My first Publication Alumni Magazine21-online | Page 21

ISSUE 21, JUNE 2019
people feel discontent with some aspects of the school. But,
as a whole, I think it’s a wonderful place and my experience
has been amazing. It’s important to note, though that this
is because I took everything from ACS that I could. Every
single moment I was here, if there was a need, I’ve been
volunteering for everything. For example, I’ve been a tour
guide since 9th grade. It’s been amazing. First, I know a lot
about my school, and then it has been great, being able to
share it, to highlight the good parts about the school. For
example, yesterday I was making the tour around campus
for the visiting college counselors, and it was the first time
I did it in English. It was so much fun and I’m so happy
that this was my last tour. I’ve been thinking – this whole
experience, and doing everything that I can to improve it,
and taking everything that I can and improve myself. I think
this is part of the ACS experience, with all the opportunities
to explore, and I took some of them. If you don’t, there’s
nothing that can give you this experience. If you don’t do it,
there is nothing that can give you this experience.
The power within?
Yeah, of course, there are students at ACS that just don’t do
anything with the school, don’t participate and they don’t
have the same experience. ACS gives you as much as you
give to the school.
This is very mature of you!
I’m very mature! 
Joana practicing some tricks for the Circus Club
Regardless that I look like a 7th grader. (laughs)
I’m under the impression that you are very successful
at ACS.
Well, yes.
So, how does one succeed at ACS nowadays?
Well, I feel like it’s a lot of small things that one has to do.
Just paying attention in class, doing your things on time,
putting in effort. It’s a lot of effort. I always, always, always,
whatever I do, I give everything, all my effort in it. And
it doesn’t matter if it’s the beginning or end of the school
year. It shows a lot, not only in my grades, but also in my
relationships with people. I respect all of my teachers and
they respect me, because they know they can count on me,
they have seen I work very hard. And they know that what
I do is maybe the best that can be done in this case. For
example, if I don’t understand something, chances are no
one else around does. This is because I’m always paying
attention. I’m just organized as a whole. It’s a process, I
didn’t come in 8th grade like this. Now I’m a senior and
I know, I’ve had this experience for 5 years and I have to
be better than in 8th grade. With time I’ve learned that
trying to listen is natural for me, it’s not something I have
to push myself to do. I just sit in class. I may not be taking
notes, I may be doing something else, but I’m listening and
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I’m asking questions, I’m paying attention. For example,
in mathematics, even if I seem to not be paying attention
- writing something else, or preparing something or just
like, doodling, I know where the class and the problems are
going. I know when there is a mistake on the board. I know
when there is something that needs to be changed. I’m
always explaining to the people around me when they need
help. And this is what I’ve been doing, but I don’t think it
would work with everyone. The thing is that everyone has
to find their way of learning and doing things. Because not
everyone can learn in class. For example, I cannot learn at
home. I cannot stay at home and learn from a textbook and
just read and just know what’s happening.
Oh, you’ll learn! 
I hope so! The thing is that I learn 90% of the material
in class. And it’s just from paying attention and doing
the things that are expected of me. It’s very important
for students to understand that teachers are not there to
torture them. The things we are doing, they are for us.
Teachers don’t want to check more work or to give lower
grades, it’s not good for them. These are just things we need
to do in order to improve. If you think you don’t need it –
OK. But, you don’t get to complain after that.
Fair enough. Which was your best day at ACS?