Why Run Podcast

2024

AP English Language and Composition, Mr. Gillette 

Communicate Ideas and Take Action

One of the biggest projects we did all year in AP English Language and composition was make our own podcast. In this podcast we had to choose a topic we are interested in and talk about it. I choose running because it was my first year doing cross country and I wanted to show other people why they should run. First, we had to do preliminary research to make sure there was enough to talk about in our topic. This we had about a semester to work on this podcast by researching and writing a script. We also had to find at least one expert to interview to give our podcast credibility. I reached out to Peter Jokle, a Professor at Yale and had the privilege to interview him. This was a super cool experience that I will always remember. 

This podcast reflects the JAGS Pillars of communicate ideas and take action. This project requires a huge amount of communicating ideas and is one of the hardest parts of making a podcast. You need to communicate ideas with your partner in order to ensure your group keeps up with work and is doing what they need to do. You really need to learn how to deal with people in this project and you rely on them so much to make sure this project works. You do not only need to make sure you communicate ideas with your partner, but also you need to learn how to communicate professionally. We were required to have an expert interview. I learned how to reach out to people I previously knew like my track and field coach and my cross-country coach, but I also had to learn how to reach out and interview people professionally as well. I reached out to numerous people to see if they would interview for our podcast. Dr. Jokle reached back to us, and I got to have a really good discussion with him about running and why people should run. I also learned how to take action as I needed to ensure the project was well done and submitted on time.

Model United Nation Experience

2024 - 2025

JAGS Model UN, Ms. Stone

Communicating Ideas and Recognizing Perspectives 

Model UN is one of the most unique experiences I have had in my high school career. Throughout my junior year I participated in numerous model UN conferences. Some of these included local conferences like the ones held at Lake High School and Jackson High School, others include larger conferences such as Case Western Reserve High School Model UN conferences. Each of these conferences were very different. Some of these conferences were crisis leagues like Lake. Basically we a group are trying to solve a rapidly developing issue during the conferences. Others were longer confreres that included writing our own resolution and merging them, such as Case Western. Each conference offered a unique experience in dealing with real world issue sand way to try and solve them. 

These Model UN conferences serve to support the JAGS pillars of Communicating Ideas and Recognizing Perspectives. Each of these pillars are essential to be successful in Model UN. You must be able to communicate your ideas in order to get your ideas out and to be heard. You also must be able to do so in a way in which you let other people be able to hear you out and not antagonize them. Another integral part of the UN is your ability to recognize different perspectives. You need to be able to understand a person's perspective in order to be able to convince them to adhere to your argument. Model UN has taught me in so many ways how to do this. I have progressed in these skills while in class and at these conferences.

JAGS Europe Trip

2025

Investigate the World and Recognize Perspectives

This year we were lucky enough to be able to make a trip to Europe. On this trip we visited 5 countries: France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, and Austria. On this trip we got to experience so many different sights and cultures. We got to see the amazing sights of Paris including the Eiffel tower, the Louver, and Arc De Triomphe. We also got to then go see the majestic Versailles. After France we went and scaled the Alps by cable car and were able to see the Swiss capital of Bern. Then we entered Germany and saw the majestic castle of Neuschwanstein. My personal favorite was visiting Austria and Salzburg. We got to see so many amazing and different cultures on this trip as well as see amazing food and sights. This was a fun trip, but it is also not without its challenges as well. I feel that this trip helped not only to improve me educationally, but also mentally. 

This trip reflects the JAGS pillars of Investigate the World and Recognize Perspectives as I truly got to investigate the world. I really got to see a different culture and way of living in Europe. Everyone lives very differently in Europe. It has a very different feeling compared to the US. I feel that this trip truly helped me to not only investigate the world but also recognize perspectives as now I understand how other people in other countries live.

One of my favorite things I got to do in the Chinese program is take a trip to Cleveland China town. This was super cool as I have never been to China town or an authentic Chinese restaurant. It was also cool as this was my final year in the Chinese program, and I got to use my Chinese language and knowledge outside of the classroom. The trips itself were really cool! We got to go to a Chinese market in which they had all sorts of interesting Chinese products that I never would see in an American grocery store. They had a really cool fish section as well as all of these unique candies. I ended up getting a bag to try it. After we explored the Chinese market, we then were able to go across the street to an authentic Chinese restaurant. This was super fun as I had never been to a Chinese restaurant before. I got to eat all of this amazing food. I got spring rolls, tofu, chicken, beef, and amazing vegetables. It was really tasty, and I really enjoyed experiencing this Chinese culture. 

This really contributes to the JAGS pillar of investigating the world as I got to experience something I had never done before. I did not know Cleveland had this Chinese culture and it was really cool to see. I also got to use my Chinese knowledge in the restaurant and explore what Chinese food is outside American stereotypes or the classroom.

AP Seminar Individual Multimedia Presentation

2025

AP Seminar, Mr. Taray

Communicate Ideas 

In the AP Seminar we have multiple presentations we have to give throughout the year for our AP test. We have to do a group presentation and write a report on that topic, and we have to do an individual presentation and write a paper on it. This is my individual presentation. We are allowed to choose any topic, however we must be able to incorporate two stimulus materials out of about 6 that the College Board gives us. This year's theme was memories. After reading through all of the stimulus material I decided to focus on Veteran and PTSD as I feel that this is an important issue that needs to be addressed. This was a very interesting topic to research as there are many ways to help PTSD. I focused on some of the newer and more innovative ways you can help Veterans with PTSD. To start with, I wrote my paper researching more about PTSD and found the solution to it. Then I compared and contrasted this solution. After I finished my paper, I then gave a presentation on my findings to the class. I talked about my three possible solutions which included outdoor therapy, virtual reality therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. After using the two stimulus materials for context I discussed the implications and limitations behind each solution until I came up with my solution which incorporated all three into a Personalized Treatment Approach. This allows the benefits of all of the three solutions. 

This Presentation connects with the JAGS pillar of communicating ideas. I had to first do my research on the topic and come up with my answer. Then I had to figure out how to effectively communicate my research in a presentation. This really helped me learn how to effectively present. I had to make sure I did not have too much information on my slides, spoke clearly, made eye contact with the crowd, and maintained a good pace. Learning of this through this presentation helped me to learn how to effectively communicate ideas to my peers.