For my capstone for the year, I built bird homes. It was a way to not only give the sidewalk of SLA a small touch of decoration but also to try and help build a better environment for the animals as well. My motive for this capstone arose when I first noticed that there were many bird carcasses on the ground, and it was an upsetting sight to see coming to and from school. So I began thinking of ways to help find a solution. This project was fun to do, and it was fun working with my local and school communities, and I got to learn more about how to use certain tools, thanks to my mentor. I also learned more about the materials needed for my projects and how to incorporate safety in almost everything I did. There were obstacles throughout this process that made it difficult at times to meet the self-made checkpoints, and I learned that it is crucial to be prepared for everything or to at least be mentally prepared to think clearly on how to overcome the challenges. Thankfully, I had a lot of support to be able to push through those obstacles and was able to create something that I am proud of. And while from an outside perspective it may have been something simple to do, for me it was a way to immerse myself and expand my knowledge on something I would like to do again. 

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My capstone focused on mental health support in the community of SLA. I wanted to highlight accessible sources and easy to use tools to better the resources and conversations we have about mental health in the form of a website! This topic was really important to me and something that I want to further explore in my educational journey. I spent the majority of my work time researching organizations, universities, and other websites to gain a true understanding of both my topic and how I could execute my idea. I learned a lot about the current support we have at SLA and how other schools and facilities navigate a hard topic like mental health. I gained more advanced research skills and was able to create a final product I feel would have helped me through my time at SLA.

Sewology by Milan is the website that I decided to create for my capstone project. I chose to do it because I wanted to challenge myself, while also strengthening my craft. Spending 80 hours on a capstone project throughout the school year is something that is really demanding, and I wanted it to be something that I enjoyed doing. My interest in sewing started when I was assigned a passion project in Advanced Art last year with Ms. Angeles. At my previous school, I never got the opportunity to take art, so I was really excited when it was on my class roster. My passion project sort of followed the structure of a capstone project, with similar elements like documentation, trying a new skill, and doing a presentation. My passion project helped me with the beginning foundations of sewing, and also introduced me to being more independent when trying to start my own hobbies.

Bibliography - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n-9R6mHR17leeS2f5BX1vp3KYQOgGUn5tWtrplxQzuY/edit?usp=drivesdk

For my capstone project, I created a website called “College Aid Map,” designed to help students and families navigate college financial aid and costs. As a senior at Science Leadership Academy, I understand that the college process can get complicated very quickly. After speaking with other seniors, I realized that I was not the only one getting overwhelmed. Many students and parents begin the process without fully understanding how tuition works, what types of aid are available, or how to compare financial aid offers between schools. I wanted to create a tool that simplifies and provides reliable guidance in one accessible place. The purpose of College Aid Map is to serve as an “anchor source” that students and families can refer to whenever they feel uncertain during the college applications. Instead of searching through dozens of websites online containing information that can get really confusing, users can access clear and concise information and resources in one website. College Aid Map touches on fundamental concepts such as FAFSA, the importance of scholarships, loans and debt, college costs and resources that can help students and families stay organized throughout their journey. While researching for my website, I realized that the lack of understanding financial aid and costs stemmed from the confusing terminology and abundance of information thrown at you. I quickly took communication into account when completing this project to make things clear. College Aid Map can leave people feeling more prepared and informed to navigate the college financial aid process.

Link to website: https://sites.google.com/scienceleadership.org/collegeaidmap/home?authuser=0

Link to bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sEzivo3up_0EUPr4pcMR8I_WKNBRNDp8jYSU5lf8JHA/edit?usp=sharing

For my capstone project I created a website that acts as a guide for someone trying to become a lifeguard in Philly. The project is mainly focused on giving teens the information they need to be successful in becoming a lifeguard, and it also gives some details and tips on how to be a good lifeguard when they get the job. My capstone was a lot of research and looking back at old papers I had when I worked in the summer, and that I was having to fill out for this summer. I think that this project could end up helping people in the future who want to become a lifeguard or just want to know more about it all. I think that it’s a good combination of all the information that I needed to know when I first got the job. Doing this project I learned new things about the application and certification process and the kind of stuff that would confuse someone going into it, and I got the answers to a lot of questions that I had when I got the job. Overall, I wanted to make this capstone because the process of becoming a lifeguard was confusing for me, and I imagine it’s confusing for a lot of people, so I wanted to make an easy to understand guide that got all the important points out in one place.

Link to website: https://sites.google.com/scienceleadership.org/philly-lifeguarding/home

Link to bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HyQ2vV6643-zUQ8a2enfemF7hh2_aRLAgpo_Tupxlig/edit?usp=sharing

For my capstone, I hosted a Health and Wellness fair for the freshman class. This fair had six different interactive stations that covered different aspects of health and wellness. Students were able to listen to information presented by senior volunteers, create emergency kits, decorate journals, learn about their heart rate and send a kind note to the incoming freshman class. The ultimate goal of my fair was to create a welcoming and supportive space where students felt comfortable asking questions, talking to their peers and learn healthy habits. In all, my fair was for students to feel seen and apart of a larger community while getting their questions answered.

For my capstone I decided to create a uniform inventory for our SLA’s sports department. I decided to do this because of a trip to Drexel University’s sports management department with my mentor in junior year. I loved seeing all the behind the scenes and what goes into making a strong, organized, and efficient team. I started drafting ideas with my mentor after the trip to be prepared for the next school year. When I finally started my capstone I did a lot of research on how I could make this the best possible project I could with main goals focusing on organization, structure, and consistency for coaches, athletes, and all sports admin. I spent a lot of my time reaching out to coaches and figuring out when and where I could pick up the uniforms, and something I learned from this was the importance of being able to advocate for myself. Even when it felt like I was nagging, I knew this project was my responsibility so waiting around on other people wasn’t an option. To get this project done I needed to step out of my comfort zone and talk to people I didn’t talk to on a regular basis or continuing to reach out every week until I got what I asked for.

Sewology by Milan is the website that I decided to create for my capstone project. I chose to do it because I wanted to challenge myself, while also strengthening my craft. Spending 80 hours on a capstone project throughout the school year is something that is really demanding, and I wanted it to be something that I enjoyed doing. My interest in sewing started when I was assigned a passion project in Advanced Art last year with Ms. Angeles. At my previous school, I never got the opportunity to take art, so I was really excited when it was on my class roster. My passion project sort of followed the structure of a capstone project, with similar elements like documentation, trying a new skill, and doing a presentation. My passion project helped me with the beginning foundations of sewing, and also introduced me to being more independent when trying to start my own hobbies. I was previously in the sewing club, and I enjoyed it, but I never learned anything that stuck with me. With research, I quickly learned the differences in certain stitches, starter tools, and techniques that can help me become a better seamstress.