Year 8

Tara 8B - GHD Reflection

GHD, also known as Global History Day. This day represents and celebrates remarkable achievements and adventures that the past has gone through to how it is right now. During this day, every student starting from grade 7’s to grade 9’s has been assigned to be in groups of 2-3 students and has been given a certain theme. For this year, the theme that has been associated for all year level is “Turning points of history”. Turning points in history are important events that significantly alter human affairs, shaping the future in ways that diverge from previous trajectories, either positively or negatively. Though we are given a certain theme, our chosen event still has to be impactful, significant, and the main point which is making an actual change to how people view the certain event from then to now. 

My learning experience throughout GHD was overall fun and definitely exciting whether it was when we started to choose the topic to the actual event when we can finally showcase all of our hardworks. When we started to choose the topic, my friends and I had a lot of fun exploring all the different turning points of history. After a long period of time researching, The 19th Amendment captured our attention. We ended up choosing this certain event because to us, it demonstrated that change could be achieved through organized activism and peaceful advocacy, inspiring women worldwide. As we started creating the research question, it allowed us to think outside the box and start to see other perspectives regarding the topic even further. 

For this year’s GHD, the year 8 students had to choose between creating a comic book, visual storytelling, or video animation. My group and I had decided to create a visual storytelling because it’s the simplest option out of all 3 but also because we believe that visual storytelling is a powerful tool for presenting the history of women's struggle for the right to vote in 1920. It evokes emotions, provides historical context, and highlights key women's stories. Symbols can also convey complex ideas, and contrast images show the transformative impact of the movement. Not only that but visuals emphasize the intersectionality of women from diverse backgrounds, enhancing understanding of the 19th Amendment's significance. 

Throughout this year’s GHD, I have developed multiple IBLP and ATL skills without actually realizing. During the actual GHD day, I have improved both of my public speaking and risk-taking skills just by presenting to different audiences. I would consider this as a skill that I have developed because I am not used to presenting in front of different audiences but instead, I normally present in front of students from my grade alongside with teachers. Having the opportunity to just be able to speak your mind regarding a certain topic without hesitating is a major development to me. Improving public speaking and risk-taking skills can lead to numerous benefits in personal and professional life. These skills include confidence building, effective communication, leadership development, expanded opportunities in life, enhanced problem-solving, personal growth, and influence and persuasion.