https://www.thinglink.com/scene/1952936684408537574
I annotated the reason why I used those materials to make the car.
Hi,
I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately, and I just wanted to check in and let you know that I’m here for you. I know things have been tough for you recently, and I can only imagine how overwhelming it must feel. Please know that you don’t have to go through this alone—I’m here to support you in any way I can.
If you ever need someone to talk to, just call or message me. You’re stronger than you realize, and I truly believe you’ll get through this. But in the meantime, don’t hesitate to lean on me or others who care about you.
You mean so much to me, and I want you to know that you’re not alone in this.
Take care of yourself,
Warmly,
Emma
Day 1
Positive: I took a long walk in the park and enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine. It helped me feel calm and refreshed.
Challenge: I felt overwhelmed at work with a long to-do list.
Reflection: I handled it by breaking tasks into smaller steps and focusing on one thing at a time. I learned that even small progress can help reduce stress.
Day 2
Positive: I had a great conversation with a friend I hadn’t talked to in a while. It reminded me how important it is to stay connected.
Challenge: I struggled to stay motivated to exercise.
Reflection: I reminded myself of how good I feel after working out, and I did a 20-minute session. I learned that starting is often the hardest part, but I felt proud once I pushed through.
Day 3
Positive: I finally organized my workspace, which made it feel much more productive and inviting.
Challenge: I felt impatient during a long meeting that seemed unproductive.
Reflection: I focused on staying calm and contributing constructive feedback instead of getting frustrated. I learned that patience and clear communication can help in frustrating situations.
Day 4
Positive: Someone complimented my work, which boosted my confidence and made me feel appreciated.
Challenge: I was feeling a bit down and unmotivated in the morning.
Reflection: I started journaling about what I was grateful for, which shifted my mindset. I learned that gratitude can be a powerful tool to improve my mood.
Day 5
Positive: I tried a new recipe for dinner, and it turned out amazing! It felt good to experiment and succeed.
Challenge: I was distracted by social media and procrastinated on an important task.
Reflection: I turned off notifications and set a timer to focus. Once I finished the task, I felt so much better. I learned that minimizing distractions is key to productivity.
Day 6
Positive: I made time to read a book I’ve been wanting to start, and it was so relaxing.
Challenge: I had a disagreement with a family member.
Reflection: I took a step back, listened to their perspective, and calmly explained mine. We resolved it quickly. I learned that open communication and empathy go a long way in resolving conflicts.
Day 7
Positive: I spent the evening watching my favorite movie, which felt like a nice reward for a productive week.
Challenge: I felt tired and unmotivated to finish my weekly chores.
Reflection: I reminded myself of how much better I’d feel afterward. I tackled the chores one by one and finished them. I learned that pushing through fatigue is hard, but the sense of accomplishment is worth it.
Overall Reflection:
Focusing on positivity each day helped me notice the small but meaningful moments that I might have otherwise overlooked. Challenges taught me valuable lessons about patience, motivation, and problem-solving. Journaling was a great way to express gratitude and reflect on personal growth, and I’ll continue this practice moving forward!
Goal: Drink 8 Glasses of Water Daily for a Week
Day 1: Setting the Goal
I decided to focus on improving my hydration by drinking 8 glasses of water each day. It’s a small but impactful habit I’ve wanted to work on because I often forget to drink water throughout the day.
Tracking Method:
I used a water tracker app and kept a reusable water bottle with me to track my intake.
Progress Journal
Day 1:
I started strong with 3 glasses by lunchtime, but by the evening, I realized I had only reached 6 glasses. I drank an extra glass before bed but didn’t quite hit the goal.
Obstacle: Forgetting to drink water during work.
Solution: I set reminders on my phone to drink water every 2 hours.
Day 2:
The reminders helped, and I successfully drank all 8 glasses! I felt more alert and had more energy.
Day 3:
I struggled because I was out running errands and didn’t bring my water bottle. I only managed 5 glasses.
Obstacle: Being away from home without water.
Solution: I decided to keep a small backup water bottle in my car or bag moving forward.
Day 4-6:
With the reminders and my water bottle always nearby, I consistently hit my goal. I started to notice that drinking water became more natural throughout the day.
Day 7:
Final day! I reached my goal and even exceeded it by drinking 9 glasses. I felt proud of my consistency over the week.
Reflection
Obstacles:
- Forgetting to drink water during work.
- Being unprepared when away from home.
How I Persevered:
- I set phone reminders to stay on track.
- I prepared better by carrying a water bottle wherever I went.
Takeaways:
This small goal showed me how important preparation and consistency are for building habits. Drinking more water also made me feel healthier and more energized. Moving forward, I’ll continue tracking my water intake until it becomes automatic!
The idea that resonated with me most is the importance of curiosity and admitting “I don’t know.” I’ve grown the most when I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone and listened to people with different perspectives. Conversations that challenge my beliefs have helped me think more deeply and become more empathetic. The reminder that “it’s not differences, but our judgments that divide us” felt especially true. When I let go of judgment and just listen, I find understanding and connection with others.
What challenged me was the idea that confusion and uncertainty are necessary for creativity and growth. I tend to avoid uncertainty and stick to what feels safe. This text reframed uncertainty as an opportunity to grow instead of something to fear. It reminded me that discomfort can lead to breakthroughs.
Personal Goal for the Year
My goal for the year is to have meaningful conversations with people who think differently from me. I want to focus on curiosity instead of judgment and notice when something surprises or disturbs me. I’ll aim to have one conversation a month with someone whose perspective I don’t fully understand. I’ll listen to learn, not to argue or convince, so I can grow as a listener and embrace discomfort as part of learning.
Introduction: Why “Coffee Machines in Every Classroom” Seems Outlandish
The idea of installing coffee machines in every classroom might sound excessive or unnecessary at first glance. However, with research-backed benefits of caffeine for alertness, productivity, and focus, combined with a growing culture of coffee consumption among both teachers and older students, this proposal isn’t as far-fetched as it might seem.
Why Consider Coffee Machines in Classrooms?
- Boosts Productivity and Focus
- Research from the National Institute of Health shows that moderate caffeine consumption improves cognitive performance, focus, and energy levels.
- This would particularly benefit teachers who often juggle heavy workloads and students (especially high schoolers) during long school days.
- Improves Engagement
- Coffee can help students stay awake and alert during early morning or late afternoon classes, when energy levels naturally dip.
- Teachers with access to coffee in their classrooms can stay energized and maintain enthusiasm throughout the day.
- Supports a Positive Classroom Environment
- Coffee machines can create a welcoming, communal space. The presence of coffee encourages conversation, collaboration, and a sense of shared engagement.
Addressing Concerns
- Health Concerns
- Solution: Provide guidelines for appropriate caffeine consumption. Offer non-caffeinated options (e.g., decaf coffee, herbal teas) alongside regular coffee.
- Studies show that moderate caffeine intake is safe for individuals over 12 years old. Younger students would not have access to the machines.
- Cost of Implementation
- Solution: We propose starting with a pilot program (e.g., one coffee machine per grade level or teacher’s lounge) to test feasibility and refine the program before scaling.
- Potential for Overuse
- Solution: Machines can be regulated with limited access (e.g., during specific times or for teachers only).
Cost Analysis
Installing coffee machines in classrooms may seem expensive, but it’s more feasible than expected.
- Initial Costs
- Basic coffee machines (e.g., Keurig or similar) cost $80–$150 each. For a school with 20 classrooms, the initial cost would be approximately $2,000–$3,000.
- Ongoing Costs
- Coffee pods or beans: ~$0.30–$0.50 per cup. Assuming 3–5 cups per day per machine, the monthly cost would be about $300–$500 for the entire school.
- Maintenance: Minimal, as most modern coffee machines have self-cleaning features.
- Funding Options
- PTA fundraising campaigns.
- Partnerships with local coffee shops or companies for sponsorship.
- Reallocating a small portion of the school budget for teacher and student wellness programs.
Benefits of Coffee Machines in Classrooms
- For Teachers
- Increased energy and focus during long teaching hours.
- Reduced need to leave classrooms to grab coffee, saving time.
- Improved morale and job satisfaction.
- For Students
- Supports focus and alertness, especially for older students during early classes or exams.
- Encourages responsible, moderate consumption of coffee as a life skill.
- Creates a more comfortable, engaging learning environment.
- For the School Community
- Coffee machines create a sense of community and shared resources.
- Opportunities for student involvement in managing coffee supplies, fostering responsibility and teamwork.
Implementation Plan
- Pilot Program
- Start with coffee machines in shared teacher lounges or high school classrooms. Gather data on usage, satisfaction, and productivity over 6 months.
- Guidelines and Education
- Provide information on healthy caffeine consumption for students and staff.
- Limit usage to high school students and teachers.
- Expansion
- If successful, expand to more classrooms and offer additional options like decaf coffee and teas.
Conclusion: Energizing Education for Everyone
A coffee machine in every classroom may initially seem outlandish, but with careful planning and implementation, it can become a practical way to boost energy, focus, and morale for both teachers and older students. By fostering a more engaging and energized learning environment, this proposal aligns with the school’s goals of supporting wellness and productivity.
For this task, I had to choose a topic that most of the teacher would disagree on, and to make a proposal to convince them. I have decided to write a proposal about putting coffee machines in some of the main classrooms. Working on this proposal taught me a lot about creative problem-solving and balancing practicality with innovation. At first, the idea of coffee machines in classrooms seemed unrealistic, but as I researched and planned, I realized how much thought and strategy can turn an unconventional idea into a feasible solution.
One of the key takeaways was the importance of addressing potential concerns, such as health risks and costs. I learned how to propose realistic solutions, like implementing a pilot program or providing decaf options. This taught me that even the most outlandish ideas can gain credibility with proper research and planning. This task had helped me to think critically and made me to find the most realistic solutions for a challenging tasks. After finish writing the proposal I’ve learned how challenging it is to write a convincing proposal. Overall, this task helped me see the value of creative thinking in problem-solving. It encouraged me to consider new perspectives while finding practical solutions to everyday challenges.
For this task, I had to select a book that I enjoyed reading and to re-create the book cover. The book that I’ve read was a Korean essay that wrote about how the author overcame her illness and to have a positive mindset. The original book cover was a painting that the author did. It was mainly a calm drawing that used a lot of pastel color.
I personally wanted the book cover to deliver more message from the book, so I targeted to make design the book cover as clear as possible. I gained some ideas by looking at the book title (Gangster grandmother in a high-rise hospital room). As this book was mainly talking about illness and overcoming, I drew the author at a hospital room wearing sunglasses looking happy. I kept the colors bright as possible to tell the readers that this book wants to tell the readers about hopeful message. This task showed me that creativity isn’t just about drawing or designs, it’s about thinking differently and expressing ideas in new ways. It helped me become a more creative learner by encouraging me to approach literature from a fresh perspective. In the future, I would use this tactic when I want to interpret the book in a new way to gain more ideas about the story.
For this task, I had to make a fitness routine using collaboration skills. My friend and I worked together to come up with the suitable routine as possible for ourselves. As we are students who needs to study, overwhelming exercise for every single day is a challenge. Therefore, my friend and I had decided to make a fitness routine that is short and simple so that we are able to do it regularly. We focused on balancing cardio exercise to raise our heart beat and added some muscle workouts to train our muscles to get stronger. After finishing all of the main workouts, we added some cool down movements to relax our body.
Making a fitness routine by collaborating with my friend, I have felt that it is much more beneficial than planning it by myself. It was much more faster to plan out the ideas of different exercise movements that we can do. Also as we are able to distribute the works, it was much more effective to concentrate on the parts that we are assigned to do. By working together, we discussed with each other what kinds of exercise would best fit for us and to overall students. In the end, we came up with a fitness routine that we both liked. We decided to try the routine throughout the weekdays regularly.