What are you proudest of about this year so far? I think I am most proud of how my art style and the process have improved and advanced so much this year. I think that having more freedom within the Pilot has really inspired me to experiment with my art and try new things (like video art!) which I wouldn’t have done without this program. My ability to combine images and words has advanced a lot, and I feel like overall, I am more capable of diving into some heavier topics through the form of art.
Has your experience in Pilot allowed you to become an empowered and engaged learner? How so? The pilot has given me the opportunity to work with so many different mentors and get real-life experience working with different artists and people. This is a very empowering experience because unlike a lot of other classes in high school, it connects you to the community and makes you feel like the work you are doing is important. I have learned so much from all my different mentors; Sian, Susan, Maddelena, Camille, and Annie. It a transforming experience to build such close relationships with people who really want to help you learn about something you’re passionate about. It has really improved my confidence, communication skills, and ability to engage in my community in a powerful way.
What are some things from your Pilot experience that you hope to bring with you? There are so many things I have learned in the Pilot that I will take with me after I graduate. The pilot has taught me that my voice matters and that I have full control over my life. It has shown me that it is possible to carve out your own path and do what makes you happy. This is no small thing. I have also learned a lot about myself, my brain, my learning style, and my own creative process. A lot of other helpful life skills have been developed throughout my time here as well. Such as time management, communication skills, as well as planning skills. I know that as I go off to college, and any other life events, I will take all of these skills with me and really hold my time in Pilot and all the things it has taught me.
What changes should we implement? What would have helped you be more successful? I think that it would be helpful if content advisors were more involved in seminars and other pilot meetings. Even though I have mostly had a good experience working with content advisors, I feel like there is a bit of a disconnect between the students and the advisors. It would also be really neat to be able to meet other people’s mentors and to have mentors be a large part of the Pilot community. Lastly, I think it would also be good to have more connections with the rest of the high school. The Pilot Program and the rest of the school always feel disconnected, and it would be cool to find new ways to merge or find connections between these two different types of learning.
What impact has the experience in Pilot had on you overall? Being a member of the Pilot Program for three years has taught me so much about myself. It has made me realize that learning is happening constantly. Whether it’s in the classroom, out in nature, at home, etc. learning is not just an ‘in school’ thing. It has changed the way I look at school. For my whole life before joining the program, I was just trying to get good grades and get by so I could go on to college. By living like this, I was so disconnected from my life and from myself. I prioritized the work that others wanted me to do, which made me feel like my own passions were not important. Being able to now design my own curriculum and have a vast majority of mentorships and real-world experiences have shown me that it’s important to branch out and not limit yourself to the things other people want you to do.