Being part of JAGS encouraged me to dive deeper into other cultures and languages, which made this Spanish family project more meaningful. I wasn’t just listing family members in another language, I was learning about how language connects to identity and culture. JAGS taught me that understanding global perspectives starts with learning how people live and communicate, and this project helped me grow by building both my language skills and my cultural awareness. It gave me confidence to explore cultures beyond my own and appreciate how people express family, tradition, and daily life around the world.

My mole day project that was me Vincent Manus, and Brady Weiss was ambitious as we had high hopes for our vision of a mole day rap song to the beat and melody of "gold digger" called "mole digger". Doing this project helped me broaden with what i was comfortable with and helped me learn many new things. While the finished result wasn't what we had hoped it still served as a vital lesson about how it's important to set my goals high even if i fail to reach them. 

This essay was directly shaped by everything I’ve learned in JAGS about the diversity of cultures and the power of perspective. I explored how different greetings reflect deep cultural values, from Inuit kuniks to Nigerian prostration. JAGS helped me realize that our “normal” is just one way of being, and that understanding others starts with recognizing those differences without judgment. Writing this essay helped me grow into a more empathetic and thoughtful person, one who asks questions about why things are the way they are, and who respects the richness of global traditions.

Creating “Poaching: An International Crisis” allowed me to dive into one of the most pressing environmental and ethical issues facing our world. Through research, interviews, and storytelling, I gained a deeper understanding of how poaching and over fishing are interconnected with global crime, economics, and biodiversity loss. Visiting the Akron Zoo and learning from conservation experts helped connect global issues to our local community. This project strengthened my collaboration and communication skills, and most importantly, it made me more aware of the global responsibility we all share in protecting our planet, an experience that truly shaped my journey in JAGS.