When I first heard about Summit Learning, I admit that I was a little discouraged. I thought that the Platform component would lower my interactions with other students. But when I went to school and got to experience Summit firsthand, I was astonished.
“Summit didn’t limit my interactions, it grew them.”
Recently, we did a poetry project in English Language Arts, and one of the activities was a peer review. I would have never done this review if it was up to me, as I prefer to work independently. But when I did the peer review, I found myself making corrections and additions that I would have missed. The experience had done something I thought was nearly impossible — it made my poem better. My partner informed me of my mistakes and told me where I could give more detail.
Interactions like these are what Summit is all about. This style of learning brings a positive, hard-working culture that allows you to break your limits and keep going. It creates a sense of community, since we are all striving for a similar goal. Summit Learning gave me a new meaning of grit and hard work.
I have always been ahead or advanced, but in a normal classroom there are limits to what and when you can do things. With Summit, I can go beyond expectations in projects or move ahead in learning new content when I’m ready. I have ownership of my work and strive for my goals. Plus, I feel a sense of community in my classroom that I have never felt before.
In my poetry project, one of our final products was to present our poem to the class. I’ve always loved public speaking, but I thought with Summit I would have fewer chances to speak. I was wrong. The peer activities we did with a partner gave me an extra push of confidence and inspired me to do more to make my presentation the best it could possibly be.
I got up and read my poem with lots of confidence, and one of the questions I got at the end was, “Can you read your second poem again?”
“Summit balances teamwork and community with competitiveness and hard work in a way that is truly motivating.”
Summit Learning has showed me how much people can grow and change. It has been one of the greatest experiences of my life, and I cannot see myself transitioning back to a “normal” classroom. I think Summit is an experience everyone should get to have.
I really feel that learning through Summit has not only helped me grow academically, but also mentally. In moments, I find myself wondering how I knew something or why I helped out a classmate, when I might not have done so in the past. When I tell my brother about me helping others he asks, “Why did you do it?” I have no answer, except Summit Learning. It’s helped me see people differently, and to see myself differently.
Read other student voices on the Summit Learning Blog.