Post #2 Alexa Adame Changemakers

Changemakers Presentations

For the past weeks my classmates and I did presentations about changemakers who exist in different historical periods. The experience of listening to all the presentations proved to be highly captivating for me. The presentation allowed me to study history while I observed my classmates understanding of what a changemaker means. The presentations brought me satisfaction because all participants successfully demonstrated their research findings together with their personal viewpoints.

The group I was part of presented on changemakers from the 1900s. Our group included presentations on Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, Paul McCartney, Martin Luther King Jr., Rachel Carson, Duke Ellington, and Frank Church. My presentation topic about Rosa Parks made me feel confident about my work. I had already done a lot of research about her before because I previously worked on a project about her, so presenting about her again felt natural. Through her courageous actions during the Montgomery Bus Boycott Rosa Parks inspired people to join the Civil Rights Movement. I felt proud sharing her story with my classmates because her actions show how one person’s bravery can make a huge difference.

I also enjoy so much my teammates presentations. My group showed good organization and I really liked their performance. The group members finished their tasks according to schedule which showed that every member understood their assigned material. The presentation delivered a seamless experience because of that achievement. The presentation showed Susan B. Anthony's dedication to women's rights which I found fascinating because of the long battle people fought to obtain women's voting rights. The Martin Luther King Jr. presentation delivered an impactful experience because his Civil Rights Movement leadership continues to motivate people in the present day. It was really cool about what my team members chose as there changemaker which they talked about music and environmental activism and that made our group composition interesting to me. Paul McCartney and Duke Ellington show that changemakers exist beyond political leaders because they also include artists who shape cultural movements. Rachel Carson's environmental research demonstrated how individuals can create environmental change through public education. My group performed exceptionally well according to my honest assessment. Everyone in the group prepared for their presentations, which showed me their dedication to the topic. I found that presentation to be one of my favorite ones to watch. The second group presented their research on modern changemakers who emerged between 2000 and current times. They selected Steve Jobs, Betsy DeVos, Anthony Fauci, George Bush, Edward Snowden, Mark Zuckerberg and Michelle Obama. The group performed well because they selected different people from their research. The public recognizes some people in this group as technology experts while others serve political roles and a third group works in public service. Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg became famous because their technological innovations transformed how people interact with each other. The inventions they created brought about fundamental changes which affected the daily routines of countless individuals. The presentation about Anthony Fauci together with Michelle Obama made an interesting experience for me. Anthony Fauci established himself as a prominent public health expert who played a major role in responding to the country’s critical health emergencies. Michelle Obama has inspired people through her work as First Lady and her educational and health advocacy initiatives. The group made an impactful choice to study individuals who currently shape our world because it showed me that changemakers exist today in addition to their historical presence.

The third group studied changemakers who lived during the 1800s. Their presentation included John D. Rockefeller, Nikola Tesla, Jane Addams, Thomas Edison, Harriet Jacobs, Harriet Tubman, and Abraham Lincoln. The 1800s presented an important period which I found fascinating because it produced major social and technological advancements. Harriet Tubman and Harriet Jacobs taught me historical lessons because they fought against both slavery and social injustice with great strength. The Underground Railroad served as Harriet Tubman’s main achievement which stands as one of America’s most inspirational historical narratives. The historical figures Tesla and Edison showed me the way scientific research brings about new world discoveries. Their technological breakthroughs established the fundamental elements of contemporary technology which continue to shape our daily existence. The final group studied changemakers who lived during the 1700s and especially focused on the Constitution authors. The presentation included George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. These individuals established the fundamental principles which built the United States government system. The Constitution continues to direct national governance even though their actions occurred in the distant past.

I found it interesting to listen about the different ways these leaders made their contributions to society. The first president of the United States George Washington created a unified government for the country while Benjamin Franklin became known through his diplomatic work and innovative ideas and scientific discoveries. The government system and the Constitution were developed through the combined efforts of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. Their work showed how essential it was to have visionary leaders during the first period of American history. In my opinion all the groups performed well during their presentations. The team members dedicated their time to conduct research about their subjects which they presented to the classroom. The presentations experienced multiple minor difficulties which the team members successfully managed. One group took a little longer than expected, and I’m not exactly sure why. But honestly, that’s normal during presentations. The team reached their goal because they presented their completed work to us which they had worked on throughout the entire process. The presentations appealed to me because they introduced different changemakers to the audience. The process of learning about people who made a difference in the world through their actions brings me great inspiration. The statement demonstrates how history develops through the efforts of people who take dangers to protect their convictions and develop their own innovations. The individuals who participated in this movement became political leaders activists scientists and artists who all dedicated their efforts to create social transformation.

These presentations also made me reflect on how we, as students, can learn from these examples. The experience of one person creating significant change through their actions shows me that people should develop their environmental awareness. Changemakers established the principle that all advancements begin when one individual makes a decision to pursue change. I feel complete satisfaction with our project work. I had the opportunity to discuss Rosa Parks, who I admire greatly, but I also discovered various other significant historical personalities through my classmates. This class has provided an excellent opportunity to study historical events while developing presentation skills and listening to multiple viewpoints. The stories demonstrate that permanent transformation can occur throughout time while showing that everyone has the potential to become future changemakers.