TOW 30: Letter to New APELC Student

Dear New APELC Student,

First off, I would like to commend you for being bold and deciding to take this course. Based on the reputation this course has, you have probably heard that it is tough. While the course truly was one of my more difficult courses, it really does a great job in preparing you for a life full of essay writing. This class, although quite challenging, provides you with the resources and skills to succeed in future high school classes, college, and whatever profession you intend on pursuing. This course, if you put in the work to truly improve your writing, can really help bolster your skills and help you in life. 

The first bit of advice I would give to you is to not get hung up on the grade. In terms of myself, I, like yourself, had aspirations of coming in and getting an "A" for the year. I felt as though a single "B" would ruin my college aspirations, and ultimately be the end of the world. However, in reality, it's not. One of the main lessons I learned from this course is to not let a grade define yourself. If you have not yet understood this lesson, this course will teach you that. In a self-evaluation of myself, while I may not have gotten the "A" I had aspired to obtain, my writing skills improved immensely and with college essays now staring at me this summer, I don't feel like a deer in headlights, but instead one who has already made it across to the other side of the street, ready to frolic with other smart deer. While it is important not to let a grade define you as a person, you also need to stay motivated, and not "accept a B" too early. I have seen students who started out with 84's and 85's rise up to get A's by the end of the year. So moreover, the moral of this lesson: Don't let grades define you, but in the same breath, don't be complacent with low grades.

In terms of a method to being successful in this course, one of my main suggestions would be to conference with Mr. Yost and Ms. Pronko as often as possible. Some of my worst essays were ones that I wrote without discussing them with anyone, and after these setbacks I learned to always talk with both teachers to make sure I was on the right path. Both of them are extremely open to reading and discussing your essays with you, and the benefit of this is that they are the ones actually grading your work. So in essence, you are getting the grader's feedback before you even submit your essay. By the end of the year, I was writing much better papers simply due to the fact that I discussed my ideas and really fleshed them out with both Mr. Yost and Ms. Pronko.

So while you have probably come into this course thinking it's going to be difficult, which it is, if you persevere, get help, be diligent, and be in it for the learning, you will reap the benefits of this fantastic course. This year if chalked full of fun times like TOGA DAY, heated class discussions, and of course the mock and final AP Exam! Reflecting on this year as a whole, while I may have gotten a "B" in the course, I thought I was extremely well prepared for the actual exam, which is really what matters. This year, while it will be challenging, is only helping prepare you for college and the world. Don't forget to have fun with Mr. Yost and Ms. Pronko as they are truly great people and possibly know how to have fun :)

Now Senior,

Aayush Sanghrajka

TOW 29: Documentary- Jiro: Dreams of Sushi

      We are often told that if we work hard in what we do, we can achieve greatness. In the documentary, Jiro: Dreams of Sushi, we are shown a perfect example of this adage in action. Jiro, an 85 year-old sushi specialist doesn't want to even take a vacation as he thinks that he continually has to perfect and better his sushi. The taste, smell, presentation, and aesthetic of the restaurant are continually being assessed for future betterment. While Jiro has obtained the most honorable prize for a culinary artist with 3 Michelin stars, he continually sees room for improvement in order to become a better person and sushi artist. In our own culture, we can see this lifestyle is often overlooked however, in reality, if one sets their mind to something, anything truly is possible.
      In my own life, I have seen just how hard work and dedication can pay off. My family friends' son, Anshuman, was diagnosed with cancer at age 12 and while his leukemia did infact go into remission, he relapsed just one year later. At the age of 14, his family flew him to CHOP and had him taken care of. At the point of entry into the hospital, the doctors gave him a <1% chance of survival. The amount of heart he showed, determination, and drive to beat cancer showed through as if you had met him on the street, besides his glowing bald head, you wouldn't be able to tell that he had cancer. Anshuman was a trooper, and his doctors were generals. In an attempt to help Anshuman, the doctors tried a new process of curing cancer which was still untested, however with much drive and perseverance the doctors were able to cure Anshuman, send him back into remission, and give him his life back. His hard work, as well as the doctors' show us that hard work truly does pay off and while many people overlook hard work and think it is hopeless, it truly does pay off in the end.
     While there are several other less severe examples like riding a bike, learning how to bake a cake, and studying for the SAT hard work does actually pay off and a perfectionist mindset can be quite beneficial. Like Jiro, I am a perfectionist. While it may not show through my schoolwork and the mess in my room, when I make music through DJing, I do not accept subpar work. I picked up DJing last year and while I don't DJ large parties, I still put out mixes online for others to hear. Through my search for music, I am constantly sorting through music, making sure it's perfect for a mix. While it does take extra time to sort and evaluate every song, the methodical way of finding music and making sure it appeals to a crowd has allowed me to become a better DJ and closer to someone who can play large parties.
     Jiro: Dreams of Sushi truly showed that perfectionism, hard work, and dedication can help propel a person to a whole other level. So while hard work is often overlooked and categorized as luck, in reality, hard work is one of the main things that makes a project successful.