Digital Tech

How Influencers Make Money

Kylie Jenner is a well-known beauty influencer who makes money through brand promotions and her own businesses. She has partnered with major companies like Skims, Calvin Klein, Adidas, and Puma. With an impressive following of 398 million on Instagram, Kylie can earn up to $1.8 million for a single sponsored post. In addition to her social media income, she has built a successful business empire, contributing to her estimated net worth of $700 million.

In this PowerPoint presentation, I created a fun and interactive escape room experience. I included clickable images that let you explore different challenges and clues throughout the slides. My goal was to make something engaging that encourages problem-solving and creativity. Whether you're using it for a class activity or just for fun, I hope you enjoy the experience and have a great time trying to "escape"!

In this presentation, I tell the story of a girl named Ruby and her emotional journey as she starts at a new school. I wanted to capture what it feels like to leave behind something familiar and step into a completely new environment. Ruby begins the story by saying goodbye to her best friend Lily, which was a very emotional moment for her. She feels sad and uncertain as she watches her old school fade away, not knowing what to expect in her new school.

When Ruby arrives at Sunnydale Elementary, she feels nervous, scared, and alone. Everything is new—new people, new classrooms, and new routines. I included scenes that show how Ruby slowly adjusts to her new environment. The principal and her new teacher, Mrs. Jones, are both welcoming and kind, which helps Ruby feel a little better. I wanted to show that even though change is scary, having supportive adults around can make a big difference.

A big part of the story focuses on Ruby meeting Emma, the girl who sits next to her in class. Emma is friendly and helpful, showing Ruby around and including her in games at recess. Through their conversations and shared experiences, Ruby starts to feel less alone. They find out that they have a lot in common, and by the end of the day, Ruby realizes that she’s already made a new best friend.

This story is important to me because many people—especially kids—go through the experience of changing schools or feeling out of place. I wanted to write something that shows there’s always hope, and that even on tough days, a kind word or a new friendship can make everything better. I hope this story makes people smile and reminds them that they're never truly alone, even when things feel unfamiliar.

Intermediate Harp

Instrumental Ensemble Assignment
Intermediate Harp – Tiny Desk Concert Reflection

In this Tiny Desk concert, I noticed that the harpist used techniques like rolling chords and playing glissandos, moving up and down the harp several times. I really enjoyed the piece and appreciated how it combined different musical elements. The inclusion of drums, guitar, harp, and vocals created a unique blend that gave the performance a jazzy feel.

The performers wore darker clothing, with the men and the singer dressed in black, while the harpist wore more calming, neutral tones. The low lighting, along with the background of plants and books, made the setting feel cozy—almost like being in a café, at dinner, or in a quiet library.

The music selection stood out to me because of how calming it was. It’s the kind of music I could imagine listening to while reading a book or falling asleep. The overall flow of the concert was peaceful and smooth, like a “pretty sound.” Personally, the music reminded me of a sunrise—especially as more instruments joined in, it felt like the world was slowly waking up, with animals stirring and light beginning to shine.

The genre of the music felt like jazz to me, and I would categorize all the pieces they performed under that style. The three pieces played during the concert were:

1. Lift Every Voice and Sing
   
   

2. Brand New Life
   
   

3. Unrest (Movements 1 and 2)
   
   

I wouldn’t change anything about the performance—it was beautifully done and left a calming impression on me.

Instrumental Ensemble Assignment
Intermediate Harp – Vienna

Vienna is the capital of Austria and has a rich cultural history. It’s known for creating the croissant and inventing the snow globe. Many famous composers were drawn to Vienna, where they lived and composed timeless music. The Viennese musical tradition has lasted for centuries, continuing from Haydn to Mozart, from Mozart to Beethoven, and from Beethoven to Schubert—all the way into the twentieth century. Vienna is also called the “City of Dreams” because it was home to Sigmund Freud, the first psychoanalyst.

The music piece we listened to from Vienna sounded like it featured multiple instruments, even though it was played on the harp. The tone of the piece changed often, moving from loud to soft. At first, the music sounded cheerful—almost like the opening of a Disney movie. Each instrument (or musical voice) had its own special part in the song, creating a layered effect.

As the piece continued, the rhythm changed and the tempo sped up. The tone shifted to something more intense, even angry, and it went back and forth between happy and serious moods. At times, it felt like music you’d hear in an old black-and-white film.

The song is about a fish, and I think that really influences the way the music sounds. When the music gets intense, it feels like the fish is in danger—maybe being chased or almost caught. Then, the mood lightens again, like the fish escapes. The whole piece sounds like a storyline, with the music showing the ups and downs of the fish’s journey.

Instrumental Ensemble Assignment
Intermediate Harp – Berceuse

This piece reminds me of the introduction to a Disney movie. I also recognize it as a lullaby—something meant to help babies or young children fall asleep. It’s a very beautiful and calming piece.

Throughout the song, I could clearly hear the violin and bass, along with other instruments that were gradually added in. The music made me feel relaxed and sleepy. It created peaceful images in my mind, like butterflies flying gently around or sheep jumping over a fence.

At one point, the music got really quiet. To me, that felt like the moment when the child finally falls asleep. The whole piece had a soothing flow, and it was easy to imagine it as part of a bedtime routine.

ELA Comp-Lit

In this essay, I explore the roles of Friar Lawrence and the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet and how their involvement impacted the fate of the young lovers. I argue that, while they acted as trusted adults and provided guidance, their actions ultimately contributed to the tragedy. I examine how Friar Lawrence's decision to secretly marry Romeo and Juliet, and later give Juliet a potion to fake her death, created confusion and danger. I also look at how the Nurse, though loving and loyal, supported Juliet’s secret relationship and helped cover it up, rather than guiding her more responsibly.

Through my analysis, I considered how the story might have changed if these adults had made different choices—like if Friar Lawrence had delivered the letter to Romeo himself or if the Nurse had been more involved in the planning. Even though Romeo and Juliet made their own decisions, I conclude that Friar Lawrence and the Nurse share responsibility for the tragic ending because they failed to act as true protectors and role models.

One of the plays we studied was A Raisin in the Sun. As part of our work, we completed comprehension questions and made comparisons to real-world scenarios, which often included watching and reflecting on a related TED Talk.

In this essay, I explore the topic of cancel culture and question whether it’s truly necessary in today’s society. I explain how cancel culture, which started gaining attention in 2016, is often used as a way to publicly shame individuals, organizations, or companies—usually through social media. While some people see it as a tool for justice or accountability, I argue that cancel culture does more harm than good.

I support my viewpoint by discussing how cancel culture can lead to online bullying, false accusations, threats, and even mental health issues like anxiety and depression. I use real-life examples—like the situations involving Jordyn Woods and Taylor Swift—to show how quickly people can be attacked online, even when the issue is personal or misunderstood. I also include the story of a student at Smith College who wrongly accused a janitor of racial bias, which led to public backlash before the full story was even known.

Through these examples and supporting quotes from sources like granitebaytoday.com and Quora, I make the case that cancel culture often gives power to the wrong people and spreads misinformation. Instead of helping, it can destroy reputations and hurt innocent people. I believe we need to think more critically and look at both sides of a situation before jumping to conclusions or joining a cancel campaign.

Intermediate Dance

For this assignment, we created a timeline of Misty Copeland’s life and career. Misty Copeland is a groundbreaking American ballet dancer who became the first African American female principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. Our timeline highlighted important moments in her journey—from her early life and late start in ballet at age 13, to her rise through the ranks of ABT, and her impact on the dance world. We included key achievements, such as her debut in major roles, her influence as a role model, and her work to make ballet more diverse and accessible. This project helped us understand how determination, talent, and resilience can break barriers in the world of dance.

AP Human Geography 

For this assignment, I wrote a postcard from the perspective of someone who has moved to the tundra region of Russia. I described the climate, which ranges from extremely cold winters of -34°F to mild summers of around 54°F. I gave advice to my “dad” about wearing insulated clothing when visiting and shared some outdoor activities I enjoy, such as skiing, hiking, viewing wildlife, and river floating. I also included information about how tundra plants and animals adapt to the harsh climate—like willow trees soaking up moisture and polar bears using their thick fur for warmth. Lastly, I addressed human-environment interaction by explaining how oil and gas industries can negatively impact the tundra by damaging the fragile soil and ecosystem through activities like drilling and construction.

Culture Map

For this assignment, I created a culture map using Google Maps to explore and highlight different aspects of culture across various locations. I added pins to represent examples of cultural traits such as language, religion, architecture, food, music, and clothing. Each location on the map includes a short description and sometimes a photo or link to help explain the cultural significance of that place. This map helped me understand how culture is distributed around the world and how geography can influence the development and spread of different cultural practices. I also learned how to use digital mapping tools to visualize cultural patterns and make connections between place and identity.