Blog #2 Sabrina Garcia

The Changemakers project was one of my favorite assignments this semester because it allowed me to improve my public speaking skills while learning about important historical figures who helped shape democracy. Going into the presentation, I was still nervous, which is something I always experience when presenting to a class. However, I noticed a big improvement compared to our first presentation. My natural instinct when I am nervous is to speak very quickly because I just want to get through it as soon as possible. This time, I was more aware of my pace and made an effort to slow down. Even though I was nervous at the beginning, I think I did a much better job of speaking clearly and giving myself time to breathe between points.

I also felt less nervous overall because this was our second presentation of the semester. Having already gone through the experience once made me more comfortable sharing my ideas with the class. At the same time, being the first group to present added some pressure because everyone was watching and we were setting the tone for the rest of the presentations. Once I got through the first few slides, I felt more confident and was able to focus on sharing information rather than worrying about my nerves.

One of the best parts of this project was working with my group. Just like during our previous project, I felt very connected to my teammates. We were all working toward the same goal, and everyone seemed genuinely invested in making the presentation successful. We were supportive, collaborative, and willing to help whenever someone needed it. Everyone contributed ideas and worked hard to make the final product successful. Beyond completing the assignment, we also had fun working together, which made the project even more enjoyable.

I learned a great deal from researching and presenting on the changemakers of the 1700s. Before this project, I knew some basic information about figures such as James Madison, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin, but I didn’t fully understand the extent of their contributions. Through my research, I gained a deeper appreciation for their contributions to the foundation of the United States. Since I presented on James Madison, I spent time learning about his work at the Constitutional Convention, his role in creating the Constitution, and his contributions to the Bill of Rights. I found it fascinating that ideas such as checks and balances, which we still use today, were developed more than two hundred years ago and continue to influence our government.

I also enjoyed learning about changemakers I was less familiar with before this project. Crispus Attucks was particularly interesting because he is often recognized as the first person killed during the Boston Massacre, making him an important symbol of the American Revolution. I also learned more about Abigail Adams and her advocacy for women’s rights. Her famous request that lawmakers should “remember the ladies” showed how she challenged traditional ideas long before women had equal rights. Another person I enjoyed learning about was Mary Wollstonecraft , who argued that women deserved the same educational opportunities as men. Her ideas were considered revolutionary at the time and later helped inspire movements for women’s equality.

One aspect of the project that I especially enjoyed was the creative process. I have always loved arts and crafts, and when I was younger, I even wanted to become a graphic designer. Because of that, I really enjoyed designing our brochure and PowerPoint presentation. I liked finding ways to make everything visually appealing while keeping it organized. Creating a presentation is not only about sharing information but also about presenting it in a way that keeps the audience engaged. Working on the visual elements allowed me to combine creativity with education.

I also enjoyed the research process. One of my favorite parts was searching for video clips to include in my section on James Madison. I spent time looking through clips from Hamilton to find one that represented Madison well. Since Madison is not one of the main characters in the musical, it was interesting to analyze different scenes and find one that highlighted his role as a strategist and political thinker.

The other groups’ presentations were also excellent. They were informative and well organized. It was obvious that everyone had put a lot of effort into their projects. I especially enjoyed Group 3’s visuals. Their slides looked like old newspapers, which fit their historical theme perfectly. It reminded me of what my group was trying to accomplish with our brochure by creating a design that reflected the time period we were studying. I also thought Group 2’s slides were beautiful and very well themed.

Another thing I appreciated was seeing the progression of history across the different presentations. Since each group focused on a different time period, it was interesting to see how various changemakers contributed to society over the years. Learning about people from different centuries helped me understand how different changes build upon one another over time. 

Many of the presentations inspired me to learn more about the people I had not studied before. For example, I learned that Hedy Lamarr, who was known as a Hollywood actress, also co-invented a frequency-hopping communication system that later contributed to technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. Learning about these individuals reminded me that changemakers can come from many different backgrounds and fields, not just politics.

Overall, the Changemakers project was one of the most enjoyable assignments of the semester. It helped me continue developing my public speaking skills, allowed me to work with an amazing group, and taught me a lot about the people who shaped both American democracy and society as a whole. More importantly, it showed me that meaningful change can come from many different kinds of people, whether they are political leaders, activists, scientists, inventors, or artists. This project not only taught me about changemakers from the past but also reminded me of the lasting impact that individuals can have on the world around them.