The GO Night Project was a project that had students research a certain issue or problem in the world and then take action to work towards solving this problem. In this project, my three other group members and I decided to focus on hunger in our community. Our project consisted of research completed to give us a better understanding of how exactly food insecurity was impacting our community. We then reached out to local support groups that work to provide food for low-income individuals. I went to the Akron-Canton Food Bank and worked hands-on with the homeless population of Akron and Canton, focusing on getting food to them. As a group, we went to RiverTree Christian Church, a non-profit that provides food to all of the children in Jackson Local Schools who are food insecure. After doing this work, we built a final presentation with engaging discussions and interactive activities to provide more information about this subject to our audience.

The skills that I learned on this project will help me for the rest of my life. I learned how to take charge of a group when there is a lack of direction. I learned how to coordinate events and meet-ups with people I had never heard of before and had no prior connection with. I learned the skills needed to create a presentation that teaches people something that will stick with them. Further, this project significantly changed my thinking. Throughout the volunteer work, I recognized the importance of helping people who have fallen on hard times. I saw firsthand how grateful people were to receive our help. I also saw things I didn't expect, like veterans and nurses who needed assistance. I never realized that even the backbone of our country is struggling, too. This artifact connects to the JAGS pillar of Take Action in multiple ways. For one, I took action by volunteering in my community. I was also able to take action by creating and presenting a slideshow to members of my community and sharing what I had accomplished throughout the project. This project made me a more globally aware student as I gained a greater understanding of my community and the problems that are going on in it. 

My trip to Hawaii was not necessarily an assignment, but a cultural and historical learning experience. In 2023, I traveled thousands of miles to the island cluster of Hawaii. I went with the JHS Band program, and we spent multiple days having incredible experiences there. We played songs to honor Pearl Harbor on a U.S. Battleship, we visited the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial and paid our respects, we played in the Waikiki Holiday Parade, which donated proceeds to the Maui Wildfires. We also visited the Polynesian Cultural Center and witnessed several traditional Polynesian events. 

The skills that I learned from this trip will help me in the future. I learned how to travel long distances comfortably and what makes the journey easier for me personally. I also learned how to adapt to very new situations and push through difficult things that I may not like. Finally, I learned how to let go and just relax in the moment and let life come at you. This trip changed my thinking as I realized just how beautiful the world is. Being in Hawaii around beautiful nature, the ocean, and a very welcoming culture made me understand firsthand just how exciting exploring the world can be.  The Hawaii trip helped me connect with the JAGS Pillar of Investigate the World. I was constantly investigating different plants and animals, cultures and languages, foods, and historical monuments while on this trip. There was not a second that I was not investigating the world and all that it has to offer. Going to Hawaii made me a better global citizen as I began to understand how to interact in a different culture and environment and how to go about getting the most out of unique global opportunities.

The Mole Day Project is designed to give chemistry students a better understanding of what mol's are in chemistry and how they work. We were tasked with creating some sort of art form, whether it was a video skit, painting, or crochet, to represent mol's. The project uses a little joke, and instead of mol it is mole like the animal. So then you are supposed to base your project on the chemistry term and the animal. The theme was Sherlock Molmes, so the project had to represent a mole that had a connection to Sherlock Holmes. I chose to do a painting, so I went out and bought a canvas, and I already had the paints I needed. I took advice from my dad, who used to paint a lot, and created the painting depicted in my artifact after many hours of trial-and-error-based painting.

I learned a couple of skills in this project. I learned how to sketch out a design plan and know what you plan to paint before you start. I also learned a couple of art techniques like blending colors and how to paint more precisely. The Mole Day Project changed my thinking, specifically around art. I usually do not like art projects like painting and crafts, I find them difficult and frustrating. Yet, this project helped me recognize that art does not have to be miserable, and it can actually be an enjoyable experience if you plan it out correctly and have some help along the way. I connected with the JAGS Pillar of Take Action on this project. I was given an assignment and a deadline on a project where I needed to create something out of nothing. I took action and gathered my supplies and created my work of art. I became a better global citizen on this project as I learned more about chemistry and art, both things that people use and connect with all over the world each day.