Alejandra Pena

Mr. Steed
English 12
Period 4
16 May 2016

How have I developed as a scholar, creator, activist, and how have I contributed to my school/
community?
Throughout my seven years here at Los Angeles Leadership Academy High School I have
grown as a person in many ways. I have grown as a scholar, creator, and activist by simply being
part of this school and working with my teachers and staff members. Due to the environment that
this school provides me with, it is easier to give back to my community and school.
My teachers and the after school staff have played an enormous role in helping me grow as
a scholar tremendously by helping me with my assignments and making time to speak with me
and answer my questions. I am not a person who understands the material right away, it takes me
a while to understand, and the tutors from the after school program have had so much patience
with me. My teachers work with me one on one when I am having a difficult time with the
assignments and understanding the material. They also made the lessons interesting by showing
movies that connect with what we are learning in anyway and the projects that I am suppose to
do. They allow the projects given to be done in a group, which helps me learn how to collaborate
with others and working in groups helps me learn new things from my team members that I can
later on use to do my assignments.
Not only has the school helped me become a better scholar but it has also helped me
become a creator. I have discovered skills that I never knew I had. For instance, in art class there

was a project in which the students had to take a selfie. Once the students had a selfie printed out
they were to draw themselves and paint their faces using whatever color they wanted. I never
thought that I would be able to draw my own face and paint it without it looking like a mess. My
art skills have evolved in so many way that I can not explain and the class has taught me to have
patience. Film class has helped me look at things from different perspectives and when creating,
one can use even the slightest little detail as inspiration.
Los Angeles Leadership Academy High School has helped me become an activist and
stand up for what is right and for my own and others rights. When I was in seventh grade I
attended Los Angeles Leadership Academy Middle School and was able to participate in a
protest for the Dream Act. I liked to be part of something that will help so many people in the
future. Also on Cesar Chavez day everyone goes out of school to help the community look better
. For example, I have gone to help out at Loreto Street Elementary School and other students
have gone to help out at the Children's Hospital. Also one year many student walked around the
streets in the community and picked up any trash they found and threw it away.I would have
never had this opportunity if I had not come to this school. This school has helped me so much
throughout my years there and I am happy to help out my school and community.
Los Angeles Leadership Academy has helped me grow as a person in many ways. I have
grown as a scholar because the teachers have made the lessons interesting and they have helped
me understand by answering my questions. Not only has the school helped me become a scholar
but they have helped me become a creator by helping me reach my full potential and helping me
discover what I can do. I have also became an activist through the years. Due to the opportunities
given to me by the school, I was able to participate in something that would help many people in

the future. Due to participating in programs like the Dream Act, the school was able to teach me
to fight for justice.