During the process of the Fire Project it seemed easy and manageable. As the deadlines approached it became scary and undue able. I began to stress out and procrastinate on my writing simply because it is one of my weaknesses. I saw the finish line intangible until a week ago where I knew that I needed to get my things together and focus. I began to wake up at 2o’clock in the morning to get my writing in and be able to have no distractions but I still struggled with my writing. So, I began to hate the Fire Project, I felt as I was not progressing instead I was at a stalemate. I do think I lost my passion for my issue I simply was over thinking about all my responsibilities and my access to internet was restrained. Therefore, I think that if I would have managed my time more wisely and effectively I would have not been so stressed and could have managed to improve my writing along the way. I made bad decisions but I have certainly learned my lesson and I know I have grown as I person with this experience. I am grateful for having been afforded with the opportunity to have conducted a project such as this one because it has prepared me enough to not only learn about myself as a person but has given me more skills than any class could have given me.
The one critique that I do have is the organizing that was made this year. I think that it was not beneficial to students or the teachers that were working on the Fire Project with us. I think there should have been more communication between teachers and how they structured the classes along with requirements. I think that there were too many alterations during the process which affected many students including me. I think I got lost because one teacher was asking for one thing and the other teacher was asking for something different so I did not know which thing to do first or how to balance it. Then, that requirement was deleted and it just was not helping the flow of the project. Lastly, I think overall it was manageable but did it did have some flaws because nothing is perfect but I think it is the students to blame as well. I do not blame my procrastination on anyone else I just simply think there should have been a better communication system between the teachers and from teacher to student.
Moreover, my experience through the learning process was amazing I was able to learn new material and embedded it into my research. The most impactful learning was the Paulo Freire readings that were given to analyze. I enjoyed it the most because it was something that was struggling wit and then I overcame it and understood it and it all makes much more sense to my world. The most meaningful quote to me is, “knowledge emerges only through invention and reinvention, through the restless, impatient, continuing, hopeful inquiry human being pursue in the world, with the world, and with each other” (p.72). I think that this is the person I have become over my four years at Social Justice High School I have thirst for knowledge and I want to pursue many things in the world and it takes all of the inquiry in me to invent and reinvent to transform the world. Therefore, I think the Freire’s work has opened my consciousness to be more critical of the world to find tangible solutions. I reflect greatly on his work because I know I can always find a meaning in his work that will give me knowledge and hope to keep fighting oppressive systems. I enjoyed his work the most because I can reflect myself in his work and it afforded me with a different lens to see my research and act upon it. Therefore, Paulo Freire’s work should not be eliminated from the Fire Project I think it should be incorporated a bit more. Thank You to all the teachers for the unforgettable experience!