How Our Changemakers Project Changed the Way I See Democracy

Dayana Diaz 

Post#2 

When I first heard that our class project was going to be about Changemakers and democracy, I honestly thought it was going to be just another history-based presentation where we repeat facts, list accomplishments, and move on. But after working on this project and listening to the different presentations, I ended up seeing it in a very different way. It made me realize that democracy is not only about elections, laws, or government branches. It is also about influence, ideas, public responsibility, and the way one person’s actions can affect millions of people over time.

What I liked most about this project was that it was not limited to one type of leader. Usually when people think about change in American democracy, they only think about presidents, lawmakers, or people directly involved in politics. But in our presentations, we looked at people from different backgrounds who still had a major impact on the country. In our group, for example, the presentations included Steve Jobs, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Edward Snowden, and George W. Bush. Even though they are all very different from each other, they each changed the way Americans live, think, communicate, or respond to national issues. That is what made the project more interesting to me. It showed that democracy is shaped not only by politicians, but also by innovators, scientists, whistleblowers, and leaders during crisis. 

One thing I really enjoyed was seeing how each speaker connected their Changemaker to real-life impact. For example, Steve Jobs was presented not just as the creator of famous technology, but as someone whose innovations changed communication and access to information. The slides about the iPhone made it clear that technology does not only affect convenience or business. It also affects democracy, because it changes how people receive news, participate in discussions, join movements, and stay informed about what is happening in the world. That part stood out to me because it reminded me that something as common as a phone can have a deeper impact on society than we usually think. It is easy to forget how much technology shapes civic life today. 

I also found the presentation about Dr. Anthony Fauci very meaningful because it connected science, leadership, and public trust. During the pandemic, people everywhere were affected by health decisions, public information, and government responses. What I found interesting was that Dr. Fauci was not described as someone who made laws directly, but as someone whose knowledge influenced national decisions. That made me think about how democracy also depends on experts, advisors, and public servants who help guide the country during difficult moments. His role showed that leadership is not always about political power. Sometimes leadership comes from credibility, knowledge, and the ability to guide people during uncertainty. That presentation felt especially real because COVID-19 is something my generation actually lived through, so it did not feel distant or purely historical. 

The presentation on Edward Snowden was probably one of the most thought-provoking to me because it raised complicated questions. It was not as simple as saying he was completely right or completely wrong. Instead, it opened a conversation about privacy, government power, surveillance, and national security. I liked that because democracy is not always neat or comfortable. Sometimes the biggest questions come from controversy. Snowden’s case showed that democratic societies need to constantly think about the balance between safety and freedom. That presentation made me reflect on how much personal information exists online today and how little most people understand about data privacy. It also made me realize that modern democracy includes digital rights, which is something that feels very relevant now. 

George W. Bush’s presentation stood out in a different way because it focused on leadership during a national crisis. The discussion about 9/11, national security, the Patriot Act, and the changes that followed showed how one presidency can influence laws, foreign policy, education, and the everyday lives of Americans. Even though people may have different opinions about Bush and his decisions, I think that was part of what made the presentation important. A Changemaker does not have to be universally admired to have major influence. Sometimes a person changes democracy by making decisions that continue to affect debates years later. In this case, it showed how fear, security, and leadership can reshape a country very quickly. 

What I appreciated most overall was that the project did not only ask us to explain what these people did. It also asked us to think about the impact of their actions on policies, laws, the economy, and American life. That made the assignment feel deeper than a normal class presentation. We were not just memorizing names and dates. We were analyzing consequences. We had to ask: what changed because of this person, and how do those changes still affect us now? I think that is a much more meaningful way to learn.

Another part I liked was the section about suggestions for local, state, national, and international governments. That part made the project feel more active and less passive. Instead of only looking backward, we also had to think forward. For me, that is one of the best parts of studying democracy. It should not only teach us what happened before. It should also push us to think about what should happen next. Across the presentations, there were ideas about education, digital privacy, innovation, public health, security, and civic responsibility. All of those are still relevant today. It made me feel like the project was connected to current life, not just history class material. 

I also thought it was good that the project connected these ideas to Miami Dade College and the iCED department. That made it more personal for us as students. It asked us to think about how a college can help students understand democracy in real life. I think that is important because students learn better when they can connect class topics to their own community. The slides mentioned ideas like civic engagement, STEM education, public health learning, and discussions about accountability and democracy. I think those are all strong starting points. Personally, I believe colleges should keep creating more spaces where students can discuss real issues, hear from guest speakers, and connect classroom learning to the world around them. 

If I am being honest, I enjoyed some presentations more than others, but that is normal. The ones I liked most were the ones that felt clear, organized, and genuine. I paid more attention when the speaker explained the real meaning behind the person’s influence instead of only reading facts from the slides. That made a big difference. Since the topic was about Changemakers, I think the presentation itself should also feel alive and thoughtful. The strongest moments were the ones that made me stop and actually think.

In the end, this project helped me understand democracy in a more realistic way. It is not something built by only one generation or one type of leader. It is shaped over time by people with different roles, different strengths, and different kinds of influence. Some build systems. Some challenge them. Some protect the public. Some raise difficult questions. But all of them leave a mark.

Overall, I can say that I did enjoy these presentations because they made me think more deeply than I expected. They reminded me that democracy is always changing and that individuals really can shape the direction of a country. More than anything, this project showed me that change does not only belong to the past. It is something that continues, and maybe even students like us are part of that process too.