Ashley Marquez

English 12
May 10, 2016

Reflection Essay #1
Los Angeles Leadership Academy High School has shaped the scholar, creator and
activist I am today because of the way they involve their students in various academic activities,
and prepare them for college. I have noticed that developing their students into those three
categories have been their main focus since my freshman year due to the opportunities they
displayed for us, the special events of community service, and the hands-on activities they
enforced.
To begin with, LA Leadership helped me become a great scholar because of the various
opportunities they offered us with. My college counselor, Karla Marquez, would announce
internships and study abroad programs so that the students can be able to keep themselves busy
with experiencing new things instead of always studying and doing homework before or after
school. I always made sure to stay alert of the opportunities and apply to as many as I could.
Fortunately, I became a Junior Volunteer at the LAC+USC Medical Center and I was able to
learn so much from it because I became more social and reliable. I enjoyed helping patients in
need of a distraction from their agony by delivering them magazines, book, and activities like
word search and puzzles. In addition, I was able to study abroad in Egypt for the summer of
2015. Studying in a whole different country was a life changing experience because I managed to
live on my own and become open-minded to various beliefs, traditions, and morals.
Throughout my four years at the school, I noticed that LA Leadership Academy is big on
Activism. They have always taught us to be become involved, educated about political events,
and dedicate our time to make our community a better place. Ms. Hala Dillsi was one of my
Facing History teachers back in Sophomore year and she would teach the students about current
or past events that happened in our community dealing with injustice or hatred towards different

Ashley Marquez
English 12
May 10, 2016

racial, religious, and sex groups. I feel like she did the right thing in teaching us those things
because it is always good to be aware of what is happening around our communities so that we
can be filled with knowledge and be able to spread it around to educate others. Ms. Hala truly
inspired me into becoming more involved with community events and just recently, I went to a
human rights protest in downtown with my current Economics teacher, Ms. Peta Lindsay, and I
enjoyed it so much. I was able to see how motivated Latinos were and how they wanted to get
their voices heard in justifying the rights of every human being.
The teachers at LA Leadership have always inspired the students into expanding their
imaginations and creating new things. They have never restricted us from from showing
creativity due to all of the projects and hands-on activities they assigned to. I feel like hands-on
activities really help students master various concepts because they get a better understanding
when finding solutions, thinking outside of the box and creating on their own. I enjoyed having
Art class with Ms. Jimenez because I was able to release my stress by drawing, painting, and
creating new things like baskets and sculptures.
To conclude, LA Leadership Academy helped me become a greater individual in the
aspects of a scholar, creator and activist. They provided several opportunities for all students so
that they can keep themselves productive and get their minds off of school work. In addition,
they helped students expand their minds as well as teaching them how to always give back to
their community. I do not regret attending LALA one bit because it is one of the fundamental
contributions to my success. I am truly thankful for all of their support and advice, without
them, I would not have been the successful individual I am today.