For my senior capstone I decided to teach young ones boxing. Out of everything else I could have done, boxing was something that I did for 2 years and found a little bit of passion in it. I wanted to share something I enjoyed with young ones who were really interested in learning how to box. Even those who weren’t interested were encouraged to try it out if they wanted because you never know if you’d really like something or not until you try it out for yourself. Looking back at my senior capstone, I am really proud of myself for putting my heart, mind, energy and creativity into my senior project. I didn’t just pop up and tell kids to just throw punches. I planned all the lessons for them and also got help with doing so, from someone I get along with very well. I taught them the basics and made sure they were well prepared physically and mentally. Even when my young ones felt like they were ready to give up or felt like they couldn’t do things right, I always showed encouragement and told them to never give up. I helped them have fun while learning something that may have been completely new to them. All of this showed that I wasn’t just a boxing teacher, but set a good example of what a leader should be. My capstone wasn’t just about boxing, but about building confidence, discipline,
and community. I’m glad that I was able to impact these kids in a good way and I’ll carry these lessons with me in the future.

For my senior capstone I decided to teach young ones boxing. Out of everything else I could have done, boxing was something that I did for 2 years and found a little bit of passion in it. I wanted to share something I enjoyed with young ones who were really interested in learning how to box. Even those who weren’t interested were encouraged to try it out if they wanted because you never know if you’d really like something or not until you try it out for yourself. Looking back at my senior capstone, I am really proud of myself for putting my heart, mind, energy and creativity into my senior project. I didn’t just pop up and tell kids to just throw punches. I planned all the lessons for them and also got help with doing so, from someone I get along with very well. I taught them the basics and made sure they were well prepared physically and mentally. Even when my young ones felt like they were ready to give up or felt like they couldn’t do things right, I always showed encouragement and told them to never give up. I helped them have fun while learning something that may have been completely new to them. All of this showed that I wasn’t just a boxing teacher, but set a good example of what a leader should be. My capstone wasn’t just about boxing, but about building confidence, discipline,
and community. I’m glad that I was able to impact these kids in a good way and I’ll carry these lessons with me in the future.

For my Senior Capstone project, I wanted to do something that mattered to me and could help my community. I started by asking, “How can we help kids have more places to go outside of home and school?” At first, I had a few ideas, like planning an Iftar event during Ramadan, starting MSA classes, or doing a clothes drive. But things didn’t work out—some plans got rejected, and others were just too hard to pull off. After talking with my advisor, I decided to volunteer at the Francisville Recreation Center. It was something I could do right away and something I cared about. I spent time with the kids there, playing games, helping out, and making them feel welcome. I realized that just being there for them made a big difference. I also learned that a lot of kids don’t go to places like rec centers because no one invites them or makes them feel excited to come. This project helped me see how important it is to have fun, safe places for kids to hang out. I also found out that I’m good at talking to kids and making them feel comfortable. Doing this project made me proud because I helped create the kind of space I wish I had when I was younger. Even though it didn’t start the way I planned, it turned into something really meaningful for me and the community.

As a senior in high school, my service learning project has been one of the most impactful and eye-opening experiences of my educational journey. For my Capstone, I chose to focus on environmental sustainability, particularly on understanding the importance of protecting our environment and community in Philadelphia. This included hands-on service learning with Audubon Mid-Atlantic, focusing on invasive species and the crucial role young people play in preserving the world around them. Looking back, I am most proud of how I was able to turn my passion for environmental care into a project that made a real difference and educated others along the way. One of the most powerful lessons I learned during this project was just how connected we are to the environment. Every decision we make, from how we dispose of trash to what we plant in our gardens, affects the health of our communities. Through working with Audubon Mid-Atlantic, I was able to participate in habitat restoration activities and learn about the challenges facing bird populations and native plants in Philadelphia. One major focus of our service was addressing invasive species, like picking up the honeysuckle with the lopper tool, which threatens native trees that birds and pollinators depend on. Before this project, I didn’t realize how dangerous a single non-native species could be. After helping to remove invasive plants and learning about how they disrupt entire ecosystems, I saw how quickly environmental damage can spread and why proactive care is so important.