My most meaningful academic achievement through four years of secondary school is my final

English 12 grade. I got 80 percent for my final mark; I received profound marks from numerous classes,
but my English 12 mark is my proudest one. Due to the Covid situation, the school year is changed from
semester system to quarter system. It means that students study two subjects at the same time in two
months. Therefore, the pace of classes is extremely fast. In the beginning, I was careless, and I did not
put effort when I did my assignments. As a result, my mid-term grade is 62%. This news is like a cold
bucket of water that awakes me from my carelessness and subjectivity. I realized that I need to change,
and this is the time to take specific actions. I started focusing on the class, and I always tried my best to
complete my assignments. I listened to my teacher and used Grammarly to improve my English
grammar. In addition, sometimes, I stayed up to three am to study. To conclude, my English 12 mark is
significant to me, for I put a lot of effort to achieve it.

One of the factors that I chose my English 12 course for my academic achievement is its effects
on me. English 12 class is the first class that I struggled with since I have been in Canada. I could not
follow the pace in class, and my writing skill was under average. Additionally, I just changed my
homestay, and there were lots of problems that I need to cope with. Therefore, I was stressed, and this
was a hard time in my grade 12 years. Fortunately, my family and friends always supported me, and I
watched a video on YouTube which helped me to reduce my anxiety. One of my favourite quotes that I
learned from the video is “Too much self-centred attitude, me me me me. Then anxiety, suspicion. The
antidote of self-centred attitude is altruism and consider rest of the human being.”, said The Dalai Lama.
This quote inspired me; my condition was better, and I put a lot of effort to improve my mark. As time
went by, my writing and reading skills developed. In short, this event is unforgettable for me.

Due to the hardships, there are some skills that I learned during my English 12 course. Firstly, my
writing and reading skills are developed. In the course, students read a play names “The death of a
salesman”, I needed to analyze the characteristics of the characters. To do that, students found
evidence in the play such as their speech or acts, and then analyze to propose conclusions. I learned
how to expand my ideas by including details, and think critically when I read. My vocabulary was
enhanced, and my writing speed increases considerably. Secondly, I learned to manage my stress. As I
mentioned above, I struggled during the course. I realize that to reduce stress, I need to have a healthy
life. I did exercise, drink 2L of water every day, and ensured that I had 8 hours of sleep. Moreover, I
planned my day on sticky notes, so I could be more productive. I faced various challenges, but in
exchange, I learned and developed skills that would help me in my future, and I discovered more about
myself.

Through the course, I discovered my strengths and improved my self-awareness. My abilities

are beyond what I believed. In the course, we needed to read and analyze two books within one and a
half months. Then, we needed to write a final assessment that required 2000 words. Before taking this
course, I never believe that I can do both of them. I realized that music had a significant role when I did
my assignments. Listening to lo-fi songs helps me to focus and become more productive. Sometimes,
due to the changing of the beat, I could come up with spontaneously good ideas. Last but not least, I
discovered that one of my strengths is adaptability. Hardships are the motivation for me to continue
developing my knowledge. After the course, I saw my weaknesses and worked to improve them, and I
explored new things about myself and new information.
 This experiment trained me to become stronger and more mature. I learned that the keys to
success are hard-working and determined. The harder I try the better the result. All the skills I developed
during the course are essential not only in my future plans but in every situation. As I want to become
an electrical engineer, I need my writing reading skills to communicate with my customers and analyze
and solve life situations. After the course, I reduce the frequency that I have anxiety, for I have a
healthier life. I always put myself in other perspectives to have the best view of the situation. To
conclude, my self-development during my English 12 class helps me in the present and future.