This capstone project involved mentoring two FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams, guiding them through the process of project development and presentation. My role included organizing out-of-school sessions to work on mini-projects, such as creating custom banners and presentation slides, and ensuring the teams were well-prepared for competition late in the spring. Through this experience, I gained insights into leadership, communication, problem-solving, and project management. I learned the importance of patience and adaptability while keeping a collaborative and innovative environment for the students, just like we do at SLA, and using the core values to the best of my abilities. Reflecting on the experience, I identified several areas for improvement, such as initiating planning and organization earlier, incorporating more team-building activities, seeking additional mentorship training, and implementing regular feedback sessions for each of the kids and the slides that we had to go over. These adjustments could enhance the mentoring process, ensuring even better outcomes for future teams like mine that I helped out this year. My involvement in this capstone project not only improved my own skills and knowledge but also had a positive impact on my school. By promoting STEM education, encouraging teamwork, and leading by example, I helped create a culture of collaboration. The resources created during the project, such as custom banners and refined presentation materials, serve as valuable assets for future FLL participants. Overall, doing this capstone project improved my understanding of FLL mentoring, showing the importance of support, creativity, and resilience in guiding young learners. The experience of effective mentorship helps shape the next generation of innovators and leaders.

This Link Is my Final Website for people who want to know more about my project and the FLL community, whether you’re just getting started or even if you don’t know what FLL is ! https://sites.google.com/scienceleadership.org/sunnyscapstonesla/home

This Is my Annotated bibliography, that shows the resources I used before starting mentoring https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KxHVIfgzjfdj4DZycSfnIq9nsFKzi2LHyt-MtYWzYXE/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode of the Paradise Podcast, we go over certain ideals about the different characters and the fact that one of the main characters can be seen as munilipative and/or pushy about wanting everything done their way. There is some arguing back and forth, so grab your popcorn and enjoy!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-3epOwMsnr8Oak5Dg77E-VdDBYgbG6Zg/view?usp=sharing

The image shows a truck, and the boy was terrified of leaving the “important things the man and the boy left behind. We have decided to change the size of things to show their importance. The tomato can that they left would have been very beneficial to their survival since they always seem to run out of food. The father decided that it would be safer to leave the barn that had food instead of staying at the risk of the owners coming back. The use of “fire the boy was carrying” changed the whole story. If something bad was going to happen, they would say they would make it because they were “carrying the fire.”. This shows that the fire was purely imaginary but had a major impact on the mental health of the man and boy, helping them persevere through the days they spent traveling. Like the fire, the father and son’s belief in God is challenged many times throughout the book. The most memorable time is on page 170, when they meet a blind man who starts to converse with them, leading to a conversation about God going, “I guess God would know it. Is that it?” The blind man then says, “There is no God.” In response, the man says, “No?” getting the response, “There is no God, and we are his prophets.” In the image, the reader can see all the different components that play a role in this book, like the main ones being the fire and the flare gun, since they were great turning points and stopped with the characters throughout the book. The road obviously shows the gloomy setting, and we decided not to color it in to really show how dark and gloomy the setting is by showing little to nothing in dark color or color in general. The mountains in the background also relate to the setting because it shows the rough conditions that they were in since it was cold and we can tell that by the snowy trees mentioned in the beginning of the book.

Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” resonated with me, particularly when Offred expressed, “We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces at the edges of the print. It gave us more freedom. We lived in the gaps between the stories.” Offred’s words stood out within me, reflecting the challenges I face in my quest for employment. In the job market, I often feel like one of those nameless souls residing within the margins of a resume, struggling to emerge into the spotlight. Offred’s sentiment captures the essence of the job seeker’s experience: the constant battle to break free from being unknown or not heard of, to transform from an overlooked applicant that applies to multiple jobs seeking the light at the end of the tunnel into a valued contributor that avoids the tunnel by never entering it in the first place.

The connections between Offred’s existence in Gilead and my own job search journey are kind of unordinary. Much like the fixed societal structures of Gilead, the professional world imposes its own set of rules and expectations on people in order to get a certain status, like in the book. I’ve sent out countless applications, tailored my resume, and made out personalized cover letters, only to face a train at the end of the tunnel.This train was filled with automated rejection emails or deafening silence, and I did not want to keep applying and not get a chance to stand out from the rest. It’s disheartening to feel like I’m trapped within the confines of employability, struggling to find my place in a highly competitive job market. Similar to Offred’s fight for recognition, I find myself waging a battle to be noticed and trying to escape the stigma of unemployment and establish myself within the professional atmosphere

Offred’s narrative mirrors my own frustration and disappointment when faced with rejection after rejection. Each rejection letter feels like another train passing by, or you could say a door slamming shut, leaving me on the outside, yearning for an opportunity to showcase my skills and contribute meaningfully. The uncertainty of job hunting and the constant questioning of my worth and abilities echo Offred’s internal struggles, as she even struggles with her identity and purpose in Gilead. Like her, I find myself questioning my place in a world that often seems indifferent to my hopes and dreams of getting a job not only for the money but for experience in the real world.

Offred’s spirit in the face of oppression serves as a source of inspiration. Her quiet defiance, her refusal to be reduced to a mere statistic, fuels my determination to persist. I empathize deeply with her longing to be acknowledged, to transcend the limitations imposed by societal norms. This empathy transforms into a steely resolve, urging me to continue my search, to keep refining my skills, and to remain undeterred by the challenges that come my way.

“The Handmaid’s Tale” serves as a reminder that the pursuit of recognition and freedom is not confined to the realm of Gilead. It’s a struggle that countless job seekers face daily in the pursuit of meaningful employment. Offred’s story reminds me that resilience and tenacity are vital companions on this journey. Like her, I am determined to emerge from the blank spaces, to be seen and acknowledged for the unique talents and experiences I bring to the table. Through her quiet strength, I find the courage to continue my quest, knowing that, just like Offred, I too can defy the odds and carve out my own place in the professional landscape that has created limits for me before.

Overall, after reading Offred’s struggle for freedom in an oppressive society, it serves as a powerful metaphor for various forms of societal oppression, including the challenges faced by job seekers. Her resilience and determination have become a source of inspiration, reminding me of the importance of persistence and self-belief—the kind of stuff job seekers are looking for. The book has heightened my awareness of social structures, encouraged me to question the status quo, and given me a sense of social norm. Reading about Offred’s fight has given me a broader perspective on my own struggles. It has reinforced my belief in the power of individuality and encouraged me to confront challenges head-on. This newfound awareness has become a driving force, shaping my determination to overcome obstacles and advocate for a world where everyone’s worth is recognized, regardless of the challenges they face, and there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel after all. (I got a job now; dont worry about me :} )

In Margaret Atwood’s novel “The Handmaid’s Tale,” the term “Red Center” refers to a facility where women are trained and indoctrinated to become Handmaids in the Republic of Gilead. Gilead is a society in which a regime has overthrown the United States government. The regime is based on a strict interpretation of religious texts and enforces an overall rule where women have very limited rights and are assigned specific roles. We can see this in the first chapter of the book when the women are limited to talking to one another and will do anything to break the system. I drew this drawing since I wanted to capture the overall aspect of being trapped in a loop and the setting that I drew consists of the gym the reader gets introduced to and all the beds that take up the space. This space was once a gym for students and since the beds take up the space it no longer looks like a gym but more like a prison. The eye on the wall symbolizes the overall people in power that are above the handmaids that watch over them.The red dots leading away from the bed are footsteps of the main character trying to be different and leaving this so called loop. When I drew this I wanted to get the whole setting in the final aspect so i used shading by my hands and also other paper. This shading aspect makes the room look dark and sucludede which the reader can find out about early on in the book that the gym is dark and gloomy. When drawing the red dots I wanted to make the whole art piece black and white so that the eye and the red dots(footprints) stood out towards the people who saw it. The place in the book is a training facility for the Handmaids, women who are valued only for their fertility. Women are subjected to intense indoctrination, both physical and psychological. They are trained to accept their roles as Handmaids, stripped of their previous identities, names, and personal possessions. This ideal form the book is shown in my art since everyone has the same bed and is stuck in the same room that could be called a prison.This place symbolizes the systematic dehumanization and control of women in the society of Gilead. It illustrates the harsh methods the regime employs to suppress any form of dissent and maintain control over women’s bodies and reproductive capabilities. The experiences that these handmaids go through serve as a traumatic foundation for them, shaping their submission and compliance with the oppressive regime.