Learning My Way Through Life

The Great Debaters | Intention Post

Say what?

We were recently introduced to our brand new Humanities project all about debate, where I will be pushed to develop new skills that will help build a foundation for communication and quick thinking. We will be taking part in our own debate at the winter exhibition, showcasing the skills we’ve learned.

We started the project launch by watching The Great Debaters to get a better idea of what debate is and why it’s valuable. I really enjoyed the movie, and I think the message was quite powerful. It showed me that speaking up takes courage, preparation, and belief in your own voice. It also showed me how important it is to think carefully, use evidence, and stay calm even when you’re under pressure.

We reflected on some of these themes after the movie and how it was an important introduction to the world of debate. Then we got into pairs and did a quick debate about the importance of the film, and I had a reality check about how hard it is to think on my feet and be deliberate and confident.

Goals:

My main goal for this project is to go into the debate feeling confident and prepared. I want to speak clearly and confidently, not letting my fear get the best of me. I know I’m capable of this, as I just did the same thing in our most recent Humanities project throughout multiple Socratic seminars (Fallout Reflection). I will reach these goals by continuing to push myself through my fear of public speaking. I will raise my hand more often and take the steps to be prepared with evidence that can back me up.

Overall, I am looking forward to the process of this project and the growth it can offer me. I feel ready to overcome my mental blockages — and who knows, maybe I’ll even enjoy debate?

Fallout² Reflection Post | Understanding Fear in the Cold War

As I sit here reflecting on my most recent project, I am tasked to sort through every idea, mistake, and moment that pushed me forward. We will go back flipping through pages of my learning journey story, a story that taught me more than I expected. As you read along, you’re joining me as I learn my way through life, one project at a time.

🥇What’s First

Throughout this project I looked at fear as both a weapon and a warning, a force that shaped nations, fuelled rivalries, and influenced how people live. We revisited our previous project—the Manhattan Project (Manhattan Project Reflection), and we traced how its impact changed and evolved after 1945. As you continue reading I will share my learning journey over the past few weeks.

🥅 My Goals

I began this project with a well thought out learning intention post (Learning Intentions Post), that gave me the opportunity to sort through my ideas and focus on what I wanted to improve throughout this project. One of my most significant intentions was communication through the Socratic Seminars. I’m at the point where I am just beginning to become comfortable with speaking up, and so I think that the nerve-wracking feel of these seminars for me was very important. It was a slow but steady improvement over the three seminars; I went from not speaking at all to sharing multiple times in one discussion.

As someone who can be quite shy at times, I would say this was the most difficult part of the project. However, I was proud of myself for pushing myself out of my comfort zone and taking the opportunity to grow as a learner. With more practice, I want to continue to develop my speaking and communication skills and prove to myself that being pushed out of my comfort zone can be very beneficial.

🎙️Sharing time!

These Socratic seminars helped me strengthen my knowledge of the Cold War and break down complicated events. I gained new perspectives and was pushed to think of some of my own. One of the most interesting ideas I heard was the bomb shelter from Fallout reflecting a smaller Cold War in itself. The bomb shelter in Fallout acts like a mini Cold War because of the division it caused, suspicion, and fear, just like the countries. Their arguments, power struggles, and fear of “the other” mirror the tension and distrust between nations during the real Cold War.

Keep reading to find out more about Fallout.

📖It’s all about the book

As a part of our Cold War research, we read a book called Fallout, a story that touches on the different elements of fear, human instinct, morality, and separation. I really enjoyed this novel and the way it was written. Its simplicity made it easier to interpret different concepts and break down ideas. However, it was difficult at times to find deeper meaning within something that felt more shallow.

Working on Fallout really helped me understand the Cold War on a deeper emotional level because it showed what fear felt like for your average family, not just politicians. Seeing the characters panic, argue, and struggle to survive made the Cold War seem way more real and human instead of just a historical event. The reflections I made with the novel also helped me think more critically about ideas like division, blame, and “us vs. them,” which were huge parts of Cold War thinking. Altogether, the book and the work we did with it made me understand not just what happened during the Cold War, but what it felt like to live through it.

Fear was one of the most powerful forces driving the Cold War, shaping everything from political decisions to everyday life. Governments used fear of nuclear attack, communism, secret programs, propaganda, and strict national policies. Ordinary people absorbed this fear, which influenced how they viewed “the other side,” who they trusted, and how they lived. Culturally, fear encouraged division, suspicion, and a constant sense of uncertainty that affected relationships between nations and even within communities.

📍The Final Product

For our final product we had to create a pitch for a product of any media that could dive into a smaller aspect of the Cold War. I decided that I wanted my pitch to be on the fear of nuclear medicine after the Cold War and the general misinformation about radiation that made significant challenges for the emerging field of nuclear medicine. I connected it to modern-day events like Covid-19 and how the spread of misinformation will increase with the development of technology and social media platforms. I was really interested in this topic, and unfortunately I didn’t actually get to create my product. However, I was able to develop some really strong notes about this topic that may be beneficial for me in the future.

Check Out My Pitch Below! 👇🏼

 Fallout Companion Piece Pitch Form

🌱 My Growth in this Project

Throughout this project, I was able to see real growth in myself as both a learner and a communicator. The biggest area of change was definitely my confidence. At the beginning, the Socratic Seminars felt overwhelming, and speaking up seemed almost impossible. But over time, I learned how to push past that fear and trust my own ideas. I went from staying completely silent to contributing several times in one discussion, which showed me that my voice has value and that I am capable of participating in deeper conversations. This project taught me that growth doesn’t happen all at once, it happens through small risks, repeated effort, and believing in myself even when I’m nervous.

BCFP | A Deeper Look at Truth, Reconciliation, and Perspective 🔎

The most powerful thing I learned while creating this project was just how deep the impact of residential schools was on Indigenous communities in Canada. I had known about them before, but this project helped me truly understand the emotional, cultural, and generational effects they left behind. During the process of this project, I created three main products that helped me answer the driving question: Why does this course matter?

Throughout this project, I would say that I struggled mostly with the creation of the products. More specifically, I found it tricky to include such a dense amount of information while keeping it clean and organized. However, I found this challenge to be quite fun, as I really enjoy media design and experimenting with the layout of my semantic map. Overall, I was very happy with my final product, and I feel it did a great job of showing my understanding of key details and events within residential schools. Check out my semantic map below. 👇🏼

Throughout this unit, I developed my note-taking skills and learned how to process information in a more intentional way. I also practiced Two-Eyed Seeing, learning to view knowledge through both Western and Indigenous perspectives. This approach has helped me gather different viewpoints, think more critically, and recognize how multiple worldviews can coexist. A great example of this is my Venn diagram. Check it out below 👇🏼

This first unit in BCFP gave me a much deeper understanding of what Truth and Reconciliation truly means, and why it’s so important for us to take part in it every year. It’s not just about learning history it’s about listening, understanding, and taking action toward healing. I plan to continue using Two-Eyed Seeing throughout the rest of my learning journey and beyond, as a reminder that it’s important to see through more than one lens.

Overall, I really enjoyed this unit. It has shown me the value of understanding different perspectives and challenging my own assumptions. Take a look at my final work below. 👇🏼

https://coats-invite-khb.craft.me/SbTGtAIEAuAQ5a

BCFP Learning Intentions 📔

As we begin this new unit in BCFP, I’ve been thinking about what it truly means to study people, culture, and perspective. The basis of anthropology is about understanding how societies form, interact, and interpret the world around them. I am familiar with this foundation, but I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge. I know that first contact between different cultures brings learning, that is often shaped by our own experiences and biases. Recognizing this helps me see how important it is to step back and question my assumptions. Often, the way we view others is influenced by the lens of our own culture.

Ready, set, launch!

From the launch, I learned the importance of having a growth mindset and staying open to new ideas. The activity reminded me that things are not always what they seem and that first impressions can be misleading. I realized that analyzing and interpreting information requires flexibility. It was a fun and thought provoking way to practice observation without jumping to conclusions. I had no clue what my object was and I had fun imagining what its use was. This experience helped me understand how biases can have influence on interpretation and how being open minded allows for a deeper understanding of unfamiliar societies.

Check out my object below! 👇🏼

My learning intention

My learning intention for this project is to grow in my ability to analyze and interpret unfamiliar societies. I will show this by offering new perspectives and keeping an open mind, which will help me strengthen both my critical and creative thinking skills. This connects to my previous learning intention, where I focused on two eyed seeing, I really highlighted learning to view the world through multiple perspectives and acknowledging different worldviews.

I am looking forward to this next project and BCFP now that I know what I would like to focus on. I am interested in analyzing ideas more thoughtfully, hoping that I may become more observant,curious, and reflective. I will practice these skills in hopes that I can use them throughout the rest of my life when engaging with new knowledge and perspectives.

Check out my previous BCFP project below 👇🏼

BCFP | A Deeper Look at Truth, Reconciliation, and Perspective 🔎

Fallout² | Learning Intentions

Through this next project, I would like to improve my communication skills while pushing myself to extend my learning and apply my skills effectively. One of my main goals is to contribute more during the Socratic seminar by developing fully formed and authentic ideas that connect directly to evidence. Linking back to my VMV, I am continuing to work on speaking up and becoming more comfortable with sharing my thoughts and opinions. Speaking up in front of others has always been something that challenges me, and even though it can feel intimidating, I want to push myself to engage more and share my thinking confidently. I know that my ideas have value, and the only way to grow is to take that risk and use my voice. My goal is to push myself to add more detail and go deeper in my final product, while also practicing effective and confident communication. I want to clearly show my complete understanding of my topic and its significance during the Cold War.

These goals matter to me because they connect directly to my VMV statements and fit perfectly into this project, which gives me the chance to strengthen new skills and challenge myself. I am taking this opportunity to grow as a learner and to prove to myself that I am capable of accomplishing my goals. I want to be proud of my work and finish this project feeling confident and content with my final product, knowing I gave it my best effort.

To accomplish these goals, I will use tools like my Zettelkasten notes to keep track of my thoughts and ideas so that I can later develop them into more complex insights. I’m hoping to have a library full of strong, permanent notes by the end of this project that I can confidently share during the Socratic seminar. To create high quality, extended work, I will ask at least three different people for feedback and use their advice to improve my product. I will also have a conversation with one of my teachers during tutorial to discuss how I can elevate my work even further. In addition, I plan to reflect after each stage of the project to make sure I’m staying on track and continuously reaching these goals.

The Atomic Age: How One Discovery Transformed History

                 
These past few weeks, I have been diving into the world of science, geopolitics, and nuclear war exploring the Manhattan Project and how the creation of the atomic bomb has altered our world today. Through this project, I was pushed in ways I wasn’t quite expecting, as I continued to develop my note taking skills and build a library of knowledge. I practiced developing my own ideas through permanent notes, which allowed me to connect my thoughts to solid evidence. Through this process, I not only learned about the great impact of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki but also about the world’s relationship with nuclear weaponry and the idea of “mutual assured destruction.”

The Process:

We began this project by reading Hiroshima by John Hersey, which tells the story from the perspectives of six survivors of the bombing. I found it very interesting to see what the bomb may have felt like when it took place. The book was quite dark at points, but I believe it really helped me understand the complete destruction and devastation of this horrific event. Throughout the book, I took literature notes that helped me remember key events, even though I sometimes struggled to connect them to my own personal thoughts.

Throughout the process of this project, I was challenged quite a bit with both the literature notes and the permanent notes. I found it difficult at times to condense information into my own words and to decide what was truly important to note. I know this will get easier with time as I continue to practice using my Zettelkasten method. As for the permanent notes, I struggled to turn solid facts into my own ideas. It often took deep thinking and reflection to make meaningful connections. These challenges, however, were great opportunities for growth and showed me exactly what I need to keep improving on.

The Product:

Next, it was time to create my animation explainer video. I decided to focus on the development and creation of nuclear medicine, connecting it back to the atomic bomb. When I started creating the video, I was fairly confident in my use of Keynote. However, I was surprised to discover how much I still had to learn about the animation tools within the app. I developed new Keynote skills, and I can now confidently say that I am a Keynote regular who feels comfortable creating animations. I hope my video gives my audience an understanding of the basics of nuclear medicine, as well as how something so destructive can be transformed into something that saves lives.

If I had more time for this project, I would have made my video longer and of higher quality. I often feel rushed in many PLP projects, which sometimes causes me to prioritize completion over quality. I would like to continue pushing myself toward that “extending” category by focusing more on refinement and depth.

Check out my video below. 👇🏼 

To Conclude:

This project also changed the way I think about history. Learning about the atomic bomb and its aftermath made me realize how powerful scientific discovery can be and how important it is to use that power responsibly. The same science that caused immense destruction also led to incredible advancements like nuclear medicine. This contrast made me reflect on how ethics are not always black and white, but rather balance between progress, and the well being of others.

Overall, this project helped me grow not only as a student but as a thinker. It strengthened my curiosity, challenged my perspective, and reminded me that knowledge carries power.

Manhattan Project Learning Intentions

What I know

Diving into our new project called The Manhattan Project², I have the opportunity to reflect on what I actually know about the world’s most powerful weapon the atomic bomb. Through this process, I will get the chance to apply and practice my note taking skills by forming a series of Zettelkasten notes and using the method Smart Brevity.

Right off the bat, I can admit I didn’t know much about the atomic bomb before doing some research. I was familiar with the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945, as well as the fact that nuclear weapons are among the most powerful weapons on Earth. However, I’m curious to learn more about the long-term impacts on the people living in Hiroshima, as well as the bomb’s overall global influence. I now know that the creation of the atomic bomb shaped a strong and everlasting foundation for nuclear weaponry and technology up to the modern era. And I will continue to expand my findings about the atomic bombs impact socially and economically.

The atomic bomb has changed the world by creating a constant fear of nuclear war and affecting how countries deal with each other today.

The Bigger picture

Looking at the bigger picture of this project, I’m interested in examining the direct impact on the different communities of Hiroshima and the trauma it caused. I’ve always been curious about intergenerational trauma in the context of significant historical events. After learning more about my family and the effects of the Holocaust, I want to explore the deep, lasting impact of these deadly events and the toll they take on families.

I would also like to dive deeper into the scientific creation of the atomic bomb and uncover why it was created in the first place.

My learning intentions/ goals 

My learning intentions for this project are to help me set healthy habits for future projects, as well as develop skills that I will carry with me throughout the rest of high school and into university. More specifically, I would like to work on building personal connections throughout my work, making it more engaging and meaningful to my individual learning journey. Through my Zettelkasten notes, I want to practice this by noting a connection, new idea, or opinion about the information I come across.

I struggle with taking effective notes, and I’m looking to use this opportunity as a way to improve. I want to develop my own personal note taking system using Zettelkasten as a template. I want to be able to go back to my notes and find useful information in an organized manner that actually helps me. For me, this means staying organized and on track with homework. By the end of this project, I hope to feel more confident in my note taking skills and be able to look back at my work knowing I made meaningful connections and stayed organized throughout the process.

These Zettlekasten notes help me organize my thoughts and ideas by interlinking documents. They help me keep my thoughts together in a system that allows me to store information like a personal library. Check out some of zettle notes I have started 👇🏼

Heroshima – Chapter 1

Development of the atomic bomb

The creation of the Atomic bomb

My Transitional Presentation of Learning 📚 | 2025

“Thank you for coming to my presentation on learning. I am the expert on my own learning. I am also responsible and accountable for my own learning. You can expect me to give an honest evaluation of my progress. We will discuss my strengths and opportunities for growth. Thank you in advance for listening and for offering feedback that I can use to improve as a learner.”

One year later, and I’m almost in grade 11. I can’t believe the momentous and challenging learning journey I’ve had throughout Grade 10. I have learned a lot about myself and the expectations I need to set for myself next year. I have learned how I need to push myself to accomplish goals and what kind of learning process is best for me. To review my VMV statements here is my intentions from the beginning of the year. 

At the beginning of this year I wasn’t quite sure what to expect in terms of the work load. I struggled with the linear system when keeping track of my homework and assignments. For once in my life I actually started to procrastinate and I believe that this was one of my main learning points throughout grade 10. I found myself leaving things to the last minute causing stress that didn’t need to exist in the first place. However the first step in working towards a new goal of completing my homework earlier is recognition. I have already recognized that I procrastinate, and that is the first step towards growth. I have figured out work ethics that resonate with me and others that don’t. So, how exactly can I use this knowledge to my advantage?

Well, I can start by organizing what methods work and what don’t:

One project I found significant to my learning journey was Hey Boomer. This project put me in a more leadership type role where I was able to help organize groups through the advertisement process. I really enjoyed the learning process behind the final radio play. Having the opportunity to explore Canada in the 1950s was quite interesting, I enjoyed learning about Canadas overall growth as a country. This project taught me about my capabilities in being a more engaged and communicative learner. I hope to take my new found knowledge and extended capabilities into grade 11, exercising these new leadership skills more and more.

Hey Boomer! notes

Another project that I would like to touch on is “Definitely Not the 51st State.” Unfortunately, the Human Library did not work out in the end, but on the bright side, it still helped me practice my public speaking skills. For some people, a two-minute speech is nothing, but for someone who struggles with public speaking, this was a big deal. I practiced making sure I knew my opening line and my closing line. Through this process of presenting my speech, there was this moment of realization that it wasn’t as big of a deal as I had made it out to be. Not only was I fine with presenting, but it actually felt good. I felt accomplished in the fact that I was able to share something I was passionate about and take a step toward my public speaking growth. This experience helped me build a strong foundation of communication skills that I know will benefit me in Grade 11, especially when it comes to presentations, class discussions, and leadership opportunities. Overall, it was an encouraging step forward in both my confidence and my personal development.

As I look ahead to Grade 11, I can confidently say that I am ready. I know what I’m capable of because I’ve seen what I can accomplish when I apply myself. I’ve had real, lived experiences that have challenged me and helped me grow, not just as a student, but as a person. Through my successes and setbacks this year, I’ve built a toolbox of strategies that support my learning, from time management to communication and leadership skills. I now understand what works for me and what doesn’t, and I’m ready to put that knowledge to use. I am driven, and dedicated to my learning journey. I’m ready to make school a  big priority in my life and take my learning to the next level by building on the foundation I’ve laid these past three years. Grade 11 will bring new challenges, but I feel prepared to treat them with intention, focus, and a growth mindset.

Change Makers | Marketing Through Social Media

These past couple months we have been preparing for our latest field study and project Change Makers. Through this project I explored deeper into marketing through social media and its impact on decision making. I was in the group under the Influence, where we took a deeper dive into the world of social media and its general impact on viewer experience. I was pleased to have the opportunity to go to Capilano suspension bridge for a day as I did not attend the trip to Disney World. Through my field study I was able to further my understanding through interviews and conversations with people at Capilano Suspension bridge. I was able to organize my ideas and create my own video that answered the driving question: How does influencer culture shape our choices and beliefs? I had a lot of fun with this project and I was able to learn more about content creation and its direct impact on an audience. 

The first part of this project was coming up with our own interest that related to our topic. I knew immediately that I wanted to focus on marketing through social media because I have always been interested in that as a future career. I started by doing my own personal research on the impact of marketing through social media and its direct impact on peoples decision making. I used the change makers template in pages to sort through my initial ideas and thoughts and to write down all of my questions. This organizer helped me express my ideas and sort through them in a more effective way. Check it out below. 👇🏼 

CBL Investigate Chart

Not only did we explore our own ideas, but we collectively gathered information on Walt Disney himself. We explored what made him an inspiration and how he has impacted the world of entertainment. I took two smart brevity notes on the information I learned. Check out my smart brevity below. 👇🏼 

Change Makers – Walt Disney

Global legacy: global entertainment

After most of the class left for Florida, my group and I began preparing for the Capilano Suspension bridge and the different shots we were wanting to get. I created a call sheet that organized the different and shots I needed to take and what locations I needed to visit. When working on this call sheet I was able to organize my plan, and it really came in handy when I got to the park. It made the filming process a lot more efficient, overall making the experience more fun. This gave me a better idea of different tactics I can be using when creating a final product. Having some kind of organizer or chart that is able to visibly display what needs to be done is very helpful and I know that I can use this tool throughout future projects. Check out my call sheet below. 👇🏼 

Call sheet – Capilano suspension bridge

At Capilano Suspension Bridge I started off by collecting a lot of B-roll making sure I had enough clips to fill in any extra space in my video, as well as using the clips to help visually tell a story. The next step was to find someone to interview. I really struggled with this step as no one was willing to be interviewed. I asked about six people, before finding someone who was happy to answer my questions. I always find the interview experience quite good practice in talking and engaging with strangers. It is not very often I approach someone and ask to video them answering questions. Having the opportunity to ask people over and over  again, was a sort of trial and error process. I was able to see what people responded best too and how I can improve my conversation skills. Overall, I was really pleased with my interviews end result, and it just goes to show that persistence can pay off. 

Through this project I was able to truly expand my knowledge on social media’s impact on the brain. Not only was I able to explore a topic I was interested in, but have the opportunity to go ask questions through real experience. Though it wasn’t a whole trip to Disney World, I learned small destinations like the Capilano Suspension Bridge rely heavily on their social media platforms. It just goes to show the impact that social media has on companies and their customers. I was really proud of my video and the information I incorporated, as well as the many skills I used in editing it. This project helped me understand how powerful social media can be in shaping the way people think, act, and make choices and it showed me how I can use that knowledge to create meaningful content in the future. Check out my video below. 👇🏼 

Peas In a Podcast: A Reflection of my Podcast Creation Journey

Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to create a podcast from scratch? As I reflect on my journey, the challenges, surprises, and lessons learned along the way, I’d like to share my experience.

In this most recent Maker project, we had the unique opportunity to create our own individual podcast from the ground up. We explored the idea of how to craft an engaging story based on our own lived experiences. When I first heard about this project, I thought it was a great opportunity to talk about something that I love and am passionate about. I tried my best to turn my passions into a storyline, but I struggled with transforming one into the other. That’s when I decided to completely shift direction and focus solely on a personal story, diving deep into it.

So, there I was, brainstorming all of my favourite and most iconic experiences, when the idea finally hit me. I decided to tell the wildest story I could think of from my cousin’s farm, highlighting the realities of farm life and the difficult lifestyle they endure. It was a story that resonated with me deeply, and I knew it would be an interesting one for others to hear as well.

Through this project, I was able to build on a variety of skills, including creativity, storytelling, technical abilities, and audio production. Creating a podcast gave me a better sense of how to connect with others through stories and share exciting, meaningful information. However, this project wasn’t without its challenges. There were definitely moments when I struggled, and I realized I could have been more organized. I wish I had stayed on top of due dates and kept a more consistent approach with revisions. This is an area I’d like to improve on for the rest of the year.

One of the biggest challenges of creating a podcast is keeping your audience engaged. I’ve had a lot of practice with storytelling through images and videos, but I’m still learning how to craft a compelling podcast. I am a very visual person,  so it was particularly challenging to create something that was purely words and audio. Despite the difficulties, I’m proud of myself for stepping outside my comfort zone and becoming more familiar with different forms of media creation. I look forward to continuing to develop these skills and expanding my understanding of effective storytelling.

In the end, I’m content with how my podcast turned out, and I’m excited to keep exploring new ways to tell stories and share personal experiences.