My capstone idea was to communicate the idea that humans are currently destroying the environment and global ecosystem from several different fronts. I decided to showcase this environmental destruction by creating dresses that symbolize eight different issues in the environment that we, and all organism on earth are face with today. I especially wanted to focus on the human caused destruction to really communicate the idea that we caused the problem but also have duty to take part in the solution.

This capstone is a reflection of my beliefs and what I stand for. Over my high school career with the help of JAGS and outside influences, I have developed a deep and strong passion for the environment and stopping the devastation that humans put upon this planet. To me, this is the single biggest problem that we face in the world today since the results of our actions could be detrimental the entity of the planet and all who inhabit it. My capstone helps me to not only educate myself on this passion of mine, but also to share this mission with others in hope that they may begin to alter the everyday actions to something more sustainable. This capstone has allowed me to mix together my passion for the environment, my search for knowledge and globalization, and my love of art all into one project that showcases my final stages of growth within the Jackson Academy for Global Studies.

To me JAGS has always been about seeing beyond oneself and  small everyday problems and into the vastness of the world so that we as JAGS students will one day be able to better understand the world and be able to give back. This capstone encapsulated this way of learning perfectly. Within this project I finally put to use the pillars of JAGS in a practical and meaningful way. I have investigated the ideas of the global environmental problems occurring right now by doing research on each topic presented in my dresses. I was able to recognize perspective within my art by constantly taking the viewer into consideration and how the art will and should affect them. I, of course, communicated my ideas through the website I created showcasing my dresses and the the problem and also through the dresses themself. This was the most basic way I have communicated what I have learned and what I believe in to other members of my community. I have been able to take action by connecting my website viewers to various nonprofits dealing specifically with a certain topic and also broadly with aiding the environment in general. Hopefully all of these steps will work in making my capstone as meaningful and impactful to the world as it is to me.

My hope for the capstone I've created is to use my artistic talents to create something eye catching an beautiful that will bring awareness to a topic so important to me. I believe that I have succeeded in doing so since all of my dresses are impactful and unique to themselves. It will be difficult to look at them and not receive the message that our world and ecosystem is sickly and polluted and we must do something about it. This message was the entire point of why I chose this capstone.

The JAGS program for me has been instrumental in my growth and development as a global citizen and as a person. The academy has always pushed me to view the world from all perspectives and to be giving and empathic when it comes to problems around the globe. This learning has worked to mold me into a better person, and I will take this way of learning and attitude with me onto life. JAGS has given me a sense of higher purpose when it comes to changing the world and provided me with the tools to do so. I am currently an undecided major at OSU but, because of me JAGS influence, I am highly leaning towards environmental law so that I can take my passion and do something about it to change the world for the better. I have undertaken several leadership roles within the academy and the school over my high school career. I have been a member of JAGS leadership and the JAGS Ten80 robotics club, helping to pioneer both programs in any way I can and to lead JAGS into a more improved and higher functioning version of itself. I have also worked around the high school to demonstrate these leader qualities in position like lead freshman mentor, camp counselor for the Jackson P.R.I.D.E. program, JSA leadership, and National Art Honor Society president. All of these roles has pushed me and prepared me to take on even more. Over these four years, I have learned that I am stronger and more influential than I had once believed. I learned that I am smart enough and courageous enough to take on a large scale problem and change the world.

My particular JAGS experience has been a bit different than other JAGgers because I am also in the JSA program. I believe that this has challenged me by pushing my abilities to maintain good standing and success in both academies. This has also aided me in being able to merge two very prominent passions of mine: art and globalization. I have been given the opportunity to take me experiences in both academies and merge their ideologies into a perspective of the world that I would not have previous to this. I believe my involvement in both academies has played an instrumental role in me as individual and my decision of capstone. This is what I hope to give to future JAGger of the program. I hope to set an example on how being involved in several areas and passionate about all said areas (in my case JAGS and JSA) is okay and will only provided you with more growth over your years in these programs. I will pass down the idea that mixing your capstone with your talents, passions, and strengths only serves to make the capstone more influential and meaningful since it is a truer reflection of yourself. I hope that the future JAGS students are able to look at my capstone and in turn, think outside of the box for theirs.