• What did you find most challenging about this project?
  I honestly found that the most challenging aspect of this project was 
  actually figuring out what kind of story to bring to the light. 
  
  
• How did you go about finding this story?
  
  I volunteered to help with many capstones and projects and I realized that there is good happening right in my face.
  
  
• Why do you think this story does not receive more attention?
  I think that the story doesn't receive more attention because the media likes to make young black children look like they only know how to cause trouble, which is not true. My report clearly shoes that young, inner city, black youth can do something beyond amazing and positive. 
  
  
• Do you think this story will get more attention over the next few months?  Why?  Why not?
  
  No, because it's not a story most people care to hear about. If it doesn't involve violence it won't get as much attention.
  
  
• What did you learn?
  
  I learned that the news doesn't have to be the only outlet for information. I, myself can broadcast the good I see around me to others.

The two countries I've researched are The Gambia, in Africa and Malaysia, in Southeast Asia. Both countries are going through their own specific problems but both are facing some trouble environmentally. I was assigned the country (The Gambia) when my teach had us working on researching elections in other countries. I was assigned Malaysia when my classmates and I were researching global goods, local costs in other countries. For the benchmark we were given the task of comparing the two countries we had and rating their sustainability and collapsibility. To see how collapsible the countries were we applied the "5 point framework" Jared Diamond discussed in his book. The 5 point framework is fairly simple. It consists of the countries Environmental Damage, Climate Change, Friendly Trade Partners, Hostile Neighbors, and its Society's Response. We then rated the countries on their collapsibility. 10 means they were in good standing and sustaining and 0 means they are in serious trouble. If I could change one thing about my project it would be the time I submitted it and the countries I'd chosen. Since I was assigned these wo countries it would have been exciting to look into two countries from the same regions that I didn't know as much about.

Honestly, I create the pieces I do because they are assigned to me. Although, my goals are not assigned, I’ve set my own. My goals and aspirations for this class are to just enhance my drawing and creating skills. I would like to be able to draw more precisely and with more accuracy than I do now. Another goal is to change my view of art. I see it as a class but I don’t equate it to my other classes, which isn’t fair. I know Ms. Hull takes Art seriously as my teacher and I should do the same as a student. I want to turn in all my assignments on time and treat art like a main course. Art was never my favorite subject but I know that if I indulge myself into the class and the work, it could be something I’d enjoy.

            Before I make any decisions when I’m working I consult the Art teacher or the assistant teacher. Since they are experienced they know how to manipulate my ideas to make them better and greater than the ideas I originally had. Many of the times the art teacher gives us the material to use but there are many ways to use one single material/tool. Since I’m a beginner many of the techniques are taught then assigned to us so we can practice and perfect them. Many of my own techniques are simple. In the end, I’m just doing as best as I can to make a replica on paper of what I’m seeing in real life.

            My latest piece of work was the clear object drawing. If you look at my first figure drawing and compare it to the clear object drawing you can see that effort put into them is completely different. During the first drawing I was worried about how I didn’t like art but in the second one I didn’t care about that, I just drew the object to the best of my ability. I’m proud of my second piece because it was the second real piece of art I’ve constructed. I also love it because of the tool we used which was charcoal. I enjoyed constructing this so much because when working with charcoal I’m reminded that in the beginning things may look thick, dark, and unable to be erased but with a gentle brush over it, it can change into something much more pleasant.