https://sites.google.com/scienceleadership.org/barberdougcapstone/home

My capstone was the progression of running a business as a student amid Covid-19. I have the last year and a half worth of footage documented to provide photo evidence of an ongoing skill that progressed with time.

By December, 2016, the discussion of my highschool experience had come up while talking to my parents and we realized we better get a jump on trying to find a highschool for me if I ended up choosing to leave my old school, which I did. We ended up looking at schools such as Central, Christopher Dock, The City School, and Science Leadership Academy. I had shadowed Dock and TCS, and had noted the complete differences in lifestyle from a suburban type area to a bustling urban scene at TCS. I had like most of the schools and I had eventually set up a visit for SLA. In early 2017 I went to 22nd and Arch to visit the school building in the middle of the city. When seeing some of the classrooms in action we had run into familiar faces such as Charles Velasquez, Micah Carrera, and Amaris Ortiz, who were all kids of family friends. Looking back over the last 3 years I see that what had drawn me to SLA is gone. I remember being embraced by the colorful and creative community when I visited the school but now we’re in a cramped new building that’s unfinished, unsafe, and a lot less accessible than the previous. Although SLA is a great school it definitely has changed me and I’m not sure if it’s for the worst. I was a strong Christian and followers of christ leaving my Christian middle school. Transitioning from chapel and prayer twice a week to a school that’s completely accepting about any and everything was especially frantic, and without being constantly reminded of the word of God, I began to find myself slipping in faith barely reading my bible, attending church less, and slowly starting to question God’s existence. I wasn’t sure how SLA would impact me but that’s hardly what I was expecting. Maybe it’s hard to say that I wouldn’t have ended up like this had I stayed in my previous school, but we’ll never know, and that’s okay. I’m excited to see how I grow from here and see my future transition into college. I’m not sure where I’d go, but I know that I’ll be ready for it. It scares me to see myself go from being an advent follower of Christ to a person that ended up liking not feeling the responsibility to uphold God’s image. After 2 years without a bond with Reflecting on my first year of SLA is quite funny. I came in from a school that was quite strict to a laid back environment where much was tolerated and I began to lose my head. WIthin the first month of school I was almost suspended for putting my hands on another student in a manner that I thought was funny at first. That moment taught me a lot and although I regret what I did, I am glad it happened as from there I grew from that experience. Entering my sophomore year I began to grow both physically and mentally and I began to get comfortable as I entered my second year of highschool. I don’t remember much of it as it was a blur since it wasn’t much of memorable transitioning rather than continued education. Starting a new year is quite exciting. You’re a year older and a year closer to graduating. Junior year instantly showed me how much of a difference it is between it and sophomore year. Just within the first week I found myself already being challenged by the workload that was being given out; and as of now I got a better understanding of the workload i’ll be receiving all year. Some days I find myself reminiscing on the past. I often think back to when I had little to responsibilities and my day consisted of snacks and TV. SLA constantly shows me that I’m at the point in my life where I need to step up and prepare for the next phase in my life, adulthood. Just 3 years ago I was in middle school enjoying myself of the yellow school bus. Eventually I’d like to see myself at a point where I’m content with my faith, academics, and maturity; but that takes time and a lot of effort.