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College English Lit Log # 1 The Handmaid’s Tale Rae Alexander October 12, 2023

Color and Style has been used to make statements and convey meanings between people for a long time. It’s all part of the 70% of communication that is non-verbal. In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, the characters are given uniforms with certain colors and style that communicate their status just like some of our own politicians do in our modern day. In the beginning we meet Offred, a woman with a blurry memory of her life from the time before and who is a handmaid. The handmaids have an interesting uniform. Offred says, “ Everything except the wings around my face is red: the color of blood which defines us. The skirt is ankle length, full, gathered…”(8).Offred is swathed in a red cloak with “white wings” surrounding the face. Red is often recognized as the color of passion, or fierceness or blood. White is often associated with purity. Even without it being clearly stated we can see that there is a message being told to the reader about Offred and her role. In the world of Gilead, the Handmaids are respected by most of the public and carry a decent amount of status. Later on we learn that this is because their role is to “bear fruit” or carry the children of the commanders. They’re surrogates. Their role and the colors associated with their role tell not just the reader but the characters handmaid’s interact with in the story a great deal. Reflecting on how the characters of Gilead perceive the handmaids and their status and what it means within the society, is not completely a work of fiction. There are instances where women use colors and style to send a message to the public. For example, in 2019, congress women wore white as a call back to the suffragette white. It was said to be a “beacon of rebellion”, and was meant to emphasize the female presence on the house floor. Another instance was when Vice President Kamala Harris wore a purple inauguration coat. The mix of Democrat blue and Republican red, was a way to show unification between the two parties. To reference the quote cited earlier, Offred has to wear a long and flowing red cloak. It hides her figure for the most part, and covers a lot of skin, save for her face. There is a tone of modesty in the clothes she wears. Despite her role as a surrogate for the commander and his wife, Offred is shown to dress modestly and the white surrounding her face suggests a certain level of purity. “The white wings too are a prescribed issue; they are to keep us from seeing, but also from being seen.”(8). The handmaids are supposed to be modest and are forced to not be seen and to not see. They are hidden and made to hide. The reader may come to think that modesty is an oppressive kind meant to keep the citizens ignorant. Something akin to this-albeit to a lesser extent-is how dress codes are somewhat gender targeted. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor had worn red nails and it became her signature. But when she was oathed, the dress code banned any ‘flamboyant’ nail polish colors and so her red nails were no more. There we again have that almost oppressive modesty. The color red is referenced again in real life and The Handmaid’s Tale. Justice Sotomayor’s signature red nail is banned because of its flamboyant nature. Red, once again, is a color of controversy, especially when women wear it. A lot of the time, in the real world, there is a push to stay away from red as a young girl or as a wedding guest because it draws attention. Red draws attention. Many people debate whether said attention is good or not but what people can agree on is that it certainly has all eyes on the person who wears it. Congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is known for wearing a red lip a lot of the time. She says it’s a shout out to her Puerto Rican roots and it gives her a boost of confidence. It draws attention and boosts her confidence. But for red to be known as a traditionally bright and beacon of a color for the handmaids to have it as their color yet be said to not be seen is ironic. They’re bodies and status are to be seen but not talked about or acknowledged and their faces are surrounded in white. This could be a hint at perhaps their faces and individually not mattering anymore because of their status as surrogates to the commanders.

On Page 104 of “The Handmaid’s Tale”, the narrator ponders where her former husband Luke is now. She describes what remains of him in her mind: “his hair, the bones, the plaid wool shirt, green and black, the leather belt, the work boots. I know exactly what he was wearing…though not his face, not so well. His face is beginning to fade, possibly because it wasn’t always the same: his face had different expressions, his clothes did not.” The inanimate objects are easier to remember for her, because they are simple, and they remain the same. It is harder to capture someone’s whole essence in memory, because they are always changing like we are, and the face starts to fade because we cannot decide on an expression to save.

I know this feeling firsthand, as I have had to say goodbye to many people in my life. I’ve moved a fair amount, living in 3 main houses and 4 main schools. The moves used to affect me more. I used to cry over my friends being gone. And then my friends started to change. Once I didn’t see them anymore, it became harder and harder to keep an updated version of their faces in my mind. Like the narrator, my friends’ faces began to fade, frozen in time.

What I remember very clearly are the things I have kept in my memory box. What remains is this: the bubbles in a small white container, leftover from “Paint The Town Red”, a choir assembly in Chicago. The tape dispenser covered in scraps of paper from a friendly feud that say “Reese was right, Guz was wrong” and “Gus was right, Reese was wrong”. I can still remember the bubbles floating in the sea of red uniforms. I can remember the blue water bottle I stole and covered in my little notes. Though not their faces, not so well. They seem to fade in my mind, becoming people from a different story, becoming distanced. All I have left are these objects, and my own feelings. As the people I share the memories with fade, the memories themselves feel less real.

It feels like I’m in a void with relics from a different life, which is very similar to the experience of the narrator of “The Handmaid’s Tale”. She actually is living a different life, removed from almost everything and everyone she once knew. And she doesn’t even have anything physical to hold on to. Her thoughts are all she has to keep her sane and I think that is why she clings to the details like the clothes as much as I cling to my memory box. She needs to ground her story in something, needs to cling to whatever there is left. She needs some kind of proof that what she had before was real.

As the narrator speculates what has happened to Luke, she keeps using the phrase “I believe”. (Pages 104-105). At the end of the chapter she talks about how she believes her husband is alive and will come for her. “It’s this message, which may never arrive, that keeps me alive”. In addition to the clothes she remembers and can hold on to, she has invented a hope. She has invented a message that she can picture, telling her that a savior is coming. The other beliefs she has, that Luke is dead or that he has been caught, are not as strong as the hope. Because it is the one thing that will prove Luke is real and that this nightmare will come to an end. In a world where the narrator is surrounded by an entirely new reality, she needs a hope that the old one will return. If she loses him, if she loses her last hope, she will have nothing to hold on to. By losing faith, by losing hope, she will lose herself. And there will be nothing left to keep her alive.

I did not feel this on the same level of course, but I did still feel it. I reached out to my friends more often than they did, and eventually I stopped getting responses. I stopped trying to reach out. I would wait, crying in my room, for someone to send a message. I’d go through my memory box, looking at old letters, inventing a new one in my mind. Moving on was the hardest part, accepting that some friends would go. The narrator hasn’t reached this stage yet. Because moving on is not an option she can accept yet. So she stays in limbo, going with the flow of her new life, waiting for a message to tell her what to do.

I think something that this whole topic illustrates is how much we rely on other people to define ourselves. We need human contact to survive- that is how we are wired. Without real connections to real people, we start to lose our sense of self and our sense of purpose. When we lose connections to people, we focus on the objects we associate with them because we need a connection. We need to hold on to something, in times of joy or struggle. Our past is something we carry with us, and if we leave it behind we are left wondering how we got here and where we should go now.

In the past two years alone, there has been a spike in conservatism in our government that has threatened civil rights, first with the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, and several bills trying to erase nondiscrimination laws towards the LGBTQ+ community and laws that will limit a transgender person’s right to transition. Amidst these regressions in our democracy are conservative social media stars, coaxing young people into dangerous beliefs.

A recent conservative star has been Andrew Tate, a 36-year old British kick-boxing champion known for his misogynistic takes such as saying women are more attractive when they are 18 and 19, rather than 26 because “they have been through less dick” - or that that female sexual assault victims should “bear some responsibility”. Through being wanted for arrest for sex trafficking young women employed in his webcam business, a new personality has come into light, who some are calling a “female Andrew Tate”. Her name is Hannah Pearl Davis, better known as “Pearl”, and she’s a 26 year-old self proclaimed “anti-feminist”. At first, people thought she was being satirical or was just desperate for attention, but as her following has grown she’s started being taken seriously. After scrolling through her twitter account for just five minutes, I immediately saw a picture she’d posted wearing a shirt saying “Women Shouldn’t Vote” - with twelve and a half million views. Other tweets from her profile in the last few months alone include: “Stop sleeping with fat chicks!!”, “Men like pure women not whores”, and “I’m transphobic. I am in fact afraid of trans people.” With almost two million followers on Youtube, you would think she’d consider the effects her platform may have on young girls and the way they view themselves.

“She doesn’t make speeches anymore. She has become speechless. She stays in her home, but it doesn’t seem to agree with her. How furious she must be, now that she’s been taken at her word.”

Serena Joy, a character from The Handmaid’s Tale, rose to fame in this dystopian novel similar to how Pearl has today. Serena was a christian gospel singer on a network television show and rose to fame preaching christian, conservative values. Offred infers that Serena had some influence on the evolution of Gilead, that she was “taken at her word”, which is why people like Pearl are so terrifying - her words are ridiculous but she may have more influence than we assume. What’s funny is, much like Serena, if Pearl were to be taken at her word and the things she’s claimed to want came true, she would lose all her status. The values she’s capitalized on have the capacity to render her powerless, and that doesn’t seem to scare her.

“We thought she was funny. Or Luke thought she was funny. I only pretended to think so. Really she was a little frightening. She was in earnest.”

It’s fun to sit and laugh at Pearl, whose political takes seem so ridiculous that we think she can’t truly believe it. And we know she doesn’t truly believe it, but what we don’t see are the people endorsing her, praising her for making these speeches. These people have the true power to take what Pearl says seriously and make it a reality. We see “Women Shouldn’t Vote!” pasted on her shirt and think of what a joke she must be, but the truth is that there was a time when women couldn’t vote and there is very little reason why, if the wrong people were in power, we couldn’t go back to that time. The Handmaid’s Tale is so horrifying and still so topical today because we know it wouldn’t be impossible for the US to head towards Gilead.

In The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood makes endless references to real-life issues, creating scenes in Gilead that represent actual events from our world. One of these issues is the sexual harassment that occurs all too often in the medical world, especially between male doctors and female patients. In chapter 11, Offred went to the doctor for her monthly checkup and was sexually harassed by the doctor. After he’d performed the usual examinations, he got way too close to her, touched her inappropriately, and whispered things like “I could help you” (pg 60), “you want a baby, don’t you” (pg 61), and “it’d only take a minute, honey” (pg 61). When Offred didn’t immediately agree, he tried to convince her further by telling her that “lots of women do it,” adding to the pressure she faced in the moment. She didn’t know which was the safer option: saying yes or saying no.

Although the doctor from this scene may seem outrageous in the amount of risk he took just for a chance to have sex with Offred, it’s based entirely in reality. A report about a case against Robert Hadden, a former Obstetrician/Gynecologist who sexually abused patients for decades, reads, “He exploited the power differential inherent in the doctor-patient relationship.” This kind of dynamic is what makes sexual assault by doctors unique; the perpetrator is not only someone who the victim is supposed to trust, but also someone with power over the victim. In Offred’s case, saying yes to the doctor’s offer of impregnating her would be dangerous if they were caught, and she clearly felt uncomfortable with the idea of having sex with him regardless. If she said no, she worried he could fake her tests, make a false report against her, and she’d be done for anyway. Offred did what many victims of sexual assault are forced to do in order to get out of the situation: act polite and try to refuse as nicely as possible. In her case, it worked, but it doesn’t always turn out that way in real life.

As for the repercussions of their actions, plenty of doctors get away with such crimes for many years, like Robert Hadden, who sexually abused dozens of patients from 1987 to 2012 and is now serving 20 years in prison. However, some predators never get caught. It is likely that the doctor from The Handmaid’s Tale who harassed Offred did not face any punishment following the incident, and likely continued “offering his services” to more female patients. Due to the lack of power that women- nevermind handmaids- had in Gilead, the likelihood of Offred speaking out was next to none, and the chances she’d be heard were even slimmer. Plus, the sheet in the examination room that was meant to restrict doctors and patients from seeing each other’s faces would’ve made it very difficult for patients to even know who’d harassed them. Systems such as the sheet that blocked the doctor’s face and the lack of power that women held in Gilead can be compared to the ways that women are restricted in today’s world. These societal structures, plus genuine fear, are some of the reasons that women often don’t report the sexual harassment they’ve experienced, which allows predators to continue abusing more victims until they’re finally found out.

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 63% of sexual assaults are not reported to police. Lots of victims just shrug it off, thinking it’s not a big deal and they shouldn’t make a fuss. After Offred’s encounter with the doctor, she was scared, but had no intention of bringing attention to the case. “Why am I frightened? I’ve crossed no boundaries, I’ve given no trust, taken no risk, all is safe.” (pg 61) She seemed to be less scared of what could’ve happened in the examination room than she was of the consequences that would come with being caught having sex with the doctor. One cause of this could’ve been The Ceremony, where she had scheduled sex with the Commander in an unromantic, dutiful way in an effort to get pregnant. Maybe Offred was somewhat desensitized to having sex with unfamiliar men who she didn’t love, although she definitely wasn’t fond of it. Following the incident, her greatest worry was not her bodily autonomy, but rather what she’d have to do to avoid death. The great stakes in Gilead created an environment where a woman’s experience of sexual harassment seemed insignificant to her, making it a true dystopia.

The novel “The Handmaid’s Tale,” authored by Margaret Atwood, is a masterful work that adeptly explores the intricacies of our society’s treatment of women. Set in the fictitious yet thought-provoking society of Gilead, the novel delves into a world where both women and men face oppression. This dystopian society grapples with dwindling birth rates, prompting women to assume the role of mere childbearing machines, compelled to harness their reproductive capacities. While such a scenario might be somewhat comprehensible given the perilously declining population, the presence of religious overtones within the Gilead community complicates the legitimacy of their circumstances.

For instance, Gilead’s foundation heavily relies on religion, though the novel doesn’t explicitly specify the faith they follow. It is implied that their belief system is likely rooted in Christianity or Catholicism, as evidenced by their reverence for the Bible. In chapter 15, on page 87, there is a scene where handmaids and Marthas assemble in the living room, listening to the Commander reading a verse from the Bible. The passage describes the Commander’s ritual: “He crosses to the large leather chair reserved for him, takes the key out of his pocket, fumbles with the ornate brass-bound leather-covered box that stands on the table beside the chair. He inserts the key, opens the box, lifts out the Bible, an ordinary copy, with a black cover and gold-edged pages. The Bible is kept locked up, the way people once kept tea locked up, so the servants wouldn’t steal it.” This act of safeguarding the Bible implies a constant and forceful imposition of Christianity or Catholicism, which may be causing irritation and sparking a sense of resentment among the individuals in Gilead.

Yet another compelling illustration of the ceaseless psychological conditioning within Gilead is found in Chapter 15, specifically on pages 88-89. In this pivotal scene, Aunt Lydia addresses a gathering of young women, comprising both the diligent Marthas and the subjugated Handmaids, with the intention of conveying the idea that they should consider themselves remarkably privileged and fortunate. Despite her attempts to emphasize their good fortune, it is abundantly clear that, from the perspective of these women, they do not perceive themselves as beneficiaries of such privileges. In stark contrast, they feel imprisoned, cruelly isolated from the world beyond the confines of Gilead. Aunt Lydia’s discourse unfolds against the backdrop of a surreal breakfast scene, during which the women are gathered, partaking in a meager meal of porridge adorned with cream and brown sugar.

As she addresses them, she endeavors to underscore the notion that they are receiving the very best within the constraints of the tumultuous world outside. She reminds them, “We had it read to us every breakfast, as we sat in the high school cafeteria, eating porridge with cream and brown sugar. You’re getting the best you know, said Aunt Lydia. There’s a war on, things are rationed. You are spoiled girls, she twinkled…” Aunt Lydia’s words, delivered with an air of sardonic humor, shed light on the stark contrast between the dismal reality the women face and the distorted perception that Gilead’s regime aims to instill in them. In this poignant moment, it becomes evident that the propaganda and the stringent religious doctrine imposed upon the residents of Gilead serve not only to manipulate their beliefs but also to warp their sense of reality. This passage, therefore, serves as a stark reminder of the power of propaganda and the extent to which authoritarian regimes can manipulate the perceptions and understanding of their subjects.

While reading “The Handmaid’s Tale,” I frequently found myself drawing parallels to real-world occurrences. One striking resemblance is the principle of the separation of church and state, a fundamental concept in the United States, which emanated from the landmark Supreme Court case of Everson v. Board of Education. This principle, often referred to as “church vs. state,” posits that religious institutions and the government must remain distinct and separate entities. It maintains that no official religion should be established within a state, as such an establishment would contravene the core principles enshrined in the Constitution.

This connection serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring relevance of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” highlighting the enduring significance of the themes it explores. Margaret Atwood’s dystopian narrative not only serves as a chilling work of fiction but also as a cautionary tale, urging us to remain vigilant in safeguarding the principles of democracy and the separation of church and state, which are the cornerstones of modern society. In an age where the blurring of these lines can lead to profound consequences, “The Handmaid’s Tale” continues to resonate as a powerful commentary on the fragility of such foundations in the face of authoritarianism and the erosion of individual liberties.

Due to the School District of Philadelphia half day for staff professional development, SLA will follow the below schedule on Friday, 9/29:

08:15-08:55 B2

09:00-09:40 C2

09:45-10:25 X2/Y2 class

10:30-11:10 D2

11:15-11:55 E2

12:00-12:30 Lunch/Dismissal

Due to continued heat and the SDP half-days announcement, SLA will follow the below schedules for the remainder of the week.

THURSDAY, 9/7

08:15-08:50 C1 Band

08:55-09:30 D1 Band

09:35-10:10 X1/Y1 Band (class, not lunch)

10:15-10:50 E1 Band

10:55-11:30 A2 Band

11:35-12:00 Advisory

12:00-12:30 Lunch/Dismissal

FRIDAY, 9/8

08:15-08:55 B2 Band

09:00-09:40 C2 Band

09:45-10:25 D2 Band

10:30-11:10 E2 Band

11:15-11:55 X2/Y2 Band (class, not lunch)

12:00-12:30 Lunch/Dismissal

Note: Students who have money to submit for school dues can bring that to Mr. Reddy (room 501) before first period or directly after last period.

Welcome to the new school year, SLA Community!

With heat warnings in place, SLA will follow the below schedules for the School District of Philadelphia half-days. Keep an eye out for SLA Announcement emails as more information or updates become available.

TUESDAY, 9/5

08:15-09:45 Advisory

09:50-10:10 E1 Band

10:15-10:35 A2 Band

10:40-11:00 X2/Y2 Band (class, not lunch)

11:05-11:25 B2 Band

11:30-11:55 C2 Band

12:00-12:30 Lunch/Dismissal

WEDNESDAY, 9/6

08:15-09:05 D2 Band

09:10-10:00 E2 Band

10:05-10:55 A1 Band

11:00-11:55 B1 Band

12:00-12:30 Lunch/Dismissal

Note: Students who have money to submit for school dues can bring that to Mr. Reddy (room 501) before first period or directly after last period.

Hello SLA Families, We hope you are enjoying your summer and gearing up for the start of school. If your child is interested in participating in a FALL SPORT at SLA, please take some time to read the message below.

I wanted to share our first week of pre-season information. All teams will have two weeks of pre-season with some (soccer, volleyball) sports kicking off their competitive seasons with games the week of August 28th (note: this is the week before school starts for students. Please plan accordingly.)

All athletes MUST have a fully completed (sections 1-6) and signed PIAA physical form in order to try out, practice and/or compete. Even if you have submitted it electronically, please bring a fully completed PAPER copy to the first day of tryouts or email it directly to the coach beforehand. Please be sure that you have your doctor complete the appropriate form. A traditional physical form does not take the place of the PIAA form and will not give your child clearance to participate.

We understand that some tryout dates/times may interfere with 9th grade Summer Institute—we are more likely to see cooler weather in the morning hours. Please be assured that no freshman will be excluded from a team due to attending Summer Institute and freshmen should prioritize their attendance at Summer Institute. However, they should be sure to attend any practices that occur outside of SI days and hours and communicate with the respective coaches.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly if you have any questions about athletics at SLA.

Go Rockets!

Ms. Siswick, Athletic Director

zsiswick@scienceleadership.org

Girls Soccer

When: August 14th-18th, 9:30-11:30am

Where: Columbus Square Park, 12th & Wharton

Info: All players must bring a soccer ball, shin guards, cleats and water

Coach/Contact: Zoe Siswick - zsiswick@scienceleadership.org

Boys Soccer

When: August 14th-18th, 10am-noon

Where: Columbus Square Park, 12th & Wharton

Info: All players must bring a soccer ball, shin guards, cleats and water

Coach/Contact: Jimmy O’Karma - jgokarmajr@philasd.org

Football

When: August 7th-11th, 3-6pm

Where: Clemente Playground, 18th & Wallace

Info: Bring plenty of water

Coach/Contact: Aleem Medley - amedley@philasd.org

Cheer

More info forthcoming

Girls Volleyball

When: August 14th-17th, 10am-noon

Where: SLA/Franklin Gym

Info: all players should bring water bottles. There are refill stations at school

Coach/Contact: Terry Ward - tward2@philasd.org

Co-Ed Cross Country

When: August 15th-16th, 9:30am-11:30am; August 17th, virtual meeting

Where: Meet in SLA commons (1st floor by entrance)

Info: Wear running shoes, light clothing and drink plenty of water prior to practice

Coach/Contact: Brian Kelly - brikelly@philasd.org

Co-Ed Golf (through co-op with Constitution)

More info forthcoming

Ultimate Frisbee

The season will begin fully once the school year starts however there may be pickup games at the conclusion of Summer Institute each day. Bring sneakers and comfortable clothing if you would like to participate. A PIAA physical is encouraged but not required for Ultimate.

Students Run Philly Style

If you have been practicing with your middle school during the summer, please continue to do so and reach out to Coach Jeremy (jspry@scienceleadership.org.) Otherwise, new runners can begin at the start of the school year. Medical forms are required for races; PIAA form is encouraged.

Due to today’s excessive heat warning, the School District of Philadelphia is dismissing with a half-day schedule. Below is our modified class schedule for Friday, 6/2, as well as the updated capstone schedule. STAY COOL, EVERYONE!

08:15 - 09:00 B2 Band

09:05 - 09:50 C2 Band

09:55 - 10:40 D2 Band

10:45 - 11:30 E2 Band

11:35 - 12:20 Y2/X2 Band (Class, not lunch)

12:20 - 01:00 Lunch/Dismissal

CAPSTONE SCHEDULE: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xGonwdFZEO2s2tbCrBsSaYhVn7IUjk4XyjZL4pGAWlQ/edit#gid=1231959563**

Ever since I was a child, I loved animals, which is why I want my capstone to be animal related. So for my capstone, I decided to make a website for those around Philadelphia and surrounding areas who want to get involved with animal care but need help figuring out how or where. More specifically, I wanted to make a website to provide others with a way to find places to volunteer without having to do all the research. This idea came to me because I wanted to volunteer at any animal-related organization. While looking for places, I found it frustrating having to research and then having to find out that they don’t take volunteers or that volunteers have to be 18+. So, having a website where a volunteer application is just one click away will make it easier for more people to volunteer and will hopefully help with that shortage of animal care workers.

Website: https://sites.google.com/scienceleadership.org/animalcarelovers/home

Photos I took while volunteering: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16aGf0yI-nBlYgC6lLZZsx5zRShCt9t2D?usp=sharing

Annotated Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16agV41hoE-3q0byc99d0Dg4P-kNSs2sOkvBdwYKspp8/edit?usp=sharing

For my Capstone I collaborated with Jave Kelman to host RocketFest, a film festival dedicated to putting a spotlight on films made by Philadelphia high schoolers. The goal of this Capstone was to create a platform that gives these films and the youth the recognition that they deserve.

For my Capstone project, I created a documentary film comprised of three interviews with individuals who work in careers involving the end of life. I interviewed a funeral director, a hospice social worker, and a ceremonialist. I asked them a series of questions to learn more about their perspectives on death because of their work. I learned the importance of talking about death and its intricacies and working with other people to better understand it.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q05KlQsuI2tCBYGUCDkp-fcLFObIODuN/view?usp=sharingusp=sharing

For My Capstone I decided to do drawings of people that have changed our environment. I wanted to knowledgeable people that have changed our environment and made it a better world. I had to come up with multiple drawings of each person and try to make them unique to every person. I looked into their background and what made them want to change their environment and just began drawing. I have learned dedication, value, and research. My Capstone has helped me grow as a person by helping me learn that anybody can be interesting as long as you’re willing to put in the work, and actually try to reason with them. I have faced a lot of struggles with My Capstone, I was trying too hard to make them look perfect when in reality I had to make them unique to itself. I overcame this by realizing that every person is unique and if they’re not unique then the drawing can’t be real to others. I have learned so much from my Capstone but this Capstone has helped me grow and has made me improve with my drawing and art.

These are some of the drawings that I have been working on

Bibliography https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P8ofJToao7mYkyB3q3JXDoLjObiTQhlu3_LgQzCwXzA/edit?usp=sharing

Capstone https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1DEo7xYAYGxqJT3VvANB58yblx7yRPaA5vTV6yEotPFk/edit?usp=sharing

My Capstone project revolves around creating a comprehensive website dedicated to Engineering Majors. The primary objective of this website is to offer in-depth information about different engineering Majors. The process of my project was very straightforward but I encountered minor problems like picking the main platform to make my website which took me to try four different platforms to find the one that suits my style of writing and represents my skills. My motivation for making this website was to help upcoming engineering SLA students, The website aims to provide valuable resources and insights that will aid students in selecting the right engineering school for their academic pursuits. Also, Driven by my own experiences as a student with a keen interest in pursuing engineering in college, I embarked on the creation of this website as a valuable learning resource for myself. I wanted to make my capstone that could personally benefit me in my journey, and I wanted to learn something new and impactful. The key component in making my capstone is a lot of research about each Engineering major, but I also added things like interviewing both my uncles that are Engineers and asking them about their experience in the industry and both of them had two completely different answers. Also, I conducted interviews with a group of ten students consisting of five sophomores and five juniors, all of whom expressed unwavering certainty regarding their choice of Engineering major for college.

My Website: https://sites.google.com/scienceleadership.org/rami-boubekri/chapter-1

Annotated Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FRX3NVDIXi-GfXPidJCentrJHU15Owt9QJie88SBh1k/edit

My Capstone dives into my own story of dealing with mental health but also my communities. I use various forms of art like writing, podcasting, and physical art to bring forth the stories of my peers and staff but also my own. I wanted to destigmatize mental health with this project and create a safe space here at SLA so people feel less alone by knowing my story as well as others. I also included resources for anyone in need or in crisis and provided accessible therapy and rehabilitation places. I wanted to not just accommodate all groups of people from Women to LGBTQIA to POC but make this a website that is available to all and can be accessed by both students and staff to better the mental health environment here at SLA. The capstone process has taught me that mental health takes many forms for different people and is an aspect that plays such importance in a student’s academic life as well as their teacher’s lives. I have learned a lot about myself in this process as well. I learned to look on the brighter side of life and realize that life is beautiful in struggle and triumph.

My annotated bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15XxxvHhwtpkgbc6SvmtMF5FmByu5IICFGVcVXXG6b6E/edit?usp=sharing

For my capstone project, I did a watering planter with five different plants that I planted, the frame of the watering planter bed is made of wood that I worked to earn money and buy the wood and polish and cut it for the planter that I was building. The reason I chose to do a watering planter for this project is that this project represents a trade that I would like to continue after high school, and I found it handy for me to build something like this. Another reason that I build this water planter is that I wanted to donate to the school I spend four years learning and helped me define my skills after high school, which the idea of building this planter was to donated to the school, which this was something that I could give back to my school.

The Stigma on Mental Health is a documentary I made for my capstone that questions how a person’s sociocultural background affects their view on mental health and access to care. This documentary follows three subjects: Samira Pope, John Henkel, and Lorraine Ustaris. I questioned them on their experiences with therapy, their thoughts on generational lines of trauma and bias, as well as what they believe the stigma on mental health is, why it’s there, and how as a society we can work to reduce it. My documentary idea came to me after working on a unit in science and society with Mr. Henkel that was about our sociocultural perspectives. That is when I realized I wanted to create something similar to that for my capstone project. I wanted to raise awareness of how limited the knowledge on mental health care and access is and find out what the contributing factors were to that disproportion of knowledge. This documentary is a safe space for people to learn and connect with. Not everyone is taught that mental health is health care or that it should be. And with this film I think the stigma surrounding the so-called ‘requirements’ for normal mental health care can be questioned, challenged, and possibly changed little by little if people continue to spread awareness to this tainted view on what it is to have a healthy mind and how to get there.

Link to my documentary-> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H5r95V-hic9-nWcTbhFcl44A_HrMHyPl/view?usp=sharing

When I was a child, never in my life did I know what I was going to do or see, but I followed the path of a warrior. I’ve always seen SLA as a haven for me to come and express myself to the fullest, and I can be myself when at any other place I am an outcast. I’m glad I came to this school, as I got to be me and me only. Brighter days are ahead of us, and I want to show what I learned by creating this music video for my capstone. This project I’ve worked on is the biggest one I’ve done since being at this school. I’ve worked on big ones before, but this tops everything, as it took time to do. The edits, the camera work, and the ideas behind everything are essential to this capstone’s creation. Music is something I’ve never really thought about doing, but I’ve found out that I like to make it, so this helps me out. ‌The hours it took to craft the work I’ve done is substantial but I hope everyone who sees this video gets a lesson learnt out of this! Death by a Stray is my original work, and it’s always going to be in my heart as one song I’ve put my all into. I’m just making more creations possible because I’ve created this work of art. I am happy I’ve done this; I can proudly call it my own. I hope you enjoy!

EVIDENCE: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1poOh7FB1BsGvWknvygsHRQftOYnOh4N7?usp=sharing (music video inside)

My capstone is a documentary on the history of Philadelphia. There are fun facts, some shocking facts, and things you didn’t know about. I talk about colleges, sports teams, and a few neighborhoods (North South, West) and I go over historical buildings and landmarks. The goal of this project is to inform whoever watches my documentary about things they pass by on a daily basis.

Rocketfest is a youth film festival for public high school students across Philadelphia organized by SLA Center City students. Rocketfest was created to showcase Philadelphia Public Highschool film talent, all in one place, together.

Through working on this capstone we got to see how SLA’s core values of inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation, and reflection work in the real world. This capstone was not only challenging but also rewarding.

Copy and paste this link to view a slide deck explaining Rocketfest 2023 with some behind-the-scenes: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1DaU5e_cws_QH856kl0b0H8PX-UJx0JYoKH5N2Gp64Co/edit?usp=sharing

I wanted to show people how beautiful soccer is and how much it means to me because it plays a significant role in my life. In the beginning, growing up as a female and playing soccer was really challenging for me. I had people tell me soccer wasn’t for girls and that I should try something different or that I shouldn’t play sports at all, but I didn’t let any of it get to me. I kept on working hard throughout the years. Soccer has brought me so much happiness and has opened up a lot of opportunities for me. I kept getting better, which makes me incredibly proud. I want other people to feel the same way about pursuing their dreams or anything else in life. By completing this capstone, I hoped to show that women can play sports, sometimes even better than men. Everyone should be able to play soccer because it is known as the most beautiful sport. There shouldn’t be any favoritism in sports at all; everyone should receive the same treatment and compensation. Although I know that many people won’t agree with me, I hope that my initiative will show that just because we are women, that doesn’t mean that we can’t participate in sports.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g-sou8lYHqIcNjgAGHen6Hly8f41xku0/view?usp=sharing

My capstone is about how movies have impacted people over time and I was working on this capstone with people in my neighborhood. I’ve been working on this capstone for over a couple months. I’m very excited to be able to show all the work that I’ve done. The capstone is done in a slide show type of way. I put a lot of information from the interviews I’ve conducted.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1dRPlXi93JIo-gok3XasEvtxRip-QqCKU2d6tV8nOcjU/edit?usp=sharing

For my capstone, I did a soccer ball for the Blind. Throughout this project, I’ve had a couple of roadblocks that have made me reflect on if I should be doing the project. Luckily I stuck through it and enjoy making my project. Next, the process of my project was very unique. Throughout the whole project, I was at first coding a buzzer. When coding the buzzer everything was going according to plan. Until all of a sudden, my code starts having issues. It wasn’t detecting what I was trying to do. Kept having error problems with the code. Once I figured out the code another problem started which was the circuit. The code was being verified by the coding of the website so I thought I was good but no the buzzer started to act up. The buzzer was acting up to the point that it wasn’t being recognized and everything was set up perfectly even with its voltages in the correct spot. So when it was time to overcome these obstacles I quickly started to think of other options that could work. That’s when the idea of a speaker since it’s Bluetooth won’t need any wires. To overcome this I got a mini speaker and just put it inside the ball just to see how loud it would be. As I did that it was perfect. The next step was now how to make the soccer ball kickable. I finally ended up painting it and polishing it. Through all, I learned to never get stuck on one idea and essentially there can always be other solutions to your project or anything in general.