Blog Post #2 - Akire Greene

One of the most fascinating aspects of the course for me was watching the changemakers' presentations. I was excited about listening to my classmates' presentations on various topics because everyone had their own way of looking at the subject matter and related it to the broader theme of individual contributions to making changes in society. We saw how various individuals contributed to shaping America through presentations that ranged from America's formation right up to the digital era.

What I liked about the presentations is that they were very well organized. The first presentation provided information on the beginnings of American history and included significant individuals who contributed to the formation of the country. It was interesting for me to learn more about such personalities as Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass and their contribution to American history. Abraham Lincoln's contribution is associated with the fight against slavery and saving the country from destruction. He managed to become a true leader at a time when American society experienced many difficulties related to the issues of freedom and equality of people. For my part, I found the story of Frederick Douglass quite interesting. He used his personal experience as an inspiration for fighting inequality and helping people gain better access to education. Overall, the presentations have taught me that democracy does not just arise by itself.

Another interesting thing that was included in the presentations was the mention of civil rights activists. When I heard about Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and James Baldwin, I realized that some social changes require bravery. Rosa Parks made an example of resistance since she was ready not to accept unfairness from others. The readiness of Martin Luther King Jr. to engage in peaceful protests revealed how powerful the peaceful form of struggle could be. Speaking about the topics related to racism and inequality, James Baldwin highlighted the need to be brave enough to use your voice for the promotion of some ideas.

I also had a good time reading up on changemakers related to science, technology, and innovation. There was one presentation where they talked about Neil Armstrong and his role in the Apollo program. This helped me to understand that humans have big dreams when it comes to exploring things. Landing on the moon was a landmark moment not just for America but for humanity in general. It showed us what could be done when everyone joined hands towards a particular objective. I found it fascinating whenever the presentation threw light on Armstrong's experience as an astronaut.

Presentations on contemporary changemakers were as interesting as those on historical figures. I was privileged to learn about Dr. Anthony Fauci and his involvement in public health. While opinions may vary about certain measures undertaken, there is no doubt that individuals involved in public health play a significant role during national disasters. Another topic of great interest to me was the presentation on Jennifer Doudna, especially as it allowed me to get acquainted with CRISPR technology. Prior to this, while aware of the term CRISPR, I was oblivious of how revolutionary a discovery it is.

Another change agent from contemporary times whose initiatives attracted my attention was Tom Szaky, an entrepreneur behind TerraCycle. The recycling of materials which are typically thought to be unrecyclable proved that innovation may solve environmental problems. Environmental sustainability is gaining more significance each day, and it was fascinating to witness how entrepreneurship may help solve global problems. The presentation revealed that change agents are not always politicians or environmental activists. Sometimes, entrepreneurs find innovative ways of solving daily life problems.

Besides the actual content of the presentation, I have also appreciated the amount of effort that has been invested by my classmates into making such presentations. The use of various visual aids, charts, and examples made it possible to understand even complicated ideas. A lot of research and hard work had gone into making each of the presentations. Making public speeches is not easy at all, especially before one's classmates. Hence, I greatly appreciated everyone's courage in taking part in such an exercise.

What I have learned from these presentations is that those who change the world are from diverse backgrounds and professions. For instance, some were civil right activists; others were scientists; others revolutionized technology; still, others improved public health or made contributions towards environmental sustainability. Regardless of the profession they were in, they had one thing in common: they realized there was an issue and worked to effect change. This is important to students because it indicates that leaders do not necessarily have to be famous individuals.

Generally speaking, the presentations of the changemakers were enjoyable and informative. They expanded our knowledge of American history but also focused on people who still inspire us today due to the impact of their contributions to society. Above all, the most important thing about these presentations was that they proved that change can be made in this world when one takes action. I would like to thank my fellow students for their efforts in making this presentation.