Blog Feed

For my Capstone Project, I collaborated with my partner, Ada, to transform the 4th-floor study room at SLA through a large-scale mural and an educational website. What began as a simple desire to leave a visual mark on our school evolved into a deep dive into Philadelphia’s environmental issues. Our project features a mural of the Philadelphia skyline integrated with the complete ecosystem of our local watershed, highlighting the fish and aquatic life that depend on clean city water. To ensure our project met the expectations for a duo-capstone, I also developed a website that provides data, history, and calls to action regarding watershed issues in our region. I chose this project because art has always been a primary way of communicating ideas, but I wanted my final act as sla to be more than just aesthetically pleasing. I wanted to create something permanent that improved the daily environment for my peers.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rq0bVzSVZKN7gHQU4KIPJ0Gh6Xo6T7J6P7ypi0e4OkQ/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HibWDnhOK_vEG6X8hXsxNr4vPQnrmuE2SAl0gOBaNMo/edit?usp=sharing

For my senior capstone, I explored how digital platforms can reshape community engagement and accessibility within religious institutions by designing a website concept for my local mosque. The project focused on addressing communication issues caused by disoriented platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook, where important information was often missed or inaccessible to certain members of the community. Through surveys, interviews, research, and technical development, I designed a mobile-first website featuring dynamic prayer times, bilingual English and Bangla support, event calendars, and accessibility-focused navigation for older users and non-technical community members. Throughout the process, I researched responsive web design, accessibility standards, API integration, and user experience design while working closely with mosque leadership, community members, and my mentor. Although the mosque ultimately chose to move in a different direction for officially launching the website, the project still became a meaningful learning experience that strengthened my technical abilities, problem-solving skills, and understanding of community-centered design. More importantly, this capstone taught me that successful technology is not only about functionality, but about designing systems that respect culture, improve accessibility, and strengthen human connection.

Link to Website: https://novaimpact.github.io/baitulmukkaram/

Link to Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14q04aTi1bmJSOD73XGpmrbNY0Hsimz2qR5oxwYfVgNM/edit?usp=sharing

For my capstone project I wanted to make something for the school that would last a long period of time after I left. I felt like I should make something others can use that will also brighten the aesthetic of the school. I decided I would make a bench with planters on the side so I could add some greenery to the roof and make it a better working environment. After doing some research and collaborating with my mentor I settled on a plan and started creating a blueprint of what I would build using a video on youtube as the guide. I was able to use the carpentry skills I had learned in my pre-apprenticeship program last summer to create a final product that I was proud of. We also researched what plant would be the best for longevity with minimal maintenance to put in the box on the roof and we decided to plant ferns. To make the bench I was able to practice my skills with a table saw, chop saw, precinct drill bit, screwdriver and tape measure. Seeing through the process felt good going from blueprint to bench took a lot of work but was very rewarding.

For my capstone, I designed and produced custom volleyball team gear for the SLA boys’ and girls’ teams. My inquiry question was, “how can student-led fundraising and custom apparel design strengthen school community and team spirit for the boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams?”. I had received team gear in my first two years of being a volleyball player during high school. The merch was organized and produced by upperclassmen and when I came to that age, I was inspired to do the same for my own teams to make teammates feel special and connected the same way I did. During my junior and senior year I decided to research companies, create original designs, organize team orders, and fundraise to cover costs. I worked with two different companies, one being a local Philadelphia print shop, to create sweatpants and hoodies. In order to raise money, I organized multiple three-day bake sales which consisted of designing promotional posters to hang around the school and baking and selling food items. I tracked finances and other data through Google Forms and Google Sheets and during this process I communicated with teammates, school staff, and printing companies to manage sizes, quantities, and delivery logistics. I advanced my skills in graphic design, budgeting, fundraising, time management, and professional communication. I am very proud of my final product and its impact on the school community. It took a lot of patience, organization, and collaboration to turn my ideas into successful physical products.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u9OoM9jG_EYVahk0Dx9j13CS_QHaf9rjNy8o_G-_r04/edit?tab=t.0

For my capstone, I hosted a Health and Wellness fair for the freshman class. This fair had six different interactive stations that covered different aspects of health and wellness. Students were able to listen to information presented by senior volunteers, create emergency kits, decorate journals, learn about their heart rate and send a kind note to the incoming freshman class. The ultimate goal of my fair was to create a welcoming and supportive space where students felt comfortable asking questions, talking to their peers and learn healthy habits. In all, my fair was for students to feel seen and apart of a larger community while getting their questions answered.

For my Senior Capstone, I created The Nurse’s Truth, a YouTube channel featuring interviews with four nursing specialists; a nurse practitioner, neuro ICU nurse, a CRNA, and a nurse midwife. These interviews are to help students explore nursing as a profession and more importantly the different things you can do as a nurse. The project grew from my own journey of discovering that nurses, not doctors, provide the hands-on patient care that I always wanted to give. After my own curiosity, I wanted to make sure that these insights were available to others too. All interviews were conducted over Zoom, which solved the logistical challenge of one subject joining from Costa Rica. Filming spanned three weeks, coordinated around busy nursing schedules. Post-Production took roughly 20 hours, including editing, graphics, music, and designing the channel branding in Photoshop. I independently managed every aspect of this project; the proposal, outreach, scheduling, filming, and publishing. This project has become a significant milestone in my personal growth. My hope is that The Nurse’s Truth serves SLA students considering nursing, and inspires CTE peers to connect their programs with their passions.

YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://youtube.com/@thenursestruth?si=JbRBjCIe3pUt9Hj6

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FsQNvOce1tF6cBUkJZTn7yDgP-JNs2Hlr3j0aY5Hfnk/edit?usp=drivesdk

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune condition that impacts the lives of billions of children everyday. I learned that all current devices are adult technology adapted for children, not designed child-first and that is what I most importantly needed to figure out how to change in my capstone idea without making it unrealistic for a child.

The “Duet”, which is to solve the “dual-device” problem where children currently have to wear one patch for a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) and have to take needles in order to take their insulin and multiple pricks to check their glucose level. It’s a device that “thinks” for itself, using a sensor to read blood sugar and an internal pump to deliver insulin automatically without extra tubes.

The Duet doesn’t just manage blood sugar; it manages a child’s quality of life. It’s small, it’s silent, and most importantly, it’s invisible. It allows kids to just be kids.

The “Duet” is inspired by the current lifestyle of my little brother Kyan, diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the early age of five years old, questioning his childhood, asking my mother when will he be “normal” again and remembering the lifestyle he once lived that isn’t his lifestyle anymore. Living with a condition that others don’t have to experience, knowing my device doesn’t remove the permanent aspect of this condition, the Duet makes the lifestyle manageable and better to navigate, especially for children and that was my goal, to improve the lifestyle with the Duet for children.

Link to my final Product: https://canva.link/g1kjyiyo1b9fvg1

For my capstone I decided to create a uniform inventory for our SLA’s sports department. I decided to do this because of a trip to Drexel University’s sports management department with my mentor in junior year. I loved seeing all the behind the scenes and what goes into making a strong, organized, and efficient team. I started drafting ideas with my mentor after the trip to be prepared for the next school year. When I finally started my capstone I did a lot of research on how I could make this the best possible project I could with main goals focusing on organization, structure, and consistency for coaches, athletes, and all sports admin. I spent a lot of my time reaching out to coaches and figuring out when and where I could pick up the uniforms, and something I learned from this was the importance of being able to advocate for myself. Even when it felt like I was nagging, I knew this project was my responsibility so waiting around on other people wasn’t an option. To get this project done I needed to step out of my comfort zone and talk to people I didn’t talk to on a regular basis or continuing to reach out every week until I got what I asked for.

Stage Crew is a project in partnership with Philadelphia Young Playwrights (PYP), GGL Creative, and me. I designed an activity kit themed around an original cast of animal characters who are all players behind a theatre production. The kit debuted on April 18th, 2026, and it included a leaflet full of activities that folds out into a poster on the back, a wooden puzzle with each of the ten cast members, and a custom bag to hold everything.

This project blends art and engineering, two passions of mine that are deemed total opposites. I wanted to challenge that stereotype and to encourage young people to explore the arts. After all, we are all artists in our own ways. For example, designing the leaflet and drawing the poster proved that I can be a visual artist. However, the wooden puzzle proved that I needed a vivid imagination in addition to technical skills like Fusion 360 and laser printing to turn 2D into 3D.

All proceeds earned from this project went to PYP to support future young playwrights. I am always looking to give back to my community, and I have been writing with this program since the sixth grade. SLA works with PYP’s teaching artists, so the kids at SLA will benefit, too. At the very least, I had a blast working with my mentors, prototyping, producing, and promoting Stage Crew, and I hope to expand in the future!

Please use this link to view the items in detail: Click here!

Link to Biblography: Click here for the bibliography!

Sewology by Milan is the website that I decided to create for my capstone project. I chose to do it because I wanted to challenge myself, while also strengthening my craft. Spending 80 hours on a capstone project throughout the school year is something that is really demanding, and I wanted it to be something that I enjoyed doing. My interest in sewing started when I was assigned a passion project in Advanced Art last year with Ms. Angeles. At my previous school, I never got the opportunity to take art, so I was really excited when it was on my class roster. My passion project sort of followed the structure of a capstone project, with similar elements like documentation, trying a new skill, and doing a presentation. My passion project helped me with the beginning foundations of sewing, and also introduced me to being more independent when trying to start my own hobbies. I was previously in the sewing club, and I enjoyed it, but I never learned anything that stuck with me. With research, I quickly learned the differences in certain stitches, starter tools, and techniques that can help me become a better seamstress.

For my Capstone project, I created a short documentary exploring the impact of fashion, specifically focusing on fast fashion, thrift stores in Philadelphia, and the role of reselling. Throughout the process, I researched the history of thrift stores and the environmental effects of clothing waste, while also filming my own experiences thrifting, sewing, and reselling clothes on Depop. I visited multiple thrift stores, recorded footage, and included interviews to show different perspectives on secondhand shopping. My final product is a mini documentary that combines voiceover, videos, and real life examples to explain how clothing consumption affects the environment and how thrifting can be a more sustainable option. Through this project, I learned how to plan, film, and edit a documentary, as well as how to communicate a message clearly through both videos and voiceover. I also gained a better understanding of how everyday choices, like buying clothes, can have a larger impact than people realize

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13-r9mzPnSMYWH1vJOl_wcDijoUefhkzs/view?usp=drivesdk

For my Capstone project for the 2025-2026 senior year, I decided to create a veterinary based class for freshman mini-courses for those who were interested in learning more about what to expect in the veterinary field and some of the daily jobs that those in the field of veterinary have to do every day. I decided to base my project off this field because it is the field I will be studying next year in college and I wanted to not only take the time to teach freshman about the different parts of the medicine field since we don’t have any classes in our schools based off of that, but also so I can prepare myself for the different types of techniques and knowledge that I will be studying everyday for the next three years of vet nursing school. Some examples of lesson plans I had made for this class include roleplaying what healthy visit check-ins are for pets and their owners, learning how to wrap surgery tools a certain way so they don’t become contained, how to do CPR on a dog, and even having conversations with my mentor (a veterinarian) and getting her to come in with her pet dog so she could teach my students about different tools used during visits and how to properly handle a dog! I have learned so much throughout this process of my project with my students and I just hope they had as much fun as me!

Here is where I did a lot of my planning for my lesson plans, working on and off this document for the last 6 months to make sure I had exact plans for each weeks and adding more ideas if I wanted to add something into the lesson plans!

Here is a picture of my student using one of the tools Dr. K brought in to check the eyes of the dog, learning what to see in a dog’s eye to make sure their vision is still working the way it should be!

Finally, here is the result of my surgery asking my students to reflect on their time in my mini-course and giving me some feedback. As we can see here, of course I could have done better but overall very good results from my students!!

For my capstone project, I explored the question: “How can public art communicate social and environmental issues within our communities?” I collaborated with Onna Richburg to create a mural of the Philadelphia skyline above a vibrant river representing the Schuylkill. The mural includes QR codes linking to a website Onna designed, which explains environmental challenges facing Philadelphia’s water systems, the watershed, and the Lenape people’s historical relationship with water—highlighting how that respect has been lost over time. We chose this project because of our connection to art and our experience growing up in a polluted city. We wanted to contrast that reality with a vision of clean, thriving water. My role was painting the mural, while Onna developed the website. We faced several challenges, including redefining our project to meet requirements and overcoming a lack of funding after missing a grant opportunity. After struggling to find supplies, we connected with a local mural activist who donated recycled paint, allowing us to continue while supporting sustainability. I spent over two months painting, revising, and refining the mural based on peer feedback. This project reflects SLA’s core values by encouraging inquiry, collaboration, and real-world impact. It invites viewers to reflect on environmental issues and take action. I’m proud of our resilience and growth, and I hope this mural inspires others to use creativity to raise awareness and make a difference in their communities.

(linked below: capstone slideshow with picture of mural, annotated bibliography linked on last slide) https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Pis1IB8islhGC6yALDbf5GGiCpwWsSMPV_9hOj-lo5g/edit?slide=id.p#slide=id.p

For my capstone project, I made a website to raise awareness about fast fashion and its harmful effects on our environment and society. I wanted to show that people can make an impactful change in their habits by choosing to repurpose old items rather than just throw them away. For this project I reused old clothing and fabric from my family that was just going to get thrown away and end up in a landfill. I documented the process for each item on my website and I hope the tutorials can encourage other people to start sewing. My website hopefully will encourage some people to stop contributing to fast fashion companies and to value the items they have now more. With this capstone I learned that there is a person behind every clothing item. Everything is handmade by someone, and it takes a lot of commitment and time to make clothing. I gained a greater appreciation for the people being exploited by the fast fashion industry. I also learned a lot about the terrible impacts the clothing industry has on our planet. This capstone taught me that there is power in repurposing things that are old and giving them a new life, and I hope that other people can learn more about what they can do better to help the fast fashion epidemic from my project.

Kaitlyn’s Kloset Website

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FEeTC_U_B-UOV4ZBJmbhHohCSOYOduCT/view?usp=sharing

Boys will be boys - Dua Lipa It’s second nature to walk home before the sun goes down And put your keys between your knuckles when there’s boys around Isn’t it funny how we laugh it off to hide our fear? When there’s nothing funny here

THT “Don’t open your door to a stranger, even if he says he is the police. Make him slide his ID under the door. Don’t stop on the road to help a motorist pretending to be in trouble. Keep the locks on and keep going. If anyone whistles, don’t turn to look. Don’t go into a laundromat, by yourself, at night.” (ch 5)

These both are related to the rules of being a woman, you have to protect yourself everywhere and from every man. Both show women facing dangers in the world that constantly warns them about being harmed that mostly comes from men. The lyric talks about how being a woman it is not safe to be outside at night and having to be protected around men, as a woman you’re expected to always be safe and deal with male behavior. The handmaid tale women are shaped to fear danger all the time and the quote shows that women in Gilead have been taught to always be on guard from violence or being manipulated by men. This reflects on how women have to live with this constant fear about their safety so that why we have to live life with caution and fear of harm because of the things men feel like they can do towards women.

You don’t own me - Lesley Gore You don’t own me I’m not just one of your many toys

You don’t own me Don’t say I can’t go with other boys

THT “There is more than one kind of freedom, said Aunt Lydia. Freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from.” (ch 5)

Both the song and book speaks about women being controlled and their independence being stripped from them. In the song, she says repeatedly “you don’t own me” refusing the idea of being controlled by someone else and that relates to the handmaid tale by the fact that the handmaids don’t have control over their bodies, gets treated like their the commanders property then forced into things without their consent. The song being about a woman reclaiming herself while removing the chains men tried to put on us is what the handmaids struggle trying to reclaim their freedom and resist being owed to Gilead, an oppressive system. The Handmaid’s Tale is about women fighting to regain their choice in a world/society that wants to strip them from it so they can be in a world like Lesley’s where women have the right to make their own decision and control their own path.

Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke I know you want it But you’re a good girl

THT “How can he think this is better? Better never means better for everyone, he says. It always means worse, for some.” (ch 11)

In the song Blurred Lines they sing about men being dominant while women have to be submissive, normalizing these gender roles that connect to the power that men have over women in Gilead. The quote from the handmaid’s tale shows that men know that the role of being an oppressor in gilead means they have power that is best for them but is not good for the women that are powerless. Both shows that women are there for a man and their use, a woman’s choices don’t matter about what the men want. The same as robin is seeing a woman as someone to be control is the same as how gilead control woman lives and bodies and having that power is unfair but men try to justify it behind their idea of doing what best or good for women, when it really only benefits for those who are in charge like the commanders.

Take Me To Church - Hozier Take me to church

I’ll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies

I’ll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife

Offer me that deathless death

THT “Under His Eye,” (ch 8)

The song is about desire being judged by religion or society and the lyric shows how people are told or taught to believe in a higher power and follow the rules or beliefs that are not truth or right. In the handmaid tale the eyes are the eyes of god, people who undercover cops for the government have a higher power that what they use in Gilead to control people and make them believe they’re always meaning watch by god then if they see you doing something wrong that means death. The leaders in gilead use their religion to defend the cruel laws especially against women. Both the song and book prove how religion can twist a person from taking away people’s freedom then control over their lives being forced to follow the rules in society and fighting against false beliefs to find truth in order to get their freedom back.

If I Were A Boy - Beyonce If I were a boy Even just for a day I’d roll out of bed in the mornin’ And throw on what I wanted,

THT “Everything except the wings around my face is red: the color of blood, which defines us.” (ch 1)

The lyric from the song says how men have more freedom that women often do not have. In the handmaid tale the red costume is a symbol of a way Gilead controls women by marking them as their property “Everything except the wings around my face is red: the color of blood, which defines us.” shows that women have no choice over their clothes or appearance, just like the song mentions the simple things of freedom that men take for granted. Both the song and book highlight the gender inequity between men and women and how society limits freedom for women but gives men all the power. It’s unfair that the gender roles in society are that a woman’s life is controlled and dominated by others, while men have all this privilege living their life without restrictions. This makes a women life more harder and less equal in the world

This is my art piece. What inspired me to put all these components together to make this final product was the quote in chapter 7. “ Where is she? What have you done with her? There was no night or day: only a flickering. After a while, there were chairs again, and a bed, and after that a window. She’s in good hands, they said. With people who are fit. You are unfit, but you want the best for her. Don’t you?” Pg. 39. This quote is Offred having a memory of her daughter. She visualizes the people who took her daughter, and she imagines them saying that she wasn’t fit and that now her daughter is with a fit family. I chose this quote because I felt like it was a good quote to express Offred’s emotions. I also feel like her daughter is a key person in this chapter. A breakdown of my art piece is a photograph of Offred, her daughter, and Luke. The deeper meaning and idea of this is that the photograph signifies her memory, which could be due to trauma or drugs, and the person in this specific quote was her daughter, but Luke also appears throughout the book. As you can see, the photograph isn’t complete. The reason for this is that, as we have seen throughout the book, Offred has vivid flashbacks but doesn’t completely remember. This signifies trauma and memory loss, which prevents her from remembering everything. And the pieces that are present are the memories that she remembers. In this chapter, it’s the memory of her daughter and also her mother. She talks about her mother saying, “or in a park somewhere, with my mother. How old was I? It was cold, our breaths came out in front of us, there were no leaves on the trees: gray sky, two ducks in the pond, disconsolate.” Pg 38. It’s memories like this that make my art piece come to life. Another definition of the photograph is that it represents the destruction of Offred’s family. The second part of my story is the black background. I didn’t take this picture with a black background just because. In my art piece, this background signifies the emotional distance and the unreliability of her memories, the reason for continuing to fight and staying alive. It also represents the memory of her daughter being particularly painful. Overall, the main concept I want viewers to get out of my artwork is how Offred went through a mental warfare to remember some of her memories, but she struggled to regain all her memories due to her life events and trauma. She also remembers her daughter, but the thought that her daughter was taken away from her still haunts her. She doesn’t know when she’ll see her daughter again and doesn’t even know if her daughter is alive. But the thought of her family is what’s keeping her moving forward. Although she´s unsure, she still has a bit of hope and faith that she’ll reunite with her family and that her daughter is waiting for her.

At the start of Chapter 41, Offred begins the chapter by saying, “I wish this story were different” (Pg. 267). This makes me start thinking about how Offred had a dream to have a different type of reality, but unfortunately had to live in this one. A world full of inequality, cruelty, and being enslaved, and only being seen as people to benefit Gliead’s needs. As I was reading this, I also started wondering what Offred’s “perfect” reality was to her.
On the same page, Offred says, “I wish it were about love, or about sudden realizations important to one’s life, or even about sunsets, birds, rainstorms, or snow” Pg.267 The first thought that came to my mind was thinking about how Offred only wants to be seen and loved. And some emotions I felt whilst reading this were compassion, as well as feeling a bit concerned and uncomfortable. The reason for this is that throughout the book, Gilead is seen as a cruel world. And the feeling of being “loved” doesn’t exist in this world. So whenever Offred thinks certain things like these, it reminds me of what Offred goes through, making me visualize the uncomfortable stuff that happened and was described in the book. Another key thought for me was the second part of the quote, “Or about sudden realizations important to one’s life” pg. 267. What I interpreted from this part of the quote was two different ideas. One is being able to realize who you really are and finding a reason for you to be here. The second idea that I understood was that Offred hoped that the people from Gilead would realize that each person who was enslaved was human just like them.
Just from this paragraph, I also realized that Offred breaks the fourth wall. She begins by talking about her story. And even goes as far as apologizing for not having a better story. I think this was a really nice touch from the author because it feels as if the reader is really listening to Offred. I felt like I was listening to someone’s story, and they were just venting. For a moment, this didn’t just feel like reading but felt like a conversation. Meanwhile, Offred kept on venting, and she made some deep connections with her own story. Saying “I’m sorry, there is so much pain in this story. I’m sorry it’s in fragments, like a body caught in crossfire or pulled apart by force. But there is nothing I can do to change it. I’ve tried to put some of the good things in as well. Flowers, for instance, because where would we be without them?” Pg. 267. It’s surprising to me how hard she’s trying to see the good in all the bad she’s gone through just to try and have a decent story to tell. I feel like a ton of people are similar to this. It may not be a whole story, but it could be a day where people go through the worst days possible, but because of their mentality, they’re trying to find a bit of positivity to keep moving forward and not let any bad moments ruin their mood. But in Offred’s specific moment, it’s impressive that she’s trying to do this when her whole life has been bad. Going back to my previous thought of Offred breaking the fourth wall. Another example of this was in Pg. 268 when Offred says “because after all I want you to hear it, as I will hear yours too if I ever get the chance, if I meet you, or if you escape”. I really like how the author continues using this type of writing. But what stood out to me the most was the last part, “If I meet you, or if you escape,” I can tell her tone had switched. Because she kept showing determination by including good memories in a cruel story, to now saying “if I meet you or if you escape”. In this part of the story, she doesn’t show any confidence, almost as if she doesn’t think she ever will. It can either mean she’s hoping for a moment to be set free or she’s accepted the fact that this is her fate. Overall, the first and second pages of Chapter 41 are what really had me engaged in the story. Reading this section of the chapter really made me feel like this was more than a book and as if I was really listening to Offred.

Left Side: The Ceremony The left side of the art work is repressing the ceremony that contains Offred, the commander, and Serena Joy. The room is suffocating, filled with darkness. It has tones of purple and black as well. The room has this type of energy coming from it because it represents the awkward and uncomfortableness of the ceremony. The ceremony is a sexual experience but there is no love coming from it. In the center of the art work there is a red handmaid’s cloak that is crumpled up. The cloak symbolizes Offred’s body being used as an object rather than a human being. Above the cloak you can see the silhouettes of the commander, Serena Joy, and Offred. They’re faceless because it represents the loss of individuality in Gilead.

Right Side: Nick interaction after the ceremony The right side of the art work represents the interaction between Nick and Offred. The room is dimly with the help of a candle. Nick stands in the doorway with half of his face hidden, while Offred looks in his direction. The exchange between them envokes many tones such as a forbidden connection, humanity, and danger. It symbolizes the creation of rebellion and desire that resides in Offred and Nick because they know they shouldn’t be interacting with each other the way they are.

In chapter 23 of The Handmaid’s Tale. Offer is telling us how she comes to her senses. Between Luke and the commander, she realizes and is coming to a point where she doesn’t have a say in anything and feels taken advantage of.

The quote that stood out to me in chapter 23 was: “We are not each other anymore. Instead, I am his.” This quote hit me because it shows how Offred is no longer in a relationship built on love and equality. She is forced into a role where she’s owned and not loved. It’s not about the connection anymore; it’s about control. That shift from being someone’s partner to being someone’s property is heartbreaking, and it made me think of a time in my life where I felt like I didn’t have a voice either.
When I started volleyball in 9th grade, I was terrified. I had always been bigger than most of the other girls, and I thought that meant I wouldn’t be good enough. I was scared I wouldn’t make the team, scared people would judge me, and scared that my name belonged, so instead of speaking up and showing confidence, I let people run over me. I didn’t take up space, I didn’t ask questions, I didn’t play like I knew I could, I just tried to stay quiet and not get noticed, so I wouldn’t get embarrassed for being bigger and not knowing how to play volleyball.
That feeling of dimming yourself down because you didn’t think that you deserve to be there, reminding me of offered she’s in a society that doesn’t value her thoughts or feelings, she’s forced to play a role that just like I felt forced to play the role of being a quiet, insecure girl who didn’t want to mess up. Offered says, “ I am his,” and that line shows that she’s been reduced to someone’s possession. I feel like I was letting other people define me, too, not because they told me I had to, but because I was too scared to speak up. In chapter 23, Offred starts meeting with the commander, and they play Scrabble, which seems small, but it’s actually huge. It’s the first time she’s allowed to use her mind to speak freely, even if it’s just through a game, that moment reminded me of when I finally started to feel confident on the volleyball court. I remember one practice where I made a great serve, and my coach actually cheered for me. It was the first time I felt maybe I did belong, just like offers are still a tiny bit of power in those secret meetings. I started feeling a tiny bit of confidence in myself. But even then, offered knows she’s not free, she says, “I am his “because even though she’s allowed to play Scrabble and talk, it’s still on his terms. She’s still trapped in this world on the unspeakable. That’s how I felt,t tooLikeke I was only allowed to feel good if someone else permitted me. I didn’t fully believe in myself, yet I was still holding back. This chapter made me feel, and we think about how hard it is to find your voice when you’ve been taught to stay silent. Offered used to have a life where she was free, she had a husband, and daughter a job. Now she’s in a world she’s not even allowed to read. That loss of identity is something I felt in a smaller way when I started High School. I didn’t know who I was anymore. I was trying to fit in. I was trying not to stand out, and they made me feel invisible. Reading just a chapter helps me realize that even small acts of confidence matter. Offering to play Scrabble might seem like nothing, but it’s her way of holding on to who she used to be; it’s a way of saying I’m still here. For me, stepping onto the volleyball court and finally speaking up was my way of saying the same thing I’m still here I deserve to be seen. This quote also made me think about how her relationships can change from Power gets involved. To have a loving relationship with Luke, where they were equals. Now she’s in a situation where she’s being used. That shift is painful, but it reminded me of how important it is to be in spaces where you’re respected and valued. Whether it’s a team or friendship, or a classroom, everyone deserves to feel like they belong. In the end, this chapter showed me that finding my voice takes time. Offered is still trapped, but she’s starting to push back in small ways. She’s starting to speak up for herself more, but I was scared to speak up. But eventually I did, and once I did, everything started to change. I started to feel stronger and more confident and more like myself, just like I learned that even at your worst, you still find ways to hold on to who you are.

Billie Eilish - “What Was I Made For?” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcQszUj4Nhc )

Billie Eilish’s song “What Was I Made For?” powerfully shows Offred’s identity loss in The Handmaid’s Tale. In the song, Eilish says, “I used to float, now I just fall down,” which reflects Offred’s “fall” or big change from freedom to oppression under the rule of Gilead. As someone who was once independent, she is now only valued for her ability to bear children. An example of this is a quote from Chapter 23 where Offred says, “We are for breeding purposes.” Like Eilish’s lyric, “Looked so alive, turns out I’m not real,” Offred feels stripped of her humanity and belittled to a symbol of fertility. Both the song and the book explore how women are shaped into controlled versions of themselves, forced to hide emotions and individuality. The lyric “Something you made to look so perfect” almost mirrors Gilead’s illusion of perfection, which hides cruelty behind its harsh system. All the while, Offred reflects, “Better never means better for everyone.. It always means worse for some” (Chapter 32). Despite her numb feelings, Offred still longs for connection and freedom, which leaves her to quietly question her purpose. Like Eilish song, she yearns to remember who she once was, asking the same haunting question, “If I can’t be myself, what was I made for?”

Beyonce ft. Kendrick Lamar - “Freedom” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FWF9375hUA )

Beyoncé’s song “Freedom” powerfully reflects on the women’s desire for liberation in The Handmaid’s Tale. She sings, “Imma keep running, cause a winner don’t quit on themselves,” which, in a way, mirrors Offred’s quiet perseverance despite the constant control in Gilead. Like Beyonce’s message of resistance, Offred finds small ways to regain her power, such as remembering her past, making secret connections, and whispering forbidden words. When she reads “Nolite te bastardes carborundorum” (from chapter 9), she feels a sense of strength, empowerment, and purpose, refusing to be defeated. The lyric “Freedom, Freedom, I can’t move!” relates to Offred’s inner struggle. Her spirit wants to break free even though her body is trapped. Both Beyonce’s song and The Handmaid’s Tale book show how women continue to fight for hope and self worth, even in the time of oppression. Essentially, freedom becomes not just a goal, but an act of courage and survival.

Micheal Jackson - “They Don’t Care About Us” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFUvTE7TK6s )

Micheal Jackson’s song “They Don’t Care About Us” connects strongly to the themes of power and oppression in The Handmaid’s Tale. Jackson’s lyric “All I wanna say is that they don’t really care about us,” reflects how Gilead’s leaders claim to protect women, while actually dehumanizing them. The Handmaids are treated like property, valued only for their ability to reproduce. When Offred says, “We are for breeding purposes” (Chapter 23), she exposes how little the system values Handmaids as people. Michael Jackson’s anger towards injustice almost mirrors Offred’s quiet awareness that those in power use religion and control to excuse cruelty. The lyric “Beat me, hate me, you can never break me” mirrors Offred’s hidden courage, as she resists through memory and thoughts. Both the song and the book reveal how corrupt systems strip people of humanity and how courage begins with refusing to accept just any old circumstances.

Alicia Keys - “Caged Bird” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9_9XbUvfrA )

Alicia Keys’s “Caged Bird” captures the trapped but hopeful spirit of Offred in The Handmaid’s Tale. Keys sings “Right now, the world is such a crazy place,” which reflects Gilead’s sick society built on fear and control. Like the “bird” in the song, Offred is kept locked up and silenced, yet she dreams of freedom. Offred says “The door of the room– not my room, I refuse to say my – is not locked” (Chapter 17), showing her small mental rebellion against captivity. The caged bird song symbolizes Offred’s storytelling. It’s her way of keeping her spirit alive. Both Alicia Keys’s song and the book highlight that even in oppressive times, hope and memory can’t be fully taken away. Offred’s quiet resistance and desire to be heard and seen, mirrors the caged bird’s song for freedom.

Tink - “Treat Me Like Somebody” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HuiYBtoIhE )

Tink’s song “Treat Me Like Somebody” reflects Offred’s longing to be seen and valued as a human being rather than an object in The Handmaid’s Tale. Tink sings, “I just wanna be somebody to someone,” which connects to Offred’s deep desire for genuine love and recognition in a world that only values her for reproduction and treats her like property. When she reflects and says, “I want to be held and told my name. I want to be valued in ways that I am not” (Chapter 17), she reveals this craving for emotional connection and self-worth. Like Tink explains through her song, Offred wants more than a role; she wants to feel loved and seen. Her secret moments with Nick offer her tiny glimpses of humanity. Both the song and the book explore how women struggle to find identity and affection in systems and a world that reduces them to objects, longing to be treated like someone real, simply.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lkN8VICuyYwRvK_fJUQ3GqJMJ1NDBVi0dJj3wq7TcJ8/edit?usp=sharing