave me an idea of what working
with wildlife vs. domesticated animals is like. Special care needs to be taken in order to prevent
cross-contamination and the animals are treated more like parts of the exhibit rather than their
independent own being.
I found more success at the SBHS art department. I was assigned on my first day to
repaint a mural of Barack Obama that had been vandalized, and being able to pour an entire
day's worth of effort into a single project was a welcome break from fruitless internship
searching (up to that point). Most of my time was ultimately spent doing watercolors (my

preferred medium) for various other projects, as well as doing drafts for the Cafe 3 mural project
that I'll touch upon later.

Culture and Community

I'm always looking to improve my role in the Big Picture community, especially as a
leader. I like initiating discussions in Community Meeting and running activities, such as the
pancake pick-me-up for our holiday party. I still need to work on not letting my own depression
and negative attitude spill over into discussions and dictate my attitude towards my teachers
and classmates. With talk of revamping Socratics, I'm thinking of leading a book club and
guiding discussions about each chapter in place of participating in Socratic discussions.
Questions and Goals
My focus in Big Picture is still four-year graduation- I need to get my science project and
STP done, but hopefully the proficiencies that I gain from those projects will round out those that
I need for graduation. I'll also want to finalize a backup plan in case I'm not able to graduate this
year.
I have my internships at ECHO and Orchard Vet all set up for next term, and I'll be able
to work at the art department again at some point as my time at both locations is limited to a
certain frame. I'm also working on a mural for Martin Luther King Day at SBHS- a galaxy on
one wall of Cafeteria 3. Through the art and custodial departments and with the help of my
friends, the wall is primed dark grey and I'm waiting on an opportunity to chalk out guidelines for
volunteers to fill in at the event.
My projects in Spring term will most likely be those that I started this term and never
finished / applied for proficiencies for, but I'd like to do something involving animals as wellperhaps alongside Orchard Vet.