Capstone Process Paper

For my senior Capstone, I renovated a house with my mentor. The process took us about 7 months to complete. This process involved finding a house which was very easy because realtors called my mentor because they know that he buys houses. I believed that the property was a good choice because it was around my house and there were not too many problems. The reason I chose this project for my capstone was because it was important to me to get more involved in my mentor’s business. This is something I want to do in the future and having a mentor was a great way for me to learn the process of real estate investment

This process allowed me to implement the SLA core values in the real world. After we actually bought the house, there were a lot of steps involved in completing this capstone. I used the core values of inquiry while I was researching the budget. I had to research prices and places to get every utility needed for the house. I had to research contractractors and their prices. Also it was important to my mentor that he did not always tell me how different things work like how to install windows or how to run water lines so he wanted me to research these topics and learn how to do it myself. A lot of collaboration was involved also we had contractors, electricians, plumbers and carpenters. We all had to work together a lot of the time all in the same room at the same time so it was very interesting. For the final presentation we wanted the house to be brand new so we installed new bathrooms, new kitchen, new drywall and floors throughout all the rooms. Also, we presented the house when we put it on Airbnb. Reflecting on the project, I realized the amount of work that was put into the project and the amount of time involved. Also I believe it was a great experience to have because not a lot of kids my age or even adults can do this. One of the major obstacles that we encountered was when me and my uncle broke all the stairs. This cost us more time and money that could have been put into something more important. Another obstacle was important objects being thrown away like light fixtures and speaker cover which was another expense that could have been avoided.

One thing that makes me the most proud in this capstone was seeing the finished product of all my work and time. Also, I was proud of my ability to manage a property flip beginning to end. One thing I learned is that taking on a property flip was too much for a capstone project SLA is going to be better because I was able to show my peers that this a project that can be done by a teenager.

My Website http://propertmagementcapstone.simplesite.com/

The dangers and misfortunes of Migrants’ journeys and the untold stories of their lives are often misunderstood. Throughout this year, I have researched in dept into the lives of refugees from different countries. I also was able to see the perspectives of how different countries treat these people. In addition, I witnessed one on one conversations with a refugee and people vacationing to the Greek islands which was very enlighting. Enrique decided to come to America to find his mother, just like a lot of refugee stories. For many years Enrique’s mother had been in America trying to make enough money to bring Enrique and his sister to join her. It seems like through all of the research we have done throughout the year that many other refugees stories have many similarities. “For Enrique, Maria Isabel isn’t just a way to stem the loneliness he felt since his mother left him” (Pg 33). I think this was a good example of why it is so important for humans to have connections to other humans. Enrique was really missing his mother when he met Maria Isabel. I also think that it’s important to note why Enrique’s mothers Laudes came to America in the first place. The book explaines that many refugees leave because “ They live on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa , Honduras. She can barely afford food for him and his sister, Belky, who is seven.”(Pg 4). The way Enriques lives in very rough and it’s hard for his mother. There are a lot of other people in the same situation where they are from and in some cases some are in worse situations.
Virtually unnoticed, Enrique will become one of an estimated 48,000 children who enter the United States through Central America and Mexico each year, illegally and without either of their parents. This statistics bewilders me because they are kids my age taking extremely dangerous train rides that a large percentage of people get robbed, beaten or even raped. The experience of immigrants without US approved documentation is difficult. People who do not understand the immigrant experience often believe that it is an easy decision to make and an easy process to go through. The idea that people who do not go through the State Department for official citizenship are taking the easy way out is ignorance. As was highlighted in Exit West, there is a lot of stigma relating to how people look at you . People risk their lives and leave everything they knew behind in the hopes of finding better opportunities. The official process of getting citizenship can take years, some cannot afford years and need to make immediate changes. The hope in the end is that it will have all been worth it, but it is in no way the easy way out. A major theme that is explored in Enrique’s Journey is the youth experience. Language around immigration is harsh in the US. The things that people say against immigration, advocate for it the name of national security are inhumane, and they do not realize that they are often talking about children. While adults do not deserve to be treated harshly, the issue is made particularly important because young adults and children make up a large portion of those who migrate. Rural and blue collar Americans are often concerned that those who emigrate are “stealing jobs”, while that argument is still xenophobic, perhaps it they understood the amount of children who are seeking education opinios would be less cruel. There are no guarantees for immigrants and refugees. They have to find ways to survive in countries that are often unwelcoming, “Refugees had occupied many of the open places in the city , pitching tents in the greenbelt between roads, erecting lean-tons next to the boundary wall of houses sleeping on rough sidewalks and in the margins of the streets” Pg73 (Mahsin Hamid). Nothing about the experience is easy. People also misunderstand what refugees go through emotionally as well. It is emotionally difficult to leave behind their culture and adapt to a new culture. Often times the new culture has a different language which is one huge barrier.“ I understood a mother gave birth alone in a hospital and didn’t even know the language with no one of her people there to wish well to the child in Arabic.”Joanna Kakissis ( Last Resort). In this example, you can see that the mother is unable to participate in a tradition that is part of her culture, because she is caught up in a language barrier. ` I’ve realized that I’ve only scratched the surface of what refugees go through. I’ve tried to highlight that it’s not an easy process and how much more work that the process of becoming a citizen entails. People need to understand what these people go through because maybe instead of refugees being welcomed by hand cuffs we can welcome them with open arms.