projects page
Poetry Project
Final Poem
Growth as a Poet Reflection
Art Piece
Video of my Performance
Globalization project
Project Description
Throughout this project my peers and I studied closely the pros and cons of globalization ranging from the wealth of globalization benefiting wealthier nations to poor workers being declined their humanity in hostile working situations. We focused on Trade organizations and the development of “America” all over the world including the diverse mixing of cultures in the world. For my project I chose to focus on the infamous Structural Adjustment Program (SAP). The “so called” main purpose of the SAP is to help developing countries out of economic crisis. However, my research showed a different objective. Instead of helping countries as the SAP claims to do, the hidden objective is to generate profits for the World Bank, IMF, and wealthy nations. I completed research notes researching both the beneficial and negative outcomes of the SAP. However, most of the sources I found talked about the negative outcomes of the SAP, therefore I chose to focus on the hidden negative side of the SAP. I wrote a 1000 word OpEd explaining my findings. I also created a political cartoon explaining in a picture my perspective of the seemingly benevolent SAP.
Learning Reflection
Globalization was fairly new to me when it was introduced at the beginning of the semester. However, throughout the semester I have not only grown in knowledge, but wisdom as well. The idea of globalization is something that has to be understood in order to succeed in a world enveloped by it. I am glad that I got the opportunity to learn about it at this time so I can continue to grow in understanding throughout my life. My biggest takeaway from this project is probably the new knowledge of what globalization can cause. One of the things that really impacted me during this project was the loss of humanity in the world of globalization. It is hard to believe that behind the cloak of kindness, there is a hidden cruelty towards humanitarianism, disrespecting the rights of human beings who are too desperate to see the truth. It was shocking to me that this was known and there wasn’t anything being done about it. I also was impacted the Structural Adjustment Program and its hidden objectives and how even though these objectives have been brought to light there has been no further investigation.
Cartoon Reflection
The first time I attempted a political cartoon I did not understand the concept fully and I found it very difficult to express my message clearly. However, with the help of Lori and my peers I was able to grasp an understanding of how to clearly identify my message in the cartoon. For my first draft, I sketched my idea out on a piece of paper and made sure that I simplified it to a respectable clarity before I moved on to my 2nd draft. I conferenced with peers and with Lori about my draft and once I got feedback I moved into my 2nd draft. For my 2nd draft I simplified my original even more and made sure that my message shone through the cartoon. For my final draft I refined immensely. I refined to an above-typical level because that is what I feel I lacked in my very first cartoons. I wanted this cartoon to clearly demonstrate that I had grown in understanding and skill towards political cartoons. I drew my cartoon on cardstock to give it a firm base. Then I carefully plotted my cartoon, planning before doing. In the end I was very proud of my cartoon because I feel it exhibited my new skill in creating political cartoons.
Op-Ed Reflection
Writing the Op-Ed was difficult. I am a fluent writer. In general I use a lot of words or phrases to get my point across. However, in this assignment the limit was 1000 words. It was extremely difficult to learn the expertise to giving the reader a clear message in such a limited amount of writing. Compared to my other writing pieces, I actually think that once I went through and got the word count down, that this was easier to follow, was more clear and concise, and overall a better piece of writing. I am excited to feel that way because I can use this skill in other writings as well. Instead of my repetitive or exaggerated writing style I can use this skill to create a comprehensible piece of writing without having too many words to back me up which can often times be confusing. I can’t wait to apply my new found skill to future assignments!
Throughout this project my peers and I studied closely the pros and cons of globalization ranging from the wealth of globalization benefiting wealthier nations to poor workers being declined their humanity in hostile working situations. We focused on Trade organizations and the development of “America” all over the world including the diverse mixing of cultures in the world. For my project I chose to focus on the infamous Structural Adjustment Program (SAP). The “so called” main purpose of the SAP is to help developing countries out of economic crisis. However, my research showed a different objective. Instead of helping countries as the SAP claims to do, the hidden objective is to generate profits for the World Bank, IMF, and wealthy nations. I completed research notes researching both the beneficial and negative outcomes of the SAP. However, most of the sources I found talked about the negative outcomes of the SAP, therefore I chose to focus on the hidden negative side of the SAP. I wrote a 1000 word OpEd explaining my findings. I also created a political cartoon explaining in a picture my perspective of the seemingly benevolent SAP.
Learning Reflection
Globalization was fairly new to me when it was introduced at the beginning of the semester. However, throughout the semester I have not only grown in knowledge, but wisdom as well. The idea of globalization is something that has to be understood in order to succeed in a world enveloped by it. I am glad that I got the opportunity to learn about it at this time so I can continue to grow in understanding throughout my life. My biggest takeaway from this project is probably the new knowledge of what globalization can cause. One of the things that really impacted me during this project was the loss of humanity in the world of globalization. It is hard to believe that behind the cloak of kindness, there is a hidden cruelty towards humanitarianism, disrespecting the rights of human beings who are too desperate to see the truth. It was shocking to me that this was known and there wasn’t anything being done about it. I also was impacted the Structural Adjustment Program and its hidden objectives and how even though these objectives have been brought to light there has been no further investigation.
Cartoon Reflection
The first time I attempted a political cartoon I did not understand the concept fully and I found it very difficult to express my message clearly. However, with the help of Lori and my peers I was able to grasp an understanding of how to clearly identify my message in the cartoon. For my first draft, I sketched my idea out on a piece of paper and made sure that I simplified it to a respectable clarity before I moved on to my 2nd draft. I conferenced with peers and with Lori about my draft and once I got feedback I moved into my 2nd draft. For my 2nd draft I simplified my original even more and made sure that my message shone through the cartoon. For my final draft I refined immensely. I refined to an above-typical level because that is what I feel I lacked in my very first cartoons. I wanted this cartoon to clearly demonstrate that I had grown in understanding and skill towards political cartoons. I drew my cartoon on cardstock to give it a firm base. Then I carefully plotted my cartoon, planning before doing. In the end I was very proud of my cartoon because I feel it exhibited my new skill in creating political cartoons.
Op-Ed Reflection
Writing the Op-Ed was difficult. I am a fluent writer. In general I use a lot of words or phrases to get my point across. However, in this assignment the limit was 1000 words. It was extremely difficult to learn the expertise to giving the reader a clear message in such a limited amount of writing. Compared to my other writing pieces, I actually think that once I went through and got the word count down, that this was easier to follow, was more clear and concise, and overall a better piece of writing. I am excited to feel that way because I can use this skill in other writings as well. Instead of my repetitive or exaggerated writing style I can use this skill to create a comprehensible piece of writing without having too many words to back me up which can often times be confusing. I can’t wait to apply my new found skill to future assignments!
Op-Ed: Structural Adjustment Program
Political Cartoon
Vietnam Project
For this project we studied the Vietnam War, its methods, and its devastation. This was an artistic project and we had to create an art piece to focus in on an aspect of the Vietnam War. I chose to focus on the citizens. My painting is of a woman witnessing the horrible acts of war. Below is my Artist's Statement which explains the representations that occur on my painting.
Artist's Statement
“A true war story is never moral. If you feel that some small bit of rectitude has been salvaged from the larger waste, then you have been made the victim of a very old and terrible lie. There is no rectitude whatsoever. There is no virtue.” -Tim O’brien
This is the quote that pulls my painting, Massacre, together. My painting depicts a Vietnamese woman slightly crying looking off into the distance. Even though it may seem simple, it has a deeper meaning. During the Vietnam War if citizens did not cooperate they would be shot down or tortured by American Soldiers. My scene takes place at the Mỹ Lai Massacre where between 347 and 504 unarmed citizens we killed in South Vietnam on March 16, 1968. It was committed by U.S. Army soldiers from the Company C of the 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Brigade of the 23rd (American) Infantry Division. Victims included men, women, children, and infants.
I chose this scene because it represents what I believe the truth of war is, death, sadness, misery. There are many hidden symbols within my painting. You can see the woman is crying. The teardrops represent the war and how it causes so much sadness. The woman herself represents an innocent individual witnessing the horrible acts of war. The red background symbolizes the blood shed during the Vietnam War. Lastly, the quote on the painting symbolizes that there is no moral or rectitude in war, that the war perceived is a very old and terrible lie that unfortunately most people believe.
“A true war story is never moral. If you feel that some small bit of rectitude has been salvaged from the larger waste, then you have been made the victim of a very old and terrible lie. There is no rectitude whatsoever. There is no virtue.” -Tim O’brien
This is the quote that pulls my painting, Massacre, together. My painting depicts a Vietnamese woman slightly crying looking off into the distance. Even though it may seem simple, it has a deeper meaning. During the Vietnam War if citizens did not cooperate they would be shot down or tortured by American Soldiers. My scene takes place at the Mỹ Lai Massacre where between 347 and 504 unarmed citizens we killed in South Vietnam on March 16, 1968. It was committed by U.S. Army soldiers from the Company C of the 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Brigade of the 23rd (American) Infantry Division. Victims included men, women, children, and infants.
I chose this scene because it represents what I believe the truth of war is, death, sadness, misery. There are many hidden symbols within my painting. You can see the woman is crying. The teardrops represent the war and how it causes so much sadness. The woman herself represents an innocent individual witnessing the horrible acts of war. The red background symbolizes the blood shed during the Vietnam War. Lastly, the quote on the painting symbolizes that there is no moral or rectitude in war, that the war perceived is a very old and terrible lie that unfortunately most people believe.
Short story project
For this project we had to research and study WW1 and WW2. We were instructed to write a short historical-fiction story to capture the truth of war that we perceive. Throughout the process I figured that my truth of war would be 'death'. I chose this because of all the horrific ways people were killed and also because of the death of those who survived. During the project we learned about the long-term effects of war, for example, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Many soldiers suffered and were not the same when they came back from war. Even though the war had not killed them physically, it had killed them mentally, death surrounds war. For my story I decided to focus in on the Bombing of Dresden, a horrific event that occurred between the 13 of February-15, 1945 in the second World War. Hundreds of thousands of innocent citizens were killed. I thought this caught the image that anywhere it goes war brings grief, destruction, and an overwhelming sadness. My character is an 8 year old girl, Ana, who is living with her family in Germany when her father is drafted into the war. She, her mother, and her brother relocate to Dresden in January, approximately one month before the bombing. The story follows her adventures and life in Dresden until the dreadful night of February 13, 1945.
I Stand Strong
Exhibition Reading Clip
Project Reflection