Caroline Berdugo

Grit:
Throughout this school year, Ive changed my ways of handling all the workload. During
freshman year, I was the slacker that would just give up if things got too hard for me to handle. I
wasnt looking for help, I would just simply abandon what I had and throw it all away. In contrast,
this year- after I hit myself in the head a few times for being a quitter- I gained perseverance and
started working really hard despite the difficulties. The tricky part is, Ive always been a capable
person. I have what it takes to finish what I start, but somehow the lack of perseverance was
holding me back. I think what it helped me, was finding my way. When you dont know what
your goals are, its hard to focus and get the work done because you arent aware of
consequences or the damage. Once, you come face to face to what youre really putting a risk
by being a quitter, its easy to clean your desk and start working intensively without distractions.
A few examples of when I showed grit were, writing my English research paper, studying really
hard on my maths test in order to get more than 100 on them, etc. Once grit became my friend,
I wanted more, and striked for more and thats when it hit me. Ive gained perseverance.

Optimism:
Im an optimistic person when it comes to myself. I do believe that if I work really hard
and push myself I will achieve brilliant things. Wherever I end up, its going to be up to me and
my sacrifices. I aspire to do great things, and Im optimistic enough to hope that Im going to get
there if I really want it. But, Im not really an optimistic when it comes to our world, in fact, Im
more of a realist. Theres so little I can do to fix all the worlds problems. This world is so
messed up, its kind of easy for me lo lose hope. Now, I do think that big changes can be made
if people work together and make their voices be heard. Sometimes being an optimistic that
everything is going to be okay in our world, its another way to not do anything and wait for
others to act or wait for a miracle. I think there needs to be a bit of both: Optimism and realism.
By being aware of the problems based on solid facts, its better to be optimistic with a plan in
hand.

Upstanderness:
This is a habit of mind I need to work on. I havent really shown up upstanderness as
much as I would like. Maybe because I havent found myself in a situation where I really need
to. Our school environment is usually very calm and all the students are all like a family.
Although, this year with the expansion weve seen and heard about a few situations. I havent
actually been present.I wouldnt go as far as to say that I show compassion in front of a crowd
no matter the size, because again, I havent really been put in that situation. But, I havent been
afraid or doubtful when complaining about it to the teachers and staff. I remember having a
conversation in CIvics class with Stacy about how the situation in the bathrooms are getting
worse now with the expansion. I wasnt really standing up for other people, but I wasnt afraid to
talk about the problems that I was aware of. Overall, I really do need to work with this habit of
mind, I know that talking about the problems isnt the same thing as actually helping those who
are situationally disempowered.

Collaboration:
 Throughout this year Ive learned that sometimes I cant do everything by myself, and
that there are times when I need other peoples input. An example of that is when we had to
work with partners when we had a debate in Civics. At first, I wanted to write my own argument
but at the end when I finally gave in, I found out that the argument we wrote together was much
stronger. Also, My CIP, Workplace Skills, taught me that communication and collaboration are
essential skills to use for the rest of our lives. Those are some of the reasons this is the Habit of
Mind Ive improved on this year. Now, Im able to learn from group members and work
successfully with them. Collaboration also allows you to lead sensitively. Ive always considered
myself to be a leader when it comes to school, but this year I was able to consider everyones
opinion in the group and let everyone have a voice. Bottom line, I wasnt self-centered in group
discussions. One of the skills I got out of this was that I became a better listener in general and
this is going to be helpful for me in both school and my personal life.

Community Engagement:
This Habit of Mind has also become one of my strengths this year. Ive been more
engaged in my community, dedicating some of my time and more hours helping causes and
people in need. This year, I was lucky to be selected to be part of the Youth Council Cabinet
with our state representative David Cicilline. With this team, we came up with ideas to help with
bullying in schools and how to take this problem more serious. Moreover, I was also in the
Poverty CIP class with Beth, and we had various field trips where we didnt go just to watch but
also to help (i.e. The Food Bank and Good Neighbors- A soup kitchen). We were able to see
how they provided for the poor and how they also had the essentials for people to just come in
and take it. In this class, we also organized a Thanksgiving drive for the Blackstone families. We
had to work really hard to collect the items and put them in the different baskets. Another
example could be when I spend many hours of a saturday to help distribute some turkeys and
food baskets for Thanksgiving around Central Falls. These are just a few examples of how this
Habit has become one of my strengths and Im really happy about it because it was one of my
goals last year.

Creativity:
While I write this paper, Im realizing how much Ive improved for the last 3 years of high
school. I do consider creativity an area Ive greatly improved on. This year I was able to think
more flexibly and reconsider ideas. For example, in art class I was much more creative and put
a lot of effort in my art pieces than I had done before. I wasnt scared to take risks while
painting, and I was extremely impressed with the outcome. A fact about me is that Im a
perfectionist. So I sort of had an epiphany when I realized that that doesnt really help when
youre an artist. Actually, If you make mistakes and just let your ideas flow without overthinking
it, you get a much more impressive outcome. That was something I learned about myself during
this process, that I have the talent in me (i.e.painting and writing) but the idea of perfection that I
have in my head blocks me from getting to the point I want to be. It takes a few tries to get it
right, but now Im more flexible and Im more likely to reconsider ideas, not only in school but
also in my personal life.

Gratitude:
Ive always been a humble person and I think thats a part of being grateful for I have.
There have been many events in my life that have taught me to not take what I have for
granted. I do take appreciation of what I have and what people do for me, because I consider
that extremely valuable. Im a religious person, and I always try to find time to thank God for all
the opportunities he sends my way. Beside from that, Im also intellectual to know that people,
like my teachers, are always willing to help me when I need it, and I try to show appreciation for
that. When I was younger, I didnt really care about the importance of a thank you in all
honesty. But, as I grew up and started to include myself more in the society, I noticed how
significant that phrase really is. There were times when I got upset when I did help people and
they didnt say it in return. I became aware of the fact that if something distraughts me, instead
of being mad at the person, I first need to evaluate myself to see If I was better, and I wasnt.
Since then, I always try to say it everytime I get the chance and Ive created healthy
relationships with other people just by showing gratitude towards them.

Organization:
Junior year has been a challenge. Not only because of the workload from the classes,
but also for all the requirements I needed to complete in order to become a senior. Organization
was key this year for me, it truly help me when the situation got way too stressful. When I was
overwhelmed by all the stress, I would just write everything down and make a list of what my
priorities were. It helped, because I was able to get everything done just in time. It reminded me
of what my tasks were everyday and sort of kept me in line. Furthermore, I also had a single
binder for all the proficient work that I completed in order to not lose any important papers that I
needed for my portfolio. I learned that from past mistakes and experiences. Ive come to realize
that organization sounds like an easy task, but its actually really hard once its put into practice.
My plans played out more clear because I sort of followed a system and didnt just jump straight
into it. It helped me when planning my service learning, my internship, my English papers, my
SAT practices and finally my portfolio.

Integrity:
This year Ive become more honest to myself. It was necessary for me to be aware of my
failures in order for me to know how to do better. It felt like I just kept ignoring the problems and
blaming it to others or sometimes I pretended like everything was okay. By doing this, I was
lying to myself and it kept me from standing up and kept going. It was difficult for me to come to
terms with myself and be honest of all my mistakes and failures that stopped me from feeling
happy with the state I was in. Once I realized that I had layed back and didnt try in school the
wanted to, the way I knew I could, they way I always did until my high school experience
started. Once I was honest with myself, I decided to talk about it to my advisor, and he did
exactly what I wanted him to do, to just listen. I didnt want him to make excuses for me, all I
needed was a single push to get me started. Since that conversation, I feel like Ive been doing
so much great academically and personally. My 3rd and 4th quarter this year has been just
amazing and my effort has totally paid off. To conclude, integrity was necessary in order for me
to leave it all behind and start fresh, and it really did help. I couldnt be prouder of who I am at
the moment.

Wellness:
This is one of the habits of mind Im trying to improve on. I would consider it my area of
growth. When it comes to focusing on sleep, nutrition and managing stress, I know Ive become
better at them than before. But when it comes to keeping a healthy body, Im not so sure. I know
that I need to exercise more and stop being lazy, but thats easier to be said than done. Eating
healthy is not a problem, because Ive grown up in a house where fast food isnt accepted. My
parents are really strict about healthy eating and thats something Im thankful for. One of my
goals for next year is to be more physically active and to keep it up. Im aware its an important
part of our daily lives because it helps with stress and your health.

Zest:
Sometimes I go home and think about how I probably annoyed Paul too much in class.
Did I talk too much? Should I have raised my hand that many times? He wanted new
volunteers, and here I was trying so hard to keep my hand down, Im pretty sure anyone would
have been able to see the pain in my eyes.
Somehow those have become my silly everyday problems. Looking back at my
freshman year, my problems about participating and engaging in group discussions, were much
more consequential. Learning not to hold my opinion back, has been a great improvement for
me personally. I always have something to add to the class, but I was missing that confidence,
that push that it takes for people to participate. I now have the confidence. My teachers care to
hear what I have to say and/or ask and that my opinion matters in class. Im not afraid to raise
my hand and enthusiastically participate, it shows how Im ready for class, and how I know what
were talking about. Something that surprised me was that my peer/classmates admire that kind
of students. This year more people have come to me for help because Ive shown and have let
them know the kind of student I am. That simple fact only encourages me to keep participating.

Self-Advocacy:
Ive definitely shown self-advocacy this year. Ive become the driver of the car and not
just an unknown passenger. I feel like I have in fact been in control of my life and education
these past few months. Also, Ive come to terms with what its exactly that I want. I now
recognize all my abilities and capabilities, which is the first step of becoming empowered in my
opinion; being able to know your own strengths. This year I was able to create a bond between
myself and my teachers. Id like to think we have a connection (Paul had the patience to listen to
me crying about a book). I went up to them every time I needed help or I was feeling behind.
Not only that, but I also asked for more. I remember asking Tasche if she could recommend me
any books. Also, I talked to my teachers and let them down how I was doing academically. I
wrote an essay for Upfront Magazine and had many more opportunities. These are just a few
examples of how being the director of my own education has sent many opportunities my way. I
hope that when my teachers look at me, they see how eager I am to become better and do gain
more knowledge. A phrase that has become my motto is Knowledge is power and your only
ticket to the future and a way to live up to that is by having self-advocacy and being in control of
your life.

Humility:
I consider myself a humble person. Ive always tried to stay grounded and down to earth,
because I dont really understand the need to look down at people or feel like Im better than
them. Therefore, I am aware of my friends strengths and weaknesses and sometimes I even
look up at them in some way. For example, I always acknowledge all of Tatianas successes.
She is a track star and a very strong person. I, honestly am not very physically active myself and
she jokingly laughs at me because of it, but still I wish I had some of her determination when it
comes to sports. When she expresses that shes not feeling up for a race or a meet, I always try
to encourage her by telling her that she does what it takes. Thats just an example of how I
know my weaknesses and how Im also aware of other peoples strengths.