Hey everyone, welcome back!

It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through March—and more than halfway through the school year. That makes this the perfect time to reflect on my progress so far. Yup, you guessed it! It’s time for an MPOL.

Pol declaration:

“Thank you for coming to my presentation of learning. I am the expert on my own learning. I am also responsible and accountable for my own learning. You can expect me to give an honest evaluation of my progress. We will discuss my strengths and opportunities for growth. Thank you in advance for listening and for offering feedback that I can use to improve as a learner.”

🌱 How Have I Shown Growth as a Learner This Year?

Grade 11 has been my most challenging year yet. There are so many opportunities for growth, but for me, it really comes down to prioritizing where I put my time and effort. I want to stay on top of all my classes, put passion into the things I create, and give my best effort—but right now, I mostly just feel overwhelmed. I want to be thriving and enjoying my learning, not just keeping up.

That said, I know this year has pushed me to grow in many ways I didn’t expect. To explore that growth, I revisited my Vision, Mission, and Values (VMV) from October. Instead of just focusing on academic goals, we took a big-picture approach—defining the kind of person we want to become and how to set ourselves up for success.

I’ve annotated my VMV to track my progress so far. Green check marks highlight areas where I’m on track, while yellow marks areas where I still need to adjust or improve to stay aligned with my vision.

Key Projects That Have Shaped My Learning

Looking back, some of the most defining moments of my learning this year came from projects that pushed me outside my comfort zone.

Digging Deeper: Anthropology in B.C.

In our Digging Deeper project BCFP project, I explored the Nuu-chah-nulth Mask, using anthropological perspectives to analyze how it reflected the life ways of the Tla-o-qui-aht people. This project reinforced how much I enjoy research and creative analysis when I give myself the space to dive deeper. It was exciting to take an open-ended assignment and make it my own, proving to myself that I can bring depth and originality to my work when I let curiosity guide me.

ReconciliACTION

Another big moment of growth was during our ReconciliACTION project, where I researched funding and land repatriation as forms of reconciliation. I took on a leadership role in this project, making sure my team was on track and organized, especially when communication was lacking. It was a challenge to keep everyone aligned, and I realized that I sometimes take on too much myself instead of delegating. Learning how to support my team while also trusting them to take ownership of their parts is something I want to continue working on.

Cold War In Retrograde

A project that really pushed me outside my comfort zone was my Cold War humanities project, where I explored how the war helped shape our world today. The research itself was fascinating—I discovered so many connections and impacts I hadn’t considered before. But the real challenge was presenting it to the class.

I was still making edits to my script the day before my presentation, so I didn’t get to practice much. On the day of the presentation, I was nervous, and my delivery wasn’t as strong as I knew it could have been. It was a tough but valuable learning experience, showing me that preparation and practice are key to feeling more confident in public speaking.

Manhattan Project²:

I had to quickly mention the Manhattan Project project we did at the very start of year. Learning about the Manhattan Project was eye-opening—seeing how much time, money, and effort humanity poured into creating and perfecting ways to destroy each other was fascinating and unsettling.

For our final product we had to create an informational animation video answering the question: “ How did the Manhattan Project’s scientific breakthroughs change the world?”.

This was a huge undertaking where I spent countless hours animating, only to end up with a final product I wasn’t fully proud of. The project taught me the importance of managing my time more effectively and not getting lost in perfection.

🎯 Goals for the Rest of the Year

As much as I’ve grown, there are still areas I want to improve before the year is over:

✅ Getting more done at school. I need to make better use of in-class work time to reduce my workload at home. Staying focused during class will help me balance everything more effectively, giving me more time for hobbies, friends, and sports.

✅ Prioritizing my tasks. I need to be more intentional about where I put my energy, focusing on what truly matters rather than trying to do everything at once.

✅ Letting go of perfectionism. I want my work to reflect my learning, passions, and voice, but I also need to stop obsessing over small details. Instead of aiming for perfect, I want to embrace creativity and take pride in the effort I put in. I want to create work that I genuinely care about. If I can find ways to connect my interests and values to what I’m learning, I know I’ll enjoy the process more.

✅ Preparing better for public speaking. My Cold War presentation taught me that last-minute edits and minimal practice don’t set me up for success. I want to put more effort into practicing my speaking skills so I can feel more confident when presenting whatever it is I need to.

This year has been a whirlwind, but I’ve made real progress toward my goals. I’m learning to balance high expectations with the ability to adapt and embrace new opportunities. Moving forward, I want to keep pushing myself and stay open to whatever comes my way—because that’s how I’ll keep growing.

When I think about post-secondary, it’s definitely overwhelming. I’m pulled in so many directions because I enjoy a variety of things. The pressure to pick one path is real, but I also see it as a privilege (there are endless opportunities!). I’ll keep exploring and hiking on until I find my path.

Thanks for reading/watching my MPOL!

✌️