Ashley Leon - Post 2

Ashley Leon - Post 2

Of the presentations we've done so far, I'd have to say this one was my favorite. Throughout middle and high school, I've always had an affinity for History. Hearing about World history, women's history, American government, and many more in school has always been so interesting to me. These subjects covered topics such as slavery, World Wars I and II, industrialization, the Great Depression, and civil rights. Not only did this assignment bring the dopamine of working together as a team to help structure the presentation, but it also brought my love for history as a whole into play. 

In the presentation, I had the pleasure of presenting Edward Snowden. I'd argue he's one of the most controversial changemakers of the 2000s. His actions heavily influenced the democracy we knew. His actions forced the government and America to look at what he had uncovered about privacy and the extent to which it was shared. He revealed multiple intrusions into our system. 

I explored how much transparency had changed the world altogether. Contrary to what you may think, Snowden bringing all that he did into the light did not just affect America. Throughout my presentation, I made it clear that the world was divided over whether he was a hero or a traitor. Many across the world had an opinion, including world leaders, governments, and many countries. I highlighted how he had to seek asylum from neighboring countries, but many didn’t want to partner with him now that his image was tainted. He now resides in Russia, but even that took years to finalize.  

Picking the changemaker I did really forced me to look into ethics and what that looks like in decision-making. Many praise him because, even though the consequences of what he shared can be scary. People felt they were finally in the loop about things the government can very much hide from the public if it really wants to. Snowden’s whistleblowing in this case was highly controversial, and it is unclear whether it was ethical or illegal. Citizens believed the surveillance practices that were in place violated privacy rights. On the other hand, he is a traitor and spy who broke countless laws by revealing classified information from his own government. 

Diving into the countless arguments for and against encouraged me to form my own ideas about how important ethics is. It helps create a guideline when dealing with sensitive topics such as security concerns, politics, and civil liberties when they are at play. Which is ironic, because when you deep-dive into ethics, you quickly see it is not a cheat sheet for what is right or wrong, but rather a tool to help you reach the best conclusion all on your own. You can do this by conducting your own research, selecting the strongest arguments and facts, and ultimately choosing the best viewpoint. 

This did not just occur with Snowden; just because he was a controversial pick, everyone in my group had to approach the project differently. Each of us chose different changemakers based on what we found influential or interesting, thereby creating a wide range of topics. 

Some of my partners spoke about individuals who impacted democracy in a more positive, palatable way. These changemakers’ actions spanned leadership, advocacy, public service, innovation, and social change. Others explored more complex figures whose actions sparked debate and controversy. My group included figures like Steve Jobs, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Edward Snowden, and George W. Bush. I really thought this project would be more biographical and research-based, especially since our chosen topics are so different.

Focusing on topics ranging from politics, healthcare, digital privacy, and innovations. These topics have nothing in common with each other, in my opinion, which led me to focus on ensuring we all did our research and that our slides were cohesive. However, as I listened to each of my classmates presenting, I began to realize there was a connection between our topics. After all. No matter how they went about it, our change makers all shaped democracy and influenced society today. The differences that felt so big at first ended up complementing each other in the end. Giving new meaning to what a changemaker really is. It can be anyone, no matter what your craft or talents are; your actions have the power to change the world. Making this presentation insightful to how any of us viewed the concept of change and impact before.

Working on this project improved my presentation skills and how to communicate the information I researched in a much more influential way. The topic was controversial and was all over the media; it was important for me to ensure that everything I included added to the overall effectiveness of my slides and was credible. I sharpened my skills in comparison and contrast by considering different viewpoints and ensuring they still sounded cohesive and balanced. In addition, I had to ensure my information and execution followed a tone of voice that would be easy for my audience to understand. Especially since I’m presenting someone, most people in the class know nothing about.

One of my favorite changemakers was the one my classmates chose. For example, when Steve Jobs was discussed, it was not just about him as a businessman or innovator, but about how his work influences our daily lives through the technology we constantly use. This resonated with me, especially in today’s age, when technology is all the rage; we don’t all get the opportunity to be an influential figure in politics, like a president. However, everything nowadays is about technology, businesses, and innovation. It made the intimidating reputation of what a changemaker is more attainable and modern.

For me, group work is always about getting the assignment done, ensuring efficient communication within the group, and making sure we’re all on the same page so we complete what is expected correctly. However, this experience felt different because it showed me the importance of learning from the people around me and the examples before us. The reason I really enjoyed this presentation on a deeper level is that it taught me to live in the moment. I’ve always enjoyed group projects because they allow you to connect with people while doing assignments that you’re going to have to do anyway. I’ve never experienced a class where the majority of assignments are group-oriented. It has been such a huge pleasure, and even led me to share a couple of words of appreciation for Ariana when I had to present her life to the class in our next presentation. We, as a group, had the opportunity to connect more deeply and learn more about each other. 

Although we are virtual, I’ve left feeling more connected to them than to most of my in-person classmates. I’ve learned that we’re all in this together and actually share many of the same goals. I never thought I would find myself rooting for others to the degree I have, while hearing them present. They were supposed to be strangers, yet now they are very real people to me, who are learning the same lessons this class and these presentations have to offer. Learning does not just come from textbooks or teachings, but from shared experiences and being open to others in the world. This reality check made the project meaningful because it wasn't about completing an assignment anymore, but about learning through others' perspectives.