Art is powerful though because it can change a person’s life. When someone puts their hearts out enough and are honest about their problems, then something will change. Also books can be an art because they have so many emotions added in

Recently a freshman class has been studying a problem outside of school. The project  “You and the World” consists of three blogs. This is the third blog, which is the post for change, blog number one and blog number two explain the problem about teenagers going on the wrong path and becoming delinquents. Due to a survey, the high school dropout percentages have increased. There is a lack of enthusiasm in education.

Outside of your homes today we see teenager with tattoos especially on their faces, smoking on the streets illegally, not engaging themselves in school, and dressed inappropriately. Due to the lack of education, we wonder if we will have enough doctors, lawyers, and teachers in the near future. All teenagers are judged by this behavior, which is a social injustice. There is change despite that, and that change was discovered at Science Leadership Academy. Students at Science Leadership Academy are taught to become leaders and to strive for the best.

More than 50% of the students at SLA go to college for a high paying and well-educated career after graduation. On the contrast of the inept part of the generation, students have many sports and programs they attend before and after school instead of being on the street. We learn not just to be independent but dependent as well. Students are aware that there will always be a friend, staff member, or even teacher around for not just help on work but advice as well. We use each other for support, and there is nothing better than to know some will always be there to listen. Science Leadership Academy IS the post for change.

The original content is a video that shows a comparison in photographs. I decided to show the difference between the teens that are living in the moment, and the teens that attend Science Leadership Academy. Not only are the differences shown on graphs, they can be seen visually. Change is occurring as we speak, changes made not only by me but also as a group, a group located on 22^nd and Arch, a group named Science Leadership Academy.

For the last phase of the You and the World project, there is the last blog post. Referred to as the Post for Change, the final blog post for everyone involves writing about how we all acted on the issues that we researched. Besides writing about the it, students would shoot surveys out to the rest of the school as part of the research, join groups who also wanted to make a change happen, and collect money to donate to their causes.

In the past and still today, commercials, numerous websites, and even television shows and movies are played to spread the news of the cases of domestic animal abuse locally and internationally. In addition to that, there are shelters and societies to join and/or volunteer at to make sure you put in your work towards helping the prevention of animal abuse, or helping an animal recover and feel loved again. I feel as though commercials and television shows are a good way to get out information to everyone about different forms of animal cruelty, because so many people in the world watch television and come across these ads. Lots of people know about those sad animal commercials, right?

For me, however, I like to create media that makes a change. For one, some graphic design for posters (even virtual posters) catch someone's eye, and they have the option to look at it, because it is not an advertisement that is blocking the person from watching the rest of their show. Pushing out emails about the change towards friends first and have it spread on its own is a way I like to make change happen. First, however, I did some personal service to help animals in recovery. A few years ago, I volunteered with a few people from my school with the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and helped get ready for opening by caring for cats, cleaning out their cages, sitting in rooms full of cats to play, and, at the end, donating. Sadly, after sending an email to see if that could happen again, I was informed that volunteers had to be 18, and that I should volunteer at the Philadelphia Zoo or at PSPCA, where younger people can help out. 

That is exactly what I will do to make my change. After donating to PAWS, my original organization of choice, I'm going to volunteer at the PSPCA. Having found out so late about the organization, I haven't gotten a chance to go to a volunteer's orientation (to go to after completing an application form). It might be too late to show you all how I worked for the better, but change is always good and better late than never. 

My original content for my last blog post is a virtual poster that I created as a bright advertisement against animal cruelty. Featuring a picture I took of my own cat at the top, underneath that, overlapping words written in different fonts and sizes like "alone" and "afraid," words used to describe a pet who is/was being abused and how much that takes from their being. At the bottom is a question in a bolder and bigger font that says: "When will all this change?" I want to put this poster on Tumblr, Facebook, the SLA website, of course, and maybe even get it printed to hang it around the school. The poster doesn't get people to go anywhere in specific, but gets people thinking about animal cruelty and how it's not good at all.

In closing, I'd like to acknowledge my english teacher, Alexa Dunn, for helping me to get involved with fighting animal cruelty with this project, to PAWS for referring me to volunteer at other places to make my change, and also you for reading and commenting on my blog posts. In a bigger perspective, what would you do to stop animal abuse if you saw it? Would you care? It won't stay like this forever. There will be a change.

Bibliography & more here!

Thanks for reading, again!

-I’m always seeing the drama that people start because they need attention.

-I’m always seeing people, with smiles or frowns on their face.

-I’m always seeing the good in everything and everyone.

-I’m always seeing life go through its ups and downs.

-I’m always seeing people who struggle though life, just to make it out alive.

-I’m always seeing the bright sun above my head.

-I’m always seeing boys and girls, men and women, people who are short and people who are tall…people who are different. 

Hello, I'm back once more to sum everything up. But before I do that I would like to give out my acknowledgements. 

I give my acknowledgements first to my English teacher, Alexa Dunn. If it wasn't for her I would have never did all this research nor made the superb video I would show you at the end. I also I give my acknowledgement to a 9th grade student/one of my close friends, Azaria Burton. She peer edited my video and led me to make some changes to my video. And my last one goes to myself. I did this because to put a lot of effort for this work and I was happy of my work.

In my first blog I stated some facts about child abuse and what the Philadelphia School District is planning on doing in the future. I also showed some new reports I found that show you what is other people's opinion about the closing of the schools.

In my second blog I basically stated my opinion and how we could make a chance.

As last blog, after you read this you will see a video I created with the theme Closing of Schools. Enjoy.

Wow we’re finally here, my final post. Through out this project I realized that I couldn’t judge things I know a little about. Within my research lately I came across this organization called The Water Project. This is amazing organization because it really helped me find out how I can make change in a way I feel is most necessary. If you came across my second then you read about my experience in Sierra Leone. Well if you did miss it then in 2010 I traveled there with my family and I so many differences in how they act from American society. But one important difference I saw was how they receive their water, which is in a bag. I know really a plastic bottle that you have to poke a whole in. I was so outraged, it was indescribable. But with this foundation I found they can donate water to the people of that country.

·      That’s a start to how I want to help end this major crisis.

       To raise money and make it aware to people. I plan to have a school wide bake sale. That I will try to raise as much money as I can. I will post influential posters across my school. Science Leadership Academy. These posters will not only make people of the water crisis but informing them about the Bake Sale that will be held.

This last blog post is giving information on if there is awareness being done on our issue and give opinions on ways to change.

There are not many organizations that are raising awareness on unemployment. Although President Barack Obama’s budget plan is supposed to give states a way to gather more insurance taxes from businesses to provide the unemployment-insurance program.

      The unemployment insurance program is a joint federal-state program. The federal unemployment insurance tax rate of 6.2% on the new, larger base would be lowered so that the U.S. would be taking in more credit than it does under the system they use now.

There is also an organization called The Unemployment Help Center. It is a “private organization committed to helping unemployed Americans to find what services and programs suitable for them.  They say if your unemployed your in a good spot for exploring your educational opportunities, new health insurance options, new debt consolidation and mortgage assistance, among other things.” On this website there will be a form to fill out that will connect you with proper providers to search for opportunities for you. They say that it is not an application for unemployment insurance. After you fill out the form they will give you a link for your unemployment insurance office.

Even Philadelphia has unemployment project called the Philadelphia Unemployment Project. It has been around since 1975, it has put together the poor and unemployed to fight for economic justice, bringing distinct groups to bring out huge changes that help millions of unemployed people. They help people win unemployment cases, get healthcare, save their houses and a coach that will help them search for a job. This organization is located

·       112 N. Broad Street, 11th Floor

·       Philadelphia, PA 19102.

In conclusion there are a lot of organizations for people who are unemployed.  I feel these organizations will be really helpful to a lot of people. These organizations show that unemployed and working people can be a compelling voice in fighting for economic justice for the city, state and nation. I want to raise awareness by giving out brochures to the teens about unemployment so they can get a job now and be ready for the future.

Go here for my bibliography.

Go here for more information.               

Go here for information on youth programs. 

Here it is, the final blog post on the issue of America’s food problems so far I have addressed some of the key controversial points of the issue. You can see the previous blog post here and the one before that one here.

What have I done to make a change? None so far, however I am going to present to 125 people about my issue and propose a way to change how America eats. I will have pictures and possibly a video of the event soon.

Though, how should people change what products they are selling at the store? There are a few things that you can do to change what food you find in the market. For one, don’t buy anything with high fructose corn syrup in it. If you buy drinks with high fructose corn syrup in them, you are just supporting the people who use it. You as a person can make a much bigger difference than you might think.

Also, try to buy organic foods too. Who really needs all that processed (bad word beginning with an s) anyway? Trader Joe's is a great example, most if not all of their products are organic and do not contain harmful chemicals that are used to sterilize the food more efficiently.

But what about the meat problem?  Think about becoming a vegetarian. Plants need a lot less energy plants take a lot less energy to grow than meat does. You can get protein from other sources than meat, like beans. If you don’t buy met, then you are not supporting the meat packing industry which will require less animals to be slaughtered.

All of these solutions not only provide ways to better your health, but also show that it is the consumer who judges what products are for sale. You can make a difference in what and How America eats. You are what you eat, and if you ask me. Americans can eat better.

   Animal adoption is something that any pet owner or lover should do. Even if you can’t own a pet you can still go to your local animal shelter and get a job or volunteer, or donate money. (to learn more about donating click here. When you volunteer you can be a dog walker, someone that cleans after the animals, and other things. (to learn more about volunteering click here 

  My family has about 10 rescued cats. The cats we have/had were all strays. Most of them came out of our back yard, we stared feeding them then we just decided to keep them. It something that my family has done for a long time. So when we even consider getting a pet we always think about saving one rather than buying one. Sadly some of the cats we take in get sick and have to be put down, we know that there is always another we can save.

  If you ever consider get a pet you should think about how you can get a pet and save a life. Just go to your local animal shelter, or there web site and see if they have what your looking for. Even if they don’t have what your looking for you should try giving another type of animal a chance. These animals are just looking for a family that will take care of them. They aren’t picky.

   My plan to get people to help is to just get the word out. I have recently posted posters around my school asking people to get involved. The smallest steps can make a big affect. Even if people just know not to buy pets and adopt that all they need. My plan out of these three blogs was too make sure they know that animals need a loving home, and they can be the ones to give it.

In order to see the positive change in this issues I can visit here to see how many animals have been saved. Right now Philadelphia Animals shelter is in 45^th place out of 50. I hope to see an increase because the shelter with the most animals saved win 100,000 dollars.  

 To see my two other blog post click #1 #2 

             In my last two posts you have learned the issues at hand and how important it is for women to have their civil rights. They should be aloud to do what they want with their bodies. This includes having options of abortion, contraception, and health care services that will support these things. Now that you have read my last two-blog post, this is my post for change. It becomes difficult to change people’s decisions about abortion, but we can change someone’s view on rights for women. The problem is people don’t know about what is happening they don’t know the laws that are trying to be passed by the government. So the first thing to do is get the word out! Let people know the issue at hand, send emails, tweet about it and update your Facebook statuses.

            Next, the main organization that is taking the hit with most of these laws being passed is Planned Parenthood. They are an organization that helps so many people and without them many young girls will be having teenage pregnancies, and many who are less fortunate will run out of options with contraception. So go on their website, and read their take action page. This is your opportunity, to sign petitions, find out about rally’s that issues that you want to get involved with, and even have the option to volunteer at Planned Parenthood. For these past two things that you can change they aren’t very difficult but it’s not always the big things you do but the small things that everyone do that make a difference. 

            At my school, Science Leadership Academy (SLA) the issue of abortion is a difficult issue to talk about. Because everyone comes from different backgrounds there are many different opinions on the topic. Only 63% of the SLA students I interviewed thought it should be legal. However 98% of the students supported the use of contraception. So in order to not force my opinions on people I have come up with a way to make the issue of abortion one that has to be less talked about. As teenagers these are the years where sex comes up more and more. However the topic of contraception is one that for many is a topic that they shy away from. But people need to know the facts and where they can get them. So in my school I am going to be putting pan flits from Planned Parenthood in the nurse’s office. 93% of the students said that it was okay with them to have these in the nurse’s office, and that it would be helpful for kids to learn about that.

            In order to raise even more awareness I am also making a twitter page with information about the issues, events, and ways that everyday people can help. I want people to know what is happening this means getting congresswomen and men to follow me and other organizations to look into the issues. There is still so much more that can be done, but these are all steps in the right direction. So for my original content part 2, besides the video on my 2^nd blog post I have created a twitter page. This way only people who care about the issue can go look at it and spread the word about the issue. Go check out my twitter and follow me @ProChoiceProPPL, to find out more information on the topic and the issue of women’s rights.

            I would just like to thank everyone who helped me through this entire process. My mom Alison Sprague, my teacher Alexa Dunn, the entire Science Leadership community for their support, as well as Planned Parenthood who is going to provide the pan flits and who’s website is one I continuously looked to for facts. Most importantly thank you to all the readers because we can become the change and help women keep their rights.

I personally believe that because of the death of Osama Bin Laden, this leaves me to the idea that if the Al Queda has no leader, can’t the Afghan soldiers fight the remaining Al Queda and Taliban on their own? I feel we should bring the troops home before 2014, not after.

To bring awareness to my topic I have emailed and posted on Facebook about a petition that they can sign and it will be sent to Congress.

I propose to search and search for organizations farther dedicated to bringing the troops home as soon as possible. Maybe there is even organizations that allow donations of money to specifically be sent to men and women over seas to provide better Medicare, food, and other important supplies.

I have made a video and a survey asking about people opinions, as well as to talk about the war's outcomes other related topics and the change starting to occur. People's responses to my survey were all similar, most people said the war was pointless and we need to stop killing and bring the troops home before 2014. 

 In conclusion, my change is to try and bring the troops in Afghanistan home before 2014. In my blog 1 I talked about the war and gave some facts about it. In my blog 2, i discussed some new events that occurred since my first blog. Through the 11 years we have been in Afghanistan we have lost many men and women, but gained many achievements. A year ago, the leader of the Al Qaeda was finally killed under the command of President Barack Obama. Obama has promised to bring the troops home, this was one of his biggest promises in his run for office in 2008. It’s 2012 now and finally he is keeping his promise. He has signed a security plan with the president of Afghanistan to transition our troops to a support team so we can begin to bring them back to America. Through these many years we’ve seen great achievements thanks to President Obama. So far, for my change, I’ve posted petitions on social networks so people can help me make the change, especially because this change is something bigger then one person could do. I also made a video about the war to raise awareness about it. All that’s left is to finish the video and release it. 

  This is my post for change for Animal Cruelty. Since I deeply care about this subject I wanted to do something to put the word out there.  In my last two blogs I explained serious cases of animal cruelty and types of animal cruelty. I explained how abuse was not the only kind of abuse and that neglect was a serious from of abuse as well. What I did for my change is that I made a video/commercial to put the word out that there are animals that need help. My video is for animals in the SPCA who needs to be adopted. My video explains that you can help by adopting or donating which could easily save the lives of these animals in need. My plan was to show not only put this video on the SLA (ScienceLeadershipAcademy) home page but, to show it to my advisory to further spread the word on Animal Abuse.

I just wanted to say that you can make a difference in animal lives and that if you see abuse don’ t be scared to report it because that’s why animals are abused.

Blog Post 2

Blog Post 1

Bibliography

-I wanted to thank my friend Haji for giving me the idea of talking about the Aspca and my student teacher Emma that helped me figure out an idea for my original content (video).

1.    Who you spoke with and why you chose that partner:

- SharedTalk; Miki

What did you learn about them? What did you learn from them?

He is my old friend, one of the people that I talked to on sharedtalk before. I know enough about him, such as how he learned English, and it was really through sharedtalk which is a fun fact, but also, he asked me to help him out a bit with a problem, and I did, but all I have from that conversation is a small ss, because interned decided to turn off for a bit.

2.    /How did this interaction help you move towards achieving your personal goals?

Again, he learned English on Sharedtalk, which is awesome, and really fits my goal of learning how others learn English.

3.    What specifically did you do well according to your goals/expectations? What specifically to you need to improve on?

I think that the best thing that I did was helping him out, which really felt nice, but as for my goals, figuring out that Ecuadorian people speak English and call white guys Gringo!!!!!

What specifically do you need to improve on? (Quote specific things you said or did and what you would have done or said if you could do it again)rc

I think I improved a lot overall, so I would say that our conversation was on a pretty high level.