We want the audience to experience a sense of hope and pride. The green posters that are dangling down from the ceiling have bright colors of words that represent things like hope, boldness, peace, and identity. All these words are symbols of how someone should fight for their freedom and truly be themselves no matter what other people think. It is a form of encouragement for the audience to believe in themselves which also connects to the title. Some specific elements that were included that were designed for this experience is mainly the small person made in trash. The light next to it shines a bigger reflection onto the words of encouragement. This represents how even some tiny little person made from “trash” can still be something big and strong. The light is the path to freedom and boldness, which gives even more motivation.
After classmates have already interacted with my installation, our group did achieve our original goals (minus the duck part).Even though we got rid of some of the parts of our first plan like the tree in the jar, our original design still stayed the same. We had multiple aspects that made it truly special and unique. Along the way, we also included multiple new factors that we discovered, like a colorful chain which represents passion. For example, our design from our first plan included lots of big posters that were dangling down. Our final version out in the hallway had what we imagined. Additionally, we added gold and bronze paint spatters to represent more creativity, which was something we thought of along the way. Overall, it was a very fun experience working with my classmates, and getting to try something new in a different version.
I used to think mental health was a very simple topic, something that was on the surface level. I thought there were only a few categories inside this very big topic. Some misconceptions I had were that it could always be solved with some kind of therapy that included treatment and support.
But now, looking back, I think that there are so much more than that. Firstly, mental health is split into various kinds. There are eating disorders, bipolar disorders, anxiety, and OCD. Every branch of mental health has their own treatment, and sometimes these can range from 2 weeks to even years. A lot of people think these mental health disorders are only supposed to last for a short period of time. But actually, it could only last for months or even years. For example, depression is often portrayed at something that is short termed. People often use the phrase “Oh, I’m so depressed.” Although, it can last for a long period of time and can come back again. Treatment and support is also very different. Because most disorders are created as teenagers (starting from the age of 14), it is very important that they talk to trusted adults. Media and tech is something that they should avoid when they are seeking for treatment. It is also one of the main cause. People post fake lives on social media just to get more likes which could leave the viewers to deal with anxiety and pressure.
My perspective have shifted because before I always thought it was very simple. For example, I always thought OCD was just something people had because they wanted to be a perfectionist. Later, I realized it was way deeper than that. People who suffer from OCD get impacted on their daily life. Not only do they have trouble facing a lot of normal things, it also makes it hard to talk to people and society. This leads to isolation and can later lead to something that is also serious like depression. I have learned that mental health can be affected by a lot of things. I always thought social media didn’t have a lot of harm on people’s mental health until I saw examples and evidence. Stats have proven teenagers get depressed and pressure more due to social media. The portrayal of fake images, bodies, goals can heavily influence a teen. This can cause jealousy and anxiety which are very serious. It also creates an environment where there are a lot of negativity. It is very hurtful and fosters a bad cycle. AI have also had a large impact. Because they constantly agree with you, 72% of teens use it for role playing. It gives teens the instant satisfaction which damages their life later on.
This is a part of the video we did for our final presentation on eating disorders. It shows how social media causes eating disorders which then impact daily life. Without these three things, it is very hard for people to function properly doing every day activities. It is very sensitive and very serious. Treatment includes therapy, talking to trusted adults, and sometimes taking medicine.
1. What message are you conveying through your textile design? Which symbols, colors, and design elements did you incorporate to express this message?
The main message I was trying to convey was a quote, “I can do this all day.” The main symbol that represents this quote is the turtle in the middle. On the turtle, there are uneven patterns that showcase its scars and journeys it faced. This symbolized how someone grows through tough experiences, symbolizing persistence and strength. The turtle is swimming upwards which also represents how people need to have a growth mindset and keep on going no matter what. On the sides, the leaves represent growth. Only growth makes people stronger, and the leaves are slowly turning towards the turtle. This also means there will always be people to support you, to encourage you to keep on moving. This colors in this design represents an energetic and happy vibe/mood. With a yellow background, I wanted to showcase to others how no matter what happens, everyone should keep on smiling. Keep smiling and move on with your day directly relates to the quote I can do this all day. The actual inking of the turtle is a teal color. The green represents nature, growth, renewal. Only when you can stand back up would you succeed. In essence, I think there are multiple aspects of my design that represents “I can do this all day” in multiple different ways.
2. During this unit, which specific skills and knowledge have you developed the most?
Lino Cut: Although we already learned a bit about Lino cutting, but I think through this unit, I made much more progress and lots of improvements. This time, I made a really complex Lino cut that took a lot of edits and tries to complete. I made lots of progress when printing the linoleum as well. I tried different reflections and rotations, as well as inking it. Even though there were a few misprints on my first tries, I still made sure I completed the rest perfectly. It was not only fun, but also challenging to make. What I really liked about the Lino cut was the fact that not one would be perfect and the same.
Batik: This unit, I also learned how to dye fabric and wax. This is my first time trying batiking, and I really enjoyed it. The waxing part was probably the most challenging thing. I had to be very precise and careful not to get the wax in places I didn’t want to. Through my final project, I combined both batiking with linoleum cutting which was really interesting and fun. Dyeing the fabric was quite confusing at first because the color always turned out different from start to finish. At last, I successfully managed to control the amount of ink I use, and it turned out really good
3. Which skills and knowledge from this unit do you believe could be valuable outside of Art class?
I think I can apply my knowledge and skills like sewing to every day life outside Art Class. This can be applied to things like my passion project, as we also require a bit of designing figure skating outfits, which of course, sewing would come in handy. Also, some knowledge from this unit I believe could be valuable outside of art class create symmetrical design/square that tessellates. This directly relates to math because during geometry projects and classes, precision is important and it is a very big part of it. Things like communicating through elements of art such as shapes, lines, and colors can help me in basically anything. Whether I’m trying to make a project, poster, or advertisement, using images to spread messages are always crucial and important. It expresses and communicates in a different way. In essence, I have a lot of skills and knowledge from this unit that I can apply to different aspects of my life, other than art class.
During this unit, we practiced pickleball and badminton. We learned how to control drop shots and smash the ball. I collaborated very well with my partner to successfully play doubles all the way to top court. We also practiced different kinds of shots in pickleball. We learned how to play in the kitchen, how to serve, and how to play doubles. During pickleball we also played to top court. In essence, we created lots of strategies to be better.
Through out this unit, I learned a lot of things. At the start, we learned about the key vocabulary. We set a WOOP goal for ourselves, which stands for Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, and Plan. The goal I made was on meditating and breathing for at least 10 minutes each day. Through this goal we were supposed to discover and build stress resilience. As time passed, I started using this APP called JING Focus to help me achieve this goal. It was really helpful since there were lots of tools like breathing and listening to the sound of rain that helped me focus on the exact moment. This also relates to instant versus delayed gratification. This is because through practice everyday, I might not see result at first, but through time, I did find it very useful. I did not just stop because it was boring, but I pushed myself through. The final reward was during my golf game, I reminded myself of the practice I did, and I performed really well. This also connects back to different aspects of the brain like the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal-cortex. They work together to make sure I develop my brain fully. In essence, through this unit, I have truly felt like I consumed lots of useful information that will help me moving forward.
During this semester, I have truly learned a lot about different aspects. We explored a lot of reading and writing as well as history.
I improved at my writing because I showed detailed evidence that I can produce quality work. I used different figures of speech to really paint out the whole picture. Not only did I use similes and metaphors, but also I used personification and hyperboles. This is shown through my work on my childhood. We were told to write an essay on one childhood experience that shaped who we are today. I chose to write about a small moment that had a big impact. I focused on the object ‘red ink’ to further develop the information about the first time I got a bad grade.
One really big challenge I faced was coming up with a presentation. I think that process had a lot of obstacles because not only did we have a limited amount of time, but also we are exploring a topic we never even knew about. Although it was hard, but I still pursued and kept on pushing myself. I worked on my presentation at home and also collaborated with my peer/partner. Within the whole time, I was very optimistic and persistent. I had a lot of faith in the both of us. At the end, we successfully created a wonderful presentation with lots of key aspects. The results at the end truly made all the hard work worth it.
Through this unit, I still want to improve on my reading. We have been reading the book ’80 days around the world’ for the whole year. I feel like I am not challenging myself enough as I always aim for the L3. Next time, I want to extend my learning by making me go further into the research. I also want to continue reading Chinese books on my own to improve even more. This way, it will not only strengthen my reading comprehension but also it will improve my writing.
In essence, I have learned a lot of things through this entire unit, and I am very proud of my work. My goal moving forward is to read more Chinese books on my own.
Inside this vision board, it contains goals of every kind. Some things that were on it is listed as: golf, studying, reading, traveling to Iceland, eating clean, business, ice skating, fitness, and having fun. This is a good vision to have for 2026 as it is achievable and helps me improve myself.
Inside my vision board, I included 3 SMART goals.
1)I will maintain science exceedings by doing extended research every other day to prepare for any L4 opportunities.
2) I will read 2 books per month to improve my ELA reading and writing by maintaining it until the end of semester 2.
3) I will push my personal best to something under par by the end of semester 2 for golf with practice both mentally and physically.
During this unit, we dived into the unit of badminton. We learned what underhand and overhand serves were like. We also discovered how to do dropshots. I really enjoyed this unit because it was challenging yet fun. I am very proud of my skill to smash and react to certain shots. I want to improve my serves a little bit more. In essence, it was really fun.
One strength I bring to math class is I always collaborate and show leadership through group works and projects. I always try my best to show all my learning. Another strength I bring is I always extend my learning and go beyond. I like to challenge myself during different activities, to go deeper in my learning. One last strength I bring is helping other people. Whenever people need help or wants to collaborate, I was always there, and we work through things together.
One habit I want to improve this semester is trying to review my notes and key concepts before in a more efficient and timely manner. This will help me improve my final summative because I won’t forget any thing. This is an area of growth because sometimes I focus too much on the last part of the unit, I want to consistently review everything and make sure I am ready.
I will work on this habit by reviewing and giving myself extra practice through the whole unit so I don’t just remember the things during that semester, but I remember it all throughout high school as well. One specific action I will take is I would print out more sheets of practice problems for the vocabulary, formula, and critical thinking, and review them every week alone and with friends.
Math Notation and Communication:
BeforeAfter
My math work improved because it was first neater than what I had before. I could see things clearly and it was well organized. With messy work, it was hard to concentrate and focus.
Understanding Key Concepts:
Unit 2 CoLSticker project
This example 1 shows that I understand how to use formulas and basic information on how to learn and show my work. My work is very clear and it shows I do understand. The other work evidence shows growth because it reflects on my active learner and critical thinking. I am able to use the skills I learn and apply it to an actual project. I also extended my learning my doing the L4 requirements.
In essence, my examples show growth in my ability to understand key concepts with critical thinking skills. I am also able to extend my learning and dive deeper to explore more information. Through semester one, I grasped a lot of knowledge and truly had fun doing math. Although there were some misunderstandings at certain times, I was able to overcome them and go beyond.
