Pitch

This is the only Action Project for my Social Entrepreneurship course. This is the third STEAM course in the senior series. Unit one was titled the clearing and investigated what our passions and skills are. Unit two was titled the entrepreneur and focused on transferring ones passion into a business venture. We examined hedgehog concepts which help to organize integral elements of a business. Unit three was titled the business case and analyze how everything comes together to form a business. This unit allowed students to learn about necessary business steps, skills, and practices. The final unit, pitch, focussed on taking everything we learned and combing it to make a business pitch. The unit was about taking action on our plan. The action project asked students to conceptualize a social venture and then pitch it to investors. This entire course was filled with great guest speakers who greatly impacted the flow of the course. We learned so much from them along with other great online resources. I was able to learn about my field and all the logistical elements it contains. The action project was very rewarding for me as it allowed me to go back and reflect on earlier work in the course. I loved the overall freedom in both the course and the AP. I utilized my love for the arts to push myself through this course and project. I am very happy with my work ethic and final product!

Survival Manual

This is the unit 3 Action Project for my Endurance course. This is the third humanities course in the senior Global Vision series. Unit 3 was titled Apotheosis, which means becoming divine, and focused on investigating the endurance of survivors. We utilized their experiences as inspiration for our personal missions. The unit was guided by the survivors stories. We examined how survival changes ones mind and heart. After clearly determining my mission in unit one and working on it in unit two, I needed to figure out how my mission is going to survive. The action project for the unit called upon students to create a survival manual for their mission with the hope of guiding themselves in addition to inspiring others. I really enjoyed this unit as it exposed a lot of the challenges in a mission. This unit emphasized the reality that life is hard and in order to succeed you need to have a clear vision and work towards it. This course has helped further develop my perception of self. The action project allowed me to dive deeper into my mission and think about how it'll unfold in time. I really appreciated the individuality and practically of this project. I think that this was a wonderful way to conclude the unit and move into the next stage of my life!

Service Hours

Every GCE student is required to complete one hundred hours of service work before graduating. In order to complete my hours I worked in the backroom of tasty works, a brokerage firm, in the Fulton Market area of the city. I worked alongside the customer team and did a variety of filing jobs. My biggest and most consistent task was taking piles of customer information and scanning them to an internal database. I needed to learn their scanning and sending systems in order to increase my efficiency. It took me a few times to get settled into my role and feel comfortable. I began my internship just after the company launched in January. My schedule was Tuesday's and Thursday's after school. I would work shifts between four and five hours. These longer time periods allowed me to emulate what the real life workforce feels like. There were times when screams were tossed across the room, phones constantly ringing and then there were times where it was very still. These fluctuations needed to be dealt with. I had a task and I needed to stay on track in order for other people to do their job. There was little room for error or play, It was business all the time. One of the biggest difficulties for me came after I thought I had completed scanning a huge stack of sheets before being told by one of the team members that I had missed a significant section. It was wake up calls like those that kept me on my toes the whole time. I felt integrated into their business and felt like a vital member of the team. The empowered me by giving me a task with real implications. I worked as apart of the customer team from January to May. The experience was tremendously empowering and taught me a lot about the professional world. I was happy to learn a lot of new skills while being helpful to those who needed it. Overall it was a wonderful endeavor accumulating my service hours.

MS, Printer/Scanner, 2017

MS, Office View, 2017

Health + Wellness

Every GCE student is required to complete one hundred hours of health and wellness. In order to complete my hours and earn my credit I practiced yoga. I knew from the get go that if I was going to be spending a significant portion of time earning my credit I might as well do something I enjoy. Yoga was an activity that I had tried a few times in my younger years. Life creates a lot of internal chaos and yoga acts as a release. I began practicing yoga with a personal instructor in my home at the end of the summer. It was a nice way to regain a sense of being before heading into senior year. I began to really benefit from my sessions so I attempted to do two, one and a half hour sessions, a week. My mind was flowing freely and life was becoming much more enjoyable. The mat would unroll across the wooden floor and I would get into child's pose. This starting point became familiar and comfortable for me. Each session allowed me to move in new ways. I worked hard on continuously stretching myself out in order to be as fluid as possible. I wanted to reduce both the mental and physical rigidity in my life. A major difficulty would often come in the middle of sessions. A wave a sleepiness or a feeling of disengagement would come over me and impact my will to continue. I had to actively work with my mind and body to push through those moments and finish off the sessions. I began my yoga in August and continued in some manner until the end of may. It was one of the most impactful aids for my senior year. Yoga taught me how to be more patient and calm. It allowed me to gain new perspectives on myself as well as the world around me. This health and wellness journey was intense but very worth while.

MS, Home Workout Room, 2017

VLOG : Mission In Action

This is the unit 2 Action Project for my Endurance course. This is the third humanities course in the senior Global Vision series. Unit 2 was titled Katabasis and focused on how to dive into your mission. The first unit was about identification and this unit was focused on action. Katabasis means diving into the strange underworld with dangers all around. We utilized Dante's Inferno as a key resource throughout the unit. It was extraordinarily moving for me and allowed me to further understand the heroes journey. Parallels were drawn between Dante's journey and my own. I began to take the story and relate it to my life. It was one of the most influential texts I've encountered during my schooling. The unit also investigated the the journey of remarkable individuals who endured seemingly crazy missions. David Blaine is a remarkable example of someone we learned and talked about. Seeing his feats and then hearing him talk about his mindset and the process behind them made me very excited. The things he accomplished were mind-blowing to me and he explained that through practice, handwork, patience, and a will almost anything can be done. For the AP, students were asked to work on their mission for at least 12 hours and document it. I decided to paint my largest canvas ever. My mission was to provide people with the keys to unlock their own doors of perception and I determined the best way to do so was with a large painting. I really enjoyed this project as it allowed me to work on something I truly love. In addition to the painting, I really liked making the video. It allowed me to utilize a different side of my creativity. The project was definitely challenging at times but my passion kept me engaged and moving forward. I adored this unit and believe this is one of my best AP's ever!

Autobiography

This is the unit 1 Action Project for my Endurance course. This course is the third and final humanities course in the senior Global Vision series. The course focussed on how to find your journey in life and live it. We examined historical examples of people who refused to lose or give up. We pushed ourselves in the course physically and mentally through a variety of exercises. We learned endurance through enduring. Unit 1 of was titled Morpheus and focused on the dream or mission one will pursue in life. This unit allowed me to further understand and explore where I want to be in life. A variety of readings, class discussions, and FE's made this unit run wonderfully. The action project asked students to put themselves in the future and write an autobiography about their life. I really enjoyed the creative aspect of this project and believed it wrapped up the unit very nicely. After completing my autobiography chapter, I reconfirmed my life's aspirations as well as paid homage to how I got there. Overall, I really enjoyed this unit and it's AP.

Chapter 1

A life Being Lived

MS, Warp of Life, 2017

It all began on Tuesday, August 18th, 1998 when a newly married couple decided to go for breakfast. The restaurant of choice was the original Mitchell’s on Clybourn Ave, which was a favorite spot of theirs but has been closed for many years now. Their food as well as the space was consistent but there was a unique vibe present in the atmosphere. It was a warm summer morning and the two lovers were eagerly awaiting their entrance into parenthood. Following breakfast, the couple continued to enjoy the beautiful day by going for a walk. What started as simple stroll soon shifted into a life changing moment. Intense and consistent contractions signalled to the couple that I, their first creation, was finally ready to come out into the world. While at Prentice Women’s Hospital, I continued to internally notify my mother that It was time for me to be free. At 9:02 PM, I made my entrance into the world. The cutting of the umbilical cord, the physical connector between my mother and me, left me as an individual for the first time. My first solo breathe signalled the start to a never ending personal journey.

My early years were spent bonding with my parents as well as learning about myself and the world through my experiences. My connection to my parents, particularly my mother, was very strong. Our similarities as well her unconditional love for me made it difficult for us to split. I remember hysterically crying when she left me at two hour daycare and not stopping until she picked me up. This deeply rooted connection as well as the emotions it produced evolved over time. When I was around five years old my mother went on a short getaway with her friend. At that point in my life, I was able to leave her with ease for short periods of time but hadn’t experienced prolonged separation. Her departure produced a feeling I’d never felt before. The mental sadness that often came with our separation wasn’t present. A physical sensation reminiscent of not being able to breathe took over my mind and body. The uncertainty of the situation landed me in the emergency room at Children’s Memorial hospital. The intensity of my emotions kept me from fully processing the situation. My father arrived and spoke with various staff members. What was initially believed to be a breathing problem turned out to be my separation anxiety manifesting physically. My father was pleased to hear it was an emotional issue as it allowed him to bring me home and have a plan for combating it. When my mother came back, my parents took me into the front of the house and sat me down to chat. They told me I was going to start seeing a feelings doctor who I could play and talk with. Their salesmanship was stellar, I instantly bought into it. The next week I went to meet him and have our first appointment. I played with toys, screamed, swore and even cried. Unknowingly at the time, I was beginning to embark on my life’s mission of consistent self progression.

I became fully immersed in the psychoanalytic process, attending sessions four days a week. Each session produced new answers along with new questions. The process brought a plethora of my internal issues to the surface. I thought I entered psychoanalysis for one reason but it turned out to be for several. Coming to this understanding was initially very discouraging as It left me believing I had moved backwards. It took me a lot of time to realize that uncovering and working through the issues was a necessary step in effectively moving forward. Once I wholeheartedly embraced the process of problem solving, psychoanalysis became my favorite thing in life. It allowed me to explore myself and my ideas in ways I never imagined possible. I gained tremendous confidence and excitement which directly translated to my creative business ventures. Learning how to problem solve and plan on a personal level was extremely beneficial in the creation of several businesses throughout my life. Seeing the impact of psychoanalysis in my life allowed me to become consciously aware of it being my central mission. I was seeing it, therefore I was believing it.

Psychoanalysis helped engrain my mission of self progression into my mind, body, and soul. The years of my engagement in the process gave me the ability to recognize that traditional schooling wasn’t my fit. I was able to speak up and change my situation for the better. Being able to recognize where you fit in is key but it must be followed by action. Knowing that I wanted to endlessly work on bettering myself, I explored for the best outlet to do so. For my whole life I had been a creative spirit who enjoyed to doodle and make a mess. Out of pure curiosity and spontaneity, I began to make doodles again. These doodles quickly turned into paintings and each painting became progressively larger. I was slowly working my way towards the mirror to my soul. The large scale artwork provided me with a type of emotional outlet I’d never experienced. I was able to translate every emotion, energy, desire, thought into something permanent. I started using the canvas as a mental playground with no rules or expectations. Painting has taught me to be in the moment. The pieces I created were direct translations of my inner world. I was finally finding the gratification and contentment I was after.

The paintings got bigger and the vision progressed. I utilized my increasing self awareness to recognize the current moment and react to it artistically. Just like life, my art became a compilation of my emotions and energies. I admitted my ignorance along with my desire to grow and set off for NYC. I left all that I had known but that was alright because I was going towards what I believed I wanted. I was responding to the ebb and flow of life. Preparation was essential, but nothing could effectively prepare me for the transition. It was scary because it was brand new. There were no expectations, only possibilities. My life long vision was coming into fruition. Things were occurring as I imagined them in my head. The focuss became centered and the purpose was clear. I was to make as much honest artwork as possible in order to be happy. I had found my key to the now, my access to myself.

Sitting all alone in a spacious and well lit room, I think of my past. I know the past is gone forever and the future is just out of reach. My breathe allows me to feel everything, my entire universe, while only being present in the here and now. How and why did I get to where I am? How did my journey unfold? I continuously question myself, but often never find the answers. All I can do is pay tribute to those who’ve undeniably played a role in my life. My grandpa, my father's father, was born in NYC during the great depression. His entire life was defined by overcoming adversity and making the most of every situation. His experiences in life have been super important in instilling ideas of patients, respect, and awareness in me. His subtle way of speaking inspired me to become a better communicator. Such a large part of why I create is to communicate. I want to work in a medium that has no boundaries. I want my artwork to cross all walks of life and the earth. I’ve seen the direct impact of working on myself and want to share the experience being in touch with one's inner self through art. My goal in life has and will continue to be providing people with the keys to unlock their own doors of perception.

My Big Audacious Goal

This is the only Action Project for my elective course M.A.G.I.C. which stands for mentoring achievement of goals and inspiring champions. The purpose of the course was for students to identify a guiding light and analyze their life in order to better understand themselves and live out their dreams. The course allowed students to get inspired, state a goal, create a plan, and put it all into action. Success and failure was a common theme in the course. Quantitative and qualitative data was used throughout the course. A variety of guest speakers came into class to inspire us and answer our questions. M.A.G.I.C. utilized significant figures from throughout history as the educational foundation for teaching students about their life. This class was constantly exciting and deeply impactful. Overall, I was very pleased with the entirety of the course as well as my AP.

SWOT Analysis

This is the unit three Action Project for my STEAM course Systems and Models. Unit three was titled Organization and was guided by the question how does one find personal flow within a larger organizational mission or movement. We examined the synergy between individuals ands groups.  The class studied I-O psychology and many of its relevant findings. For the Action Project students were asked to conduct a SWOT analysis on a part of GCE. Students got to behave as an organizational consultant and do a full on analysis of a selected portion of the school. I chose to conduct my analysis on GCE's building. I really enjoyed this unit and thought it did a wonderful job of tying the entire course together. This action project was very fun and interesting because it allowed me to view the school in a brand new way. I'm very satisfied with this course and project!

Future Of Equality

This is the unit two Action Project for my humanities course Equality. Unit two was titled Herstory and investigated what the future of equality will look like. We studied modern issues involving gender, race, and class. We learned about the feminist movement of 1970's and how it helped to shape certain fights for equality today. The class discussed about how one hears the voices of the marginalized. The action project asked students to look one hundred years into the future and create a time capsule. The time capsule contains various documents which shed light on a specific event relating to equality. I really liked this unit as it allowed me to question a lot of my prior ideas. I like how herstory contradicts some of the fundamental ideas of history. This unit was wonderful and I believe the AP was a creative and engaging way to finish it up.

America’s Destiny:A Futuristic New-Source 

February 24, 2117 

Bridge To Be Built Between The US And Mexico!

   The beginning of the 2100’s has brought a plethora of significant advancements and achievements in equality for all. The United States has recently been focusing their efforts on unifying Americans and Mexicans with a revolutionary border bridge. 

   Various unification efforts have been underway for the past few decades. Currently, there lacks systems and policies that effectively reflect the Mexican majority present here in America.      

Conversations regarding the construction of a border bridge began taking place in Washington, DC last year. An official proposal for the bridge was presented to congress yesterday. 

   The bill received bipartisan support because of it’s potential to produce a substantial cultural and economic impact. Congress’s session prioritized the formulation a budget and timeline. A major component of the proposition is creating a bridge that can be properly utilized across the entirety of the US and Mexico border. The people traveling between the two countries need entry points several times along the border in order for the program and structure to work as intended.
   Another fundamental component is that Mexico will participate in the financing and construction of the bridge. The significant time and monetary investment required for the construction and maintenance should be shared amongst the two countries. History has shown us what racism and xenophobia can do to our nation’s values, progress, and relationships. The intention of the bridge is to recognize our borders as doors rather than walls.
   The bridge is intended to stretch across the whole US - Mexico border and include access points in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Both US and Mexican citizens will be able to travel back and forth between the two countries from any of the access points. The accessibility of the entries is intended to increase the flow of people crossing. The United States and Mexico share the mutual belief that the bridge will generate economic and cultural prosperity.
   Construction is set to begin before the end of the year and is expected to take just under two years. The old days of “build that wall” are gone and the new days of a connected US - Mexico is approaching!

America’s Destiny:A Futuristic Newsource 

February 24, 2117 

Op-Ed

My name is Julio Sanchez and I’m a Mexican American. My parents made the bold decision to cross the border and have me here in the US. Their lives were secure back in Mexico. They had their friends and family. Both of them had a good job and they shared a nice home. Their decision to come here was made solely for me, their unborn son. Shortly after arriving in Texas they had me and we began our brand new life. They began new jobs but struggled to maintain them due to the language barrier as well as their legal status. We made it through the hard times and now hearing that there’s a strong possibility that our home land might unite with the US via bridge I am overwhelmed with emotion. So much of my history and identity was formed by that border. It acted as a wall both physically and psychologically. We couldn’t go back to our homeland. We were denied the ability to be with our family and culture. The new bill that would begin the construction on a border bridge is the most exciting policies i’ve seen come about in a long time. It recognizes the vast number of Mexicans in the US and their connection to home. It creates a legal framework for going back and forth between the two countries. The economic possibilities for both countries is endless. The transfer of culture and ethnic backgrounds will occur like never before. It really redefines prior notions of countries and borders. Instead of there being an impenetrable wall there is a bridge with has doors in it. For the first time my family will be able to go back where they came from. This act of removing the wall and turning into a bridge is a testament to the unified future we’re heading in.

Bill

An Act

The United States Of America will begin the construction of a border bridge along the entirety of the US - Mexico border. The US will be splitting the finances, construction, and maintenance with Mexico. Both countries hope to strengthen their economies and cultures. The design process officially begins on March 1 and construction will begin in July. The US and Mexico will work vigorously constructing the bridge. The United States and Mexico’s unified efforts towards the bridge will last roughly three years until construction is complete and then many years afterwards allowing the flow of people in and out for the betterment of both countries. 

Unity Puzzle

Come Unlock Your Mind!

Unity Puzzle, MS, 2017

This is a unity puzzle. The theme of the puzzle is turning walls into doors. It’s intended to subliminally inspire players to be more open minded. This game was created because acceptance and unity need to be more widely implemented and puzzle are timeless. A large part of the game is spent building the surrounding wall. After completion, the player realizes that through the wall lays a door to the other side. The hope for the game is to have players break down their walls and start recognizing the doors.

Demographic Analysis

This is the unit two Action Project for my STEAM course Systems and Models. Unit two was titled Group and focused on analyzing how groups function and the methods used to better groups. We learned about team and relationship building as well as how Psychologists use the scientific method during their studies. The AP asked students to create and conduct a research study based on group observations. I loved having the freedom to take my interests into account when creating my study. The research portion gave me a quantitative understanding of what I ultimately compared my data to. I think the length of the project was easily overcome by the time allowed for work and the dedication I had towards it. I really enjoyed this unit and think this was an intense but beneficial AP to nicely finish it off.

Textbook Chapter

This is the unit 1 Action Project for my Humanities course Equality. Unit 1 was titled history and was guided by the question "What is the history of the fight for equality?" In class we explored the history of race, gender, and class. We had conversations about current issues in our society and studied wonderful of equality fighters from across history. The Action Project was focused on telling a story. Students were asked to recount a significant historical event. Students were asked to create a chapter for a textbook focused on marginalized people. I selected a topic I was previously interested in but not well versed in. I really enjoyed the first unit of this course and thought the action project was a creative way to finish up the unit. It was interesting to do an AP in a new format, a textbook chapter. This project wasn't too difficult but it did take a long time to complete. Overall, I am happy with what  I learned and the project I produced to show my mastery.

Self Portrait

This the unit one action project for my second senior STEAM course titled Systems and Models. Unit one was titled individual and focused on how psychology can help us think about ourselves in a plethora of ways. We all say we know ourselves but how many of us really do? We investigated ourselves through a variety of assessments and experiments. We became aware of how we fit in to society as well as how we work with certain types of people. The tests we took helped us all learn more about ourselves and how we function. I really enjoyed the entirety of this unit. I really liked the balance of math and science with philosophy and psychology. The action project asked students to take all that they've learned and make a self portrait with an artist statement. This was my favorite AP at GCE and it made me incredibly happy to do. I loved all aspects of the project even the difficult ones because I was constantly engaged and excited. Below is my piece and statement. Hope you enjoy !

“Me For You”

Acrylic and Ink on Canvas 

48” X 24”

2017
MS

“Me For You” is a large painting that attempts to represent the entirety of my being. My physical and inner self merge into one complexity which occupies the canvas with an array of colors and gestural movements. The piece depicts the totality of my past through a modern perspective. My life and all its phases are incorporated in the background through a process of marbling and fading which is supposed to depict age and change. Throughout the unit, I investigated and took a variety of personality assessments which helped me formulate a more complete understanding of myself. The first test, Myers Briggs, intends to identify its participants distinctive personality type and how they interact with the world. The test contains questions in four categories: favorite world, information, decisions, and structure and uses the participants responses to assign a unique personality type. After concluding the Myers Briggs test, I learned I am an ENFP which is also known as a campaigner. The N, which stands for intuition, is relevant to my creative process which birthed this pure representation of myself. The symbolism and abstraction that makes up the piece arise from the deep connection my inner vibes share with my current moment. The creation process began with intense feelings of confusion and anger which manifested as large jagged stroked and scratches. My campaigner spirit allowed a bit of my maintained madness to flow which allowed me to approach the piece with independence and creative freedom. Another influential assessment that helped shape the piece was the Enneagram. The test assigns participants to one of nine interconnected personalities. After completing the Enneagram test, I found out I am a seven with a four integration. Sevens are also known as “The Enthusiast because Sevens are enthusiastic about almost everything that catches their attention. They approach life with curiosity, optimism, and a sense of adventure, like “kids in a candy store” who look at the world in wide-eyed, rapt anticipation of all the good things they are about to experience.” My approach to this piece was driven by my childlike curiosity and approach to dealing with my emotions through a hands on experience. I represented my enthusiast qualities in several abstract ways also decided to include a big number seven in the piece, can you find it? These tests were an integral part of the creation of the piece which required a lot of self awareness as well as an understanding of my connection to the here and now.

I explored several physiological experiments and case studies to gain insight into other people's behaviors. The marshmallow test is a very famous and simple test that asks participants to sit in front of a marshmallow for a period of time without eating it. If they can successfully use their control and willpower their prize will double. During our in class version of the experiment, I easily waited the time necessary to gain the additional prize. That patient mindset was utilized during the creation process of the piece. I was able to work intensely while still being able to recognize the pieces development and it’s stopping point. Another experiment that influenced my piece was the Stanford Prison Experiment. A Psychologist named Philip Zimbardo created a simulated prison with students participating as either inmates or guards. This experiment inspired me to incorporate as many sides of me as possible into the piece. Several silhouettes and faces are present throughout the whole piece.

An American Psychologist named Carl Rogers described someone who is in a constant pursuit of reaching self actualization as a fully functioning person. A key element to a fully functioning person is a malleable self image. Rogers was a huge source of inspiration for my non representational approach to the portrait. I wanted to crush break all boundaries and be limitless with my perception of self. Another Psychologist whose work inspired the piece was William James. He was one of the Fathers of American Psychology. His writings on happiness were particularly interesting and influential. James talked about how there are two types of people, once borns who are predisposed to happiness and a twice borns who have to work towards happiness. I most definitely identify as a twice born and have had to work tremendously to reach levels of contentment. Creating this self portrait allowed me to have a place to work through a lot of questions and emotions I had which ultimately left me feeling happier and smarter. Following the completion of the piece I reached out to a friend of mine and fellow artist named Stevie Dread. We chatted for awhile about what makes a great artist statement. After a very rich and useful conversation I got the idea that reason and identity are two integral things for an artist statement. Why you did what you did needs to be articulated for the viewer in an honest manner. All these additional sources greatly benefited my project by providing me with new lenses to view myself and environment.

My thought process for creating this piece was fairly straightforward: Get in the studio and just begin working uninhibited. I calmed my mind and body through deep breathing and allowed the flow of energy to take control. I believe that you are your energy and if you find a way to tap into it and unleash it, the end result will be a wholesome representation of yourself. The final piece has dozens of layers each with a different purpose and story. I began with huge strokes of paint that covered the canvas. Color choices were made solely on what was closest to me at the time. After a base layer was laid, I began scratching and carving away at the wet paint. The next few layers were primarily touch ups and and additional background detailings. The foreground of the piece is comprised of many abstract strokes and shapes. The foreground is where the chunk of the story resides. It is the location I decided to include the most faces and structures. Direct elements that came about from my research are included as well as more abstract ones. My visual work represents me and my story by being unpredictable, deep, and engaging. This piece was made with the intention of sharing myself to all those who view it. I wanted to create a piece with a size that I felt would engage the viewers. As a fan of art, I love the bigger pieces and wanted to bring some of that scale to my viewers. I want to engage them in an internal dialogue with themselves. I would feel accomplished if I could arise feelings of discomfort and confusion because I believe those are emotions that impact a person. I’m trying to instill a certain feeling of hope in people. I want them to love themselves and have a desire to dive deeper into their psyche and soul. I hope that I can provide them with the keys to unlock their doors of perception.

Sources:

"Stevie Dread." Telephone interview. 19 Jan. 2017.

Personality Test Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2017.

"An Overview of the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI)." An Overview of the TKI | Kilmann Diagnostics. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2017.

"The Myers & Briggs Foundation - Sensing or Intuition." The Myers & Briggs Foundation - Sensing or Intuition. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2017.

"Type Seven." The Enneagram Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2017.

Https://www.facebook.com/verywell. "Who Was Psychologist Carl Rogers?" Verywell. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2017.

"William James." Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 14 Nov. 2014. Web. 21 Jan. 2017.

Gerhard Richter Painting Review

This is the action project for the elective course titled Ollywood. Ollywood is the suffix for Hollywood, Bollywood, and Nollywood. The course investigated various movies and analyzed how stories are told through film. We discussed several films and gave them our thumbs up or down. Amazing discussions were had during and after each movie we watched. Getting to hear all my classmates perspectives was very eye opening and added to my overall positive experience in the class. We examined the three stages of movie creation, pre production, production, and post production. Students learned about what takes place before the camera start rolling and all the work that must take place to create a movie. During our study of production we took on the role of director and focused on framing and lighting. The last stage of movie creation, post production, is where all the final edits and changes are made. We went on a wonderful FE to Morningstar where we met with their in house video team. Getting to see professionals do their work and hear them speak was a pleasure and added to my overall understanding of many of the concepts. The course had one culminating action project that asked students to utilize skills from all three units. Students were asked to select a movie and conduct a review of it. I selected one of my all time favorite films titled, Gerhard Richter Painting. Below you can find my review of the documentary: Gerhard Richter Painting Review from Max Sheridan on Vimeo.

Planning My Economic Future

This is the Unit 2 action project for my Economics course. Unit 2 was titled Wealth and Wages and investigated the ways wealth can be accumulated as well as distributed. Students studied major economic systems and analyzed different conflicts involving governments and the market. We learned about free market capitalism and the economists that pushed for its implementation. Students learned about the stock market and how to make investments. The concept of time was approached from various perspectives in the unit. I really enjoyed all the connections to my personal life. This unit reinforced the idea that economics is a way of thinking that can be applied to many areas of life. The unit wrapped up with an action project that asked students to think about their own economic plan. The project was centered around this hypothetical situation: 18 years ago, your guardian angel set up a college savings plan for you with an initial investment of $8,500. Your angel contributed $50 each month to the college savings plan ($600 yearly). After 18 years at an average annual interest rate of 7%, compounded annually, the plan is now worth a hefty lump sum. Yesterday, you cashed out your plan and deposited the money in a brokerage account to invest on your own. Students had to first determine what that amount was and then use it to create and analyze three economic portfolios. Making these portfolios was a wonderful way to take everything I've learned in the unit and course and show my mastery of the knowledge. I really enjoyed this project and thought its connection to the real world was wonderful. Im very happy with how my project turned out!

After analyzing the information about the college savings plan set up by my guardian angel I have determined it's current value. In order to begin planning for what I hope to be a prosperous and secure future I have determined to cash out and begin investing. After completing several calculations I have come to the conclusion that the college savings plan in my name is currently worth a total of $49,128.87.

Before I dive into the details of my portfolios I would like to give an explanation of who I am as an investor. An investment philosophy is a set of principles that help guide an individual's choices when investing. My personal investment philosophy closely resembles several of my life philosophies. I would classify myself as a high risk person and investor. I see risk as an opportunity to grow personally and financially. Another large component of my investment philosophy is wanting to make socially responsible investments. I’m looking to make investments that align with my moral compass. A contrarian mindset is the last element of my investment philosophy. In investing, this manifests through making investments in opposition to the majority.

My high risk mindset can best be represented by this investment risk tolerance quiz I took online from finance professors at Rutgers University:

Risk Tolerance, Rutgers, 2016

The time horizons I have set for my investment goals are quite long. My short term plan is focused on growing and securing my future finances. Time horizon effects my investment strategy because my goals require more money as time goes on. In order to prepare for that, I’ve allowed my largest investment to also be my longest with the hope that steady growth over 25 years will result in a hefty return on my investment.

I created three SMART goals to help me create my portfolios and guide my investing. SMART goals are Smart, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, And Timed goals. The specific goals I have created for myself are investments that are going to help me manage and progress my career as an artist. My three goals are:
1-year goal: Rent a space and have an art exhibition ($2500)

5-year goal: Pay off all existing debt as well as debt accumulated during college ($40,000)

25-year goal: Own a huge space for a complete art studio ($150000)

The type of companies I value the most are ones that balance their social and environmental footprint with their drive for profit. I believe that the profits produced by a company shouldn’t come at a detriment to the world. The companies I value operate using morals and ethics that are similar to mine. I attempt to identify companies that are working towards the things I want to see come into fruition in the world. An analysis of my choices:

Facebook (FB): I chose Facebook because it is company I use and have seen grown in a short period of time. I also love their values: Be bold, focus on impact, move fast, be open, build social value. They are working on a WIFI initiative that is attempting to spread internet which I strongly agree with and adore. Facebook also owns Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus Rift. In an economic context, Facebook has a P/E of 63 which is relatively high compared to the technology sector's P/E of 26. Since becoming a publicly traded company in 2012, Facebook's stock has been constantly growing with no major downticks. The market's sentiment of Facebook is bullish, which I agree with regardless of my usual contain mindset and strategy. I hope my assumption is correct that their current initiatives will become major successes and their constant growth will continue for many years.

Facebook Stock, Google, 2016

Alphabet Inc (GOOGL): Alphabet Inc is a multinational technology company that specializes in internet based services and products. Alphabet operates through various segments, Google being the most widely known. I believe the work they have done and are doing has an essential place in shaping our future in the best way possible. Alphabet and is various counterparts have been at the forefront of technological advancement and innovation for many years and don't plan on stopping any time soon. They have a plethora of amazing companies and products under them such as YouTube, Android, and Chrome. Economically, Alphabet's growth both quarterly and annually is significantly larger than the industry's average. Their yearly growth is 15.40% compared to the industry's average of -.057%. Looking a bit into the future, Alphabet is projected to grow 18.90% next year while the industry is only projected to grow .28%. Alphabet is a perfect company for me as investor because they share similar morals and work on projects that I believe will enhance life for everyone. They also have been following a steady pattern of growth and market projects say that will continue on into the future.

Alphabet Stock, Google, 2016

Canadian Solar Inc (CSIQ): Canadian Solar is a global energy provider with business in over 20 countries on 6 continents. They manufacture solar modules and provide solar energy solutions. I believe renewable energy is going to be the future of energy. Canadian solar is major player in the industry and has continuously innovated and pushed their limits. They have a P/E ratio of 5.5. Since going public in 2006, the stock has had its fair share of ups and downs. Currently the stock is at $14.76 which is low in comparison to the rest of the year. I believe that slowly but surely this stock is going to gain stability and begin to steadily grow. I believe that an energy revolution is going to take place over the next few decades and when it does I project Canadian Solar to be on top. 

Canadian Solar Stock, Google, 2016

Oil Future (/cl): This is unlike the previous stocks because this isn't a company I'm investing in but rather a commodity. Futures are financial contracts that facilitate the buying and selling of physical commodities at a predetermined future price and date. The oil future I've decided to trade is /cl and is traded in contracts which equate to 500 barrels of crude oil. I've decided to take my thinking from my CSIQ and play into the other side of it. The renewable energy boom I believe we are going to start seeing will inevitably cause the decline and eventually the demise of oil. My investment decision to short oil futures is due to a desire to want to see a happy and healthy environment that will benefit everyone. I hope that over the course of the next several decades we will start to see a rise in renewable energy and a decline in harmful energy sources such as oil, coal, and nuclear. I hope my investment in shorting oil futures will be both a benefit to the entire world as well as my future personal finances.

/cl Future, Bloomberg, 2016

Portfolio 1 (1Year):
$2164.28
4 shares of Facebook @ $131.29 ($525.16) 24% portfolio
2 shares of Alphabet @ $819.56 ($1639. 12) 76% portfolio

Portfolio 2 (5Year):
$21682.64
84 shares of Facebook @ $131.29 ($11028.36) 51%
13 shares of Alphabet @ $819.56 ($10654.28) 49%

Portfolio 3 (25Year):
$25281.95
858 shares of Canadian Solar @ $14.76 (12664.08) 50%
Shorting 259 contracts of /cl @48.70 (12613.30) 50%

$4.57 remaining from the original $49128.87

The stock sector I primarily focussed on was the technology sector. I believe that technology is going to be a powerful industry as we continue to venture into the future. My portfolio is based on the notion that we are moving into a time where technology will become increasingly integrated into our societies and lifestyles. The two technology companies I decided to invest in, Facebook and Alphabet, have clear missions and goals for the future. I want to put my money where my mind and heart is at. My 25 year portfolio is specifically focused on environmental technology. Investing in a renewable solar energy company was a no brainer for me. Shorting the oil future helped reinforce my idea of a clean energy future. I wanted to balance my desire for profit with a sensible peace of mind. I made sure the investments I was making were going to companies with positive intentions and a clear cut plan for their future growth. The investments I made were partially influenced by an individual. My father frequently shorts oil futures for economic reasons and I recognized that it personally interested me and I wanted to short it as well. Diversification was a key ingredient to my investment strategy. I really absorbed the idea of spreading out your investment from Sarah at Northwestern Mutual. There are so many assumptions made in this project. One of the biggest being that we don't know what the ROI will be for each stock as time passes. Another assumption being made is that we will adhere to the perimeters of the portfolio. Finally, I am assuming that these companies will continue to grow similarly to how they currently are.

Sources:
"${Instrument_CompanyName} ${Instrument_Ric} Quote| Reuters.com." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.

By Taking This Quiz You Will Be Contributing to a Study on Measuring Financial Risk Tolerance. Your Results Will Be Recorded Anonymously. We Are Not Collecting Any Identifying Information. "Investment Risk Tolerance Quiz." : Personal Finance. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.

"CL1 Commodity Quote." Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg, n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.

"Facebook, Inc. Class A Common Stock (FB)." NASDAQ.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.

In, By Or Used. "FB Profile | Facebook, Inc. Stock - Yahoo Finance." FB Profile | Facebook, Inc. Stock - Yahoo Finance. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.

In, By Or Used. "GOOG Analyst Opinion | Analyst Estimates | Alphabet Inc. Stock - Yahoo Finance." GOOG Analyst Opinion | Analyst Estimates | Alphabet Inc. Stock - Yahoo Finance. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.

Staff, By Investopedia. "P/E Ratio: Using The P/E Ratio | Investopedia." Investopedia. N.p., 2015. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.

"Technology Sector - Yahoo! Finance Industry Browser." Technology Sector - Yahoo! Finance Industry Browser. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.

Influential Voice

This is the unit two action project for my journalism course. Unit two was titled sound and investigated how radio has spread news and worked to connect us and bring us all together. I enjoyed getting to play the role of a radio journalist and learn the techniques used to spread news and stories. Our class went on a wonderful field experience to the journalism department at Columbia College. We met with a professor and got an inside view of their tv studios, sounds studios and news paper room. It was incredible getting to see college students working hard on various journalism projects that were relevant to our studies in class. We listened to a variety of podcasts and analyzed various stories and the power they posses. I enjoyed learning about Journalist Ira Glass and his ideas about how to tell a good story. He was interesting to study because he constantly touched on the need to take risks and fail in order to grow and succeed in life. The unit culminated with a very relevant action project where students were asked to profile an influential voice from the 20th century. I loved this action project because I was able to explore the life and mind of an artist I've adored for a long time. I thought the project required a tremendous amount of effort and dedication. Although it was hard, I felt I worked through my challenges and produced a very nice final piece. Overall this was a fantastic action project that I am very satisfied with.

What's The Meaning Of Life ?

This is the Unit 1 action project for my Journalism course. In Unit 1, we dived deep into what a photo journalist does on the job. We looked at famous images from different historical periods and analyzed their power, meaning, and relevance. We learned about bias and the truth not always coming out. We learned essential photography skills and the critical thinking behind the images that shape the way we view our world. We evaluated a photo journalist's suicide and asked ourselves the question is journalism the most dangerous profession? The class explored the murder crisis in our hometown of Chicago and looked at the role journalism played. We went on a wonderful and relevant FE to a galley where we viewed photojournalism work as well as other art work surrounding violence in Chicago. For the unit's action project, we had select someone to interview and photograph. The overarching topic for conversation was the meaning of life. I loved this AP because it was an exploration into a question that can never be answered. This is definitely one of my all time favorite AP's!

Sitting alongside my dad I asked him a question that’s faced humanity for all of existence: What is the meaning of life? Being the inquisitive person he is, he jumped right into questions. “What are the most important things,why are we here?” I explained to him that there are infinite perspectives that one can take when attempting to answer the question and that whatever route one chooses to follow will shed light on what is most important to them. I wanted to reassure him that it was a very deep and personal question with no right or wrong answer.

My dad is a fifty three year old Chicagoan, entrepreneur, and family man. Born in 1963 in Chicago, my dad was the youngest of three. He grew up in Winnetka and Evanston and attended Miami Of Ohio for college. He worked at the CBOE a short while before starting his own company called Thinkorswim. He worked very hard for over ten years, sold his company, and then took a few year break from work. During this time we bonded a lot and traveled to some wonderful locations. My dad is one of my favorite people in the world and someone I’ve looked up to forever. When thinking of the meaning of life myself, I felt obligated to ask my dad and hear what he had to say.

“We are all here for a reason. I think we all have turns at being here and once our turn is over we are leaving it to the next group of people. I think the meaning of life is making the most of the time you have here on earth because it is finite and at the same time I think we have a responsibility to leave future generations in a better place than where we started.” His response provided me with insight into his risk taking and open mindedness. His understanding that we are here for a period of time and then gone forever fuels his desire to not let opportunities pass by. The idea of having a reason and a finite time to fulfill it is something he has embraced. I thought it was interesting how he believes we have a duty to leave earth in a better place then where we started because he is someone who is always conscientious of his actions and their aftermath.

I proceeded to asking him if the meaning of life has always remained the same for him or if it’s ever changed. “My meaning in life became greatly different after becoming a parent in the sense that my main concern became my three children. My meaning for my existence changed dramatically once I married mom and significantly more so once we had children.” My dad is the most selfless person I know and hearing this from him just confirmed that he consciously strives to always be there for us. He puts us before himself because his heart is filled with awareness and kindness.

I was curious about the major changes that had occurred in his life, and when I asked if there were other points where his meaning had changed, he said “My meaning of life hasn’t changed but my appreciation for life changed dramatically two and a half years ago when I got pneumonia not once, not twice, but three times. As far as I know it was the closest I’d ever come to death and it was scary but I really appreciate all the support that I had from the family.” Seeing my dad so sick produced tremendous anxiety for me and caused a variety of issues in the family dynamic. I remember thinking to myself for a few brief and dark moments that  he might not make it. I wanted to know if his illness raised awareness to the fact that his time is finite. “It made me look at my life and the family differently. I was 50 years old and it made me start to look at time differently.”

Time is an important theme for my father. He believes we are all here for a certain reason and a short time. He thinks it's your duty to be the best you during your time here. He has always done the best and regardless of that he still suffered from a terrible illness. It was the unfortunate reality of his illness that woke up him and made him fully realize his time is here and now and once it’s gone it's gone forever. His wisdom has enlightened me and helped me to become aware of the now and my duty to be me.

MS, Scott Portrait, 2016

The portrait I photographed is a close up of my dad. I shot the portrait outdoors using a Nikon D90 and 60mm lens. The photo had no planning or coordinating. I allowed my subject to act freely and I shot away. I ended up spending a few minutes with my dad just casually chatting and shooting. The cropping of his head and hand are intentional artistic decisions. I was using a lens that had no zoom so I stood very close to his face in order to capture the portrait. The closeness of the photo is symbolic of the closeness of his answer and story. He was getting close to the core his internal world and I wanted to mimic that by getting up close to his thinking face. The aperture I shot the picture in is 5.6 with a shutter of 1/250 second and a 450 ISO. With a few minor Lightroom adjustments, I altered the brightness and contrast in order to produce a slight blue hue. I think the blue along with his mysterious look tells a very deep and meaningful story. Objectively, I think the image is powerful due to it breaking the rule of thirds and utilizing interesting lighting and shadows. Subjectively, I love it because of the subject. My dad is a fun person to photograph and this is one of my all time favorite shots of him. Overall I am very happy with the image's ability to capture the subject and their story. 

Art School Or Art World

This is the unit 1 action project for my Economics:Risking Value course. Unit 1 was titled Utility and Value and focussed on learning economics basics. We learned about supply and demand and how to create and read graphs. We practiced various ways of calculating interest. One of my favorite parts of the unit was learning about incentives. We had several experiments we used to test incentive in class such as a fake subway survey. I loved seeing the connections between economics and everyday life. Economics became less of an overwhelming subject for me and more of a lens which I can use to view the world. We took a wonderful FE to the Federal Reserve Bank and talked with an economist. It was thrilling to see so much money in so many varying denominations. My personal favorite was the ten thousand dollar bill. The unit culminated with an action project that asked students to evaluate the cost of college. I loved this action project because It did a good job of bringing the whole unit together. I think the real life connections and relevance this project had really did a good job of keeping me engaged and working hard. Overall I loved this first unit and thought this was a great action project to finish it off.

A Painting Life

This is the culminating blog post for my external credit. When I arrived at GCE for the second term of junior year I was fully operating a menswear brand called MAX-SHERIDAN. To provide a bit of background, I began my clothing career in 8th grade when I created a brand named Melange. I released a total of 4 collections as well as a few individual pieces and had a presentation at street wear fashion week in NYC. I was a little over two years into my first brand when I came to the determination that I wanted to rebrand. I felt that my overall vision and direction had changed and I wanted a new brand that fully represented that change. I transitioned from my roots in streetwear to a higher end market in ready to wear menswear. My new brand MAX-SHERIDAN created a collection full of hand made garments ranging from minimal hoodies and sweaters to leather and suede jackets. The collection was presented in LA and had a phenomenal response. I continued the process of designing and sourcing throughout my junior year at GCE. I had created a wonderful menswear collection which I was very proud of. I had sourced all the materials, found manufacturing, and was working towards my first collection in over a year. It was during the summer between my junior and senior year when a major change occurred. I had faced a lot of difficulties with manufactures for my new collection. These speed bumps made me slow down and reevaluate. I decided to terminate the clothing for the time being and transition my energies and focus to a more personal and refined craft. I had made this decision after a long period of thought and conversation. Running a clothing brand required me to make too many decisions with the consumer in mind. I needed an outlet to express my emotions and internal world with no restrictions or boundaries. Since I was young I had always enjoyed the arts and producing various works. It was this transition where I made the conscious decision to devote all my time and energy into my craft. I have created a variety of artworks ranging from furniture, drawings, photographs, digital work, collages, and installations. This particular post is focused on the 4 month period beginning from the end of may until nearly the end of September. Among other works, I produced 74 painting ranging in size, theme, and medium. I used my passion and skills in photography to capture every one of them and arrange them in an easy to view slideshow. The transition I made from clothing to fine arts was one that reflects my experience at GCE. My work now is limitless and has the ability to let me say and and ask anything. I am so grateful of the wonderful opportunity I've had to be myself and grow into who I want to be at GCE. I hope that the 74 paintings presented here are only the very beginning of my painting life !

Redesigned Area

This is the unit 3 action project for my Urban Planning course. Unit 3 was titled “Flow” and focused on cities as a whole. We learned about cities’ origins and how they have evolved over time. We looked at what makes a good or bad city. The class examined what goes into making a functioning and efficient city. Cities throughout history and around the globe were studied in order to inform us as well as spark our interests. The unit’s action project asked students to design and build a perfect block. The purpose of the project is for students to take what they've learned and use it to redesign an existing city block. I loved this project because it allowed for us to take any city in the world and do to it what we please. I really enjoyed the ability to be conceptual with my ideas and then turn them into a 3D model. Overall, I loved this AP and am very happy to finish off my junior STEAM track with this course and this final project!

Palais Royal, 2016, MS

The real urban area I chose to redesign was Rue De Valois in Paris, France. Rue De Valois is a channel of the 1st arrondissement of Paris. The 1st arrondissement is one of twenty and is located at the city’s center. It is home to the the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture and its name has become synonymous with the Ministry in French media. Rue De Valois has a five star hotel named The Grand Hotel du Palais Royal. Rue De Valois is an area called the Palais Royal District which is the third of four administrative districts located in the 1st arrondissement. The Palais Royal was originally built in 1629 by a French Minister named Cardinal Richelieu. In the 1870’s the palace underwent an expansion in which arcades and shops were added. It currently houses the Council of State as well as other government offices. The actual palace is not open to the public but there is a wonderful courtyard and garden. The courtyard, Cour d’Honneur, contains various sculptures and fountains. The palace gardens, Jardin Du Palais Royal, is laid out around a center fountain. It's a peaceful and quiet escape in the center of the city. There are hundreds of arcade buildings along the sides of park as well as a selection of restaurants, shops, and galleries. The garden is an outstanding place to experience the harmony, beauty, and charm of French culture and architecture. This area possesses so much strength and value due to its amazing blend of modernity and nostalgia. This is a spectacular area due to its ability to combine commerce with culture. There is something for everyone at the Palais Royal and on Rue De Valois! Palais Royal and Rue De Valois’ importance is unparalleled making easy accessibility very important as well. Paris’s train and bus systems do a fantastic job of getting people to the area. One of the things that attracts me to the Palais Royal and Rue De Valois is its blend of the past and present. 17th century architecture collides with modern sculpture. I feel that the blend of times results in aesthetic beauty but would also like to see it applied to their energy systems. The palace uses a lot of power in order to operate all of its different attractions and areas. Traditional electricity methods are used which are costly both for France and the environment. This area needs a modern energy revival. It is now time for them to take action and implement several new sustainable and efficient energy systems.

The area I’m redesigning is surrounded by four streets which form a rectangular shape. The distance from the corner of Rue De Montpensier and Rue De Beaujolais to the corner of Rue De Valois and Rue De Beaujolais is the width of the rectangle and measures roughly 413 ft. The distance between the corner of Rue De Valois and Rue De Beaujolais and the corner of Rue Saint Honoré and Rue De Beaujolais is the length of the rectangle which is estimated to be 1253 ft long. The estimated total area of the the space, which can be found by multiplying the width by the length, is 517,489 sq ft.

Palais Royal Redesign, 2016, MS

My redesign for Palais Royal focuses on extending the area’s wonderful blend of nostalgia and modernity to the physical design of the space. It’s beautiful to see classic French sculptures and architecture seamlessly mixed with modern art and culture. I would like to see solar panels implemented on the roofs of the arcades. These panels could be installed to give the roofs a modern look as well as to generate renewable energy. This renewable energy could greatly reduce their spending and cut back on resources. The space is so popular and frequently used that there should be no excuse for the interference and disturbance of mother nature. A retractable glass sunroof, inspired by the design of the Louvre Pyramid, should be added in order for the space to always be useable. The wide and long walkways are fabulous but contain few areas to sit and rest. I want to add several benches and chairs. Going along with the theme of modern design, I would want the pieces to be designed and created by contracted artists. I want the traditional French sculptures to be complemented by their modern counterparts. I would once again contract artists to create sculptures which would be placed in the rectangular grass areas in front of and behind the central fountain. Lastly, I want there to be a freestanding wall located in the area of the already existing modern art piece titled the Buren Columns. This wall would be a reflection of the people that enter the space. It will be left open for additions and customizations. Its intention is to provide people with a free form way of expressing their feelings surrounded by their presence in the space. The wall will continuously evolve and act as a symbol of the different people and ideas that entered the space.

The long rectangles are representative of the solar panels that will be on top of the arcades. The dashed lines coming off of the panels are parts of the retractable roof. The four smaller rectangles are the new benches and sitting areas. The two stars located in the center green areas are the modern sculptures and the square on the right is the modern art wall.

My redesign was inspired by the cities and spaces I studied throughout the course. The two major changes to the physical structures are the solar panels and retractable roof. These were inspired by Denmark's energy plan. It was captivating to learn about the initiatives occurring in Denmark and how solar panels played a huge role in their success. I thought it would be interesting to redesign a very traditional space with a newer form of technology. My other additions were inspired by the TED Talk given by James Kunstler where he explained the need for a space to have a purpose and definition. My interest in art and design propelled a search for cities that used public spaces to implement medium to large scale art pieces. My research kept bringing me back to my hometown Chicago. The city is full of various art pieces in its neighborhoods and has Millenium park which is full of several large pieces. Chicago’s public art acted as my source of inspiration for a majority of my additions.

My redesign has little effect on transportation and housing. In terms of transportation, it provides walkers or bikers with areas to sit and rest. My plan impacts infrastructure in the sense that I’m proposing additions to already existing structures. I am looking to alter the present infrastructure by installing modern technologies. The goal of the redesign is to make these installations seamlessly flow and blend with the traditional infrastructure. The addition of benches and chairs also relates to infrastructure. My plan also impacts services. My plan would eliminate the need for electricity from outside sources. If enough solar panels were put in place, the Palais Royal could become completely self-sufficient.

One of the two new modern sculptures is comprised of a sphere resting on top of a cylinder. The radius of the sphere is 5 ft. Using the equation for the volume of a sphere, 4/3πr^3 , you’ll find the volume of the sphere is 524 sq ft. The cylinder supporting the sphere has a radius of 5 ft and a height of 10 ft. Using the equation for a cylinder's volume, πr^2h, one will find the volume of the cylinder to equal 785 sq ft. The second modern sculpture is a pyramid with a square cut out. The pyramid has a square base with an area of 100 square feet and a height of 25 feet. The volume of this particular pyramid is 833 sq ft. A 5 by 5 by 5 cube is cut out of the pyramid’s center. This has a volume of 125 sq ft. If you subtract the volume of the cut out cube from the volume of the pyramid, you’ll find the total volume of the sculpture equals 708 sq ft.

Modern Sculpture 3D Model, 2016, MS

Overhead 3D Model, 2016, MS

I created my 3d model using various materials and used roughly a 1/100 scale. I represented the base of the space with a rectangular metal container. I created the arcades and the surroundings of the palace using business cards supported by toothpicks. On top of the cards on the right side of the model there is a green plastic piece symbolic of the solar panels or strips. On top of the cards to the left is piece of the retractable roof. The metal container on top of the base is the modern art area where an already existing piece is located as well as my redesigned modern art wall which is represented by the charging block. The green lighters are the green areas that surround the fountain. The fountain is shown by the 10 bottle cap. The cardboard strips are the walkways with the crumbles representing both individual and group sitting area.

I encountered a variety of issues during the process. The initial step of choosing a city and then a specific area within that city to redesign was difficult. I was interested in so many cool spaces in various cities around the world that it was hard to finally pick one and dive deeper into it. A major difficulty for me was focus. As the end of the year approaches my attention span plummets. My abilities decrease and the time it takes me to complete tasks increases. I took it upon myself to recognize this shift and make the necessary adjustments in order to move forward with the the project in a positive direction. Additionally it was difficult to select the medium I wanted to use for my model. Overall, this was a difficult action project that required tremendous effort and commitment. I loved being able to take one of my favorite spaces in the world and rework it based solely on my creative vision

United States VS Jones

This is my unit 3 AP for my Policy class. Unit 3 was titled "Judge" and investigated the purpose and powers of the judicial branch. The class learned how the judicial branch functions and how that effects society. Additionally, we examined policy on a global scale and viewed what policies should govern all nations. The unit's AP asked students to select a Supreme Court case and analyze it. Students were asked to research both sides of the case as well as agree or disagree with the ruling based on the US constitution. I loved this AP and thought it did a phenomenal job of wrapping up the unit and the course. I really enjoyed selecting a case and seeing how its impacted society. Overall, this was an outstanding AP that was both interesting and fun!