Capstone Project Proposal Draft

Name of student: Tristan-Rei Elum Date: Oct. 15, 2021

Teacher: Ms. Lacroix Block: Sem. 1 Day 1 & 2 (A)

The Capstone strand I have chosen is Occupation/Service-Orientated

Proposed title for my Project Proposal: (write the proposed title for your Capstone Project in one
clear sentence): Enlightening today’s youth to knowing that they are not alone and to stand
strong for their personal story.

What is your inquiry question that interests you for further research? It should be a question that
connects with a purpose, passion or personalized area of interest for you. This is a question that
you cannot just google an answer for. Please see examples from your Capstone booklet.
My inquiry question is:

To what extent does upbringing and social acceptance affect people’s mental health and
decision making?

Rationale/context: Detail your reasons for choosing this inquiry question. Explain WHY you are
choosing to investigate this topic as a major area of focus. How does this area of inquiry connect
to your passion(s), purpose? Why is it of personal interest to you?

I am choosing this topic because as someone that can relate to living through social rejection,
I can completely understand how difficult it can be to move forward in life with the fear of not
feeling belonged to any group. This is why I have such interest to see just how much of a toll
going through something as basic and catastrophic as this has on different individuals.

Background: What background knowledge/connections/prior learning do you have in this

area of inquiry?

I have already done extensive research in people’s cognitive behaviours and how they react
to things such as stress, anxiety, and social rejection, alongside the best coping mechanisms.
Being in IB Psychology, I also have some background on human behaviour and cognitive
processes and how they work.

Career connections: What is your intended career area at this point in time? What
connections does this inquiry question have to your life, academic and/ or career goals?

My intended career area is in the field of Behavioural Psychology. More specifically, therapy
or counselling psychology. Being somebody who felt so alone and in a dark place, I want to

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 give back to ensure those in need of mental help that they are not alone. They have someone
in their life that is willing to lend a hand and guide them through their darkest paths.

Interdisciplinary and core competencies connections: What subject areas and core
competencies will be connected with your project? Outline and explain the connections.

The number one subject area that is connected to my project is psychology as I am focusing
my research and analysis on how human behaviour is affected by personal and past negative
experiences and how much of an impact it has on an individual. One core competency that
connects with my project is that I can identify and appreciate different perspectives on issues
and use and evaluate strategies to resolve problems. I have been criticized for my actions and
behaviours in the past for things such as being too hyperactive, too loud, overly sensitive, and
inconsiderate. I am very aware of these problems and take criticism well and try to implement
positive changes to myself without losing my authenticity. I am not quick to judge, so I am very
open about hearing other people’s stories. One other core competency that relates to my
project is that I can reflect on the processes of learning and share what I have learned. I enjoy
telling my personal story to others to try and inspire people to do good for themselves and to
not do the same mistakes I did in my life. Things such as social rejection, work habits,
relationships, and life advice are things I particularly share with my peers. In doing so, I not
only get to share my past but I can reflect on my actions; the positives to continue, and the
bumps on the road and what I can do to smoothen and pave the path.

Personal Awareness & Responsibility:

Strengths:
1. I can express my needs and seek help when needed.
Since I struggle a lot in math, I tend to need quite a bit of assistance. I never hesitate to ask for
additional help and time when I need it. That way, I can feel more confident about the contents
and understand them better. I see asking for help, not as a weakness but meaning having more
room to grow.
2. I take responsibility for my choices and actions.
As a teenager, I enjoy using my free time to play video games, talk with friends online, and
surf the media. I am aware that doing so can take up a chunk of my time where I should be
studying and doing schoolwork. I am always conscious of the decisions I make, assuring I have
some sort of plan to stay on track with my schoolwork.
Areas of improvement:
1. I am learning to take care of myself.
I tend to put others first before myself. This is due to both my personality type and past
experiences. I know that I need to develop higher self-esteem and self-worth to keep my
mental state at a sane level. Being there for others is always great, but I need to learn how to
love myself before loving others.

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Social Responsibility:
Strengths:
1. I have positive peer and intergenerational relationships.
I know how to surround myself with the right people. Having good judgement and assuring
that those around me have good values and overall good decency. I have an amazing group of
friends that I constantly stay connected with who are all loving, caring, and open people in
which it is a safe environment for everyone including myself.
2. I can identify and appreciate different perspectives on issues and use and
evaluate strategies to resolve problems.
I have been criticized for my actions and behaviours in the past for things such as being too
hyperactive, too loud, overly sensitive, and inconsiderate. I am very aware of these problems
and take criticism well and try to implement positive changes to myself without losing my
authenticity
Areas of improvement:
1. I am aware of my community and environment and work independently and
collaboratively for the benefit of others.
In a collaborative setting, when I pitch my ideas and thoughts, I sometimes speak over other
people in a defensive matter especially if I am disagreeing with their point of the topic if it
directly hits me personally and when I am emotionally revved up. My rational mind does not
kick in negative topics which seem to attack me. I want to make sure that I try to think before
and speak and not act defensively so the conversation does not get heated.
Critical Thinking:
Strengths:
1. I can analyze and critique my work and my learning.
I would know when I have handed in a good piece of work because of the time and effort that I
put into the assignment. Back in grade 10, I had to write a 2500-word essay in pre-IB English. I
did not get the mark I expected and wanted. However, once I critiqued and analyzed my
mistakes, I did exceptionally better in the next essay which was 3000 words and a more
complex format. With a little bit of advice from my teacher and my self-assessment, I was able
to accomplish a greater feat.
2. I can assess my progress.
I know that I have improved when I start to feel more comfortable and confident with the
contents of the subject matter. Recently, I did a math test in which I did not feel so confident
and was very unsure on many of the questions. After doing the retest, I felt a lot better and felt
more confident and comfortable answering the questions with no fuss or hesitation. When I can
do that, it means I have made progress.
Areas of improvement:
1. I can ask good quality questions, gather relevant information, and come up with

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 well-developed conclusions.
Especially when doing research papers, I struggle to figure out the important bits I need to look
for because I am an overthinker, not knowing what to ask and what information is relevant.
Something I would like to improve on in the future especially going into post-secondary is
developing a better intuition on what is useful and relevant data in relation to the research since
this is an important skill to have after graduating high school.
Creative Thinking:
Strengths:
1. I can persevere, and understand that failure can be productive.
Recently, I had an essay in psychology in which I knew I was going to nail. However, when
the results came back for it I did quite poorly in one of the sections all because I read the
question too quickly and not thinking rationally. I have a strong ability to know where I went
wrong and can learn from that mistake, still persevering to want to do better.
2. I can take my ideas evaluate, develop, and refine them and make something
productive out of them.
Recently, I have been able to reflect on my summer experiences and write and express my
emotions through poetry as a pastime hobby for myself. I can share these thoughts and
emotions with the people around me so that they can develop a better understanding of who I
am as a person and be introduced to a little insight into my story.
Areas of improvement:
1. I can use the environment around me, including others and my unconscious
mind to generate new ideas.
In life, I have always struggled with the concept of “make something out of nothing.” In a
group setting, it is difficult for me to generate new ideas and pitch in relevant opinions on how
things should be done especially when it comes to projects. Thinking outside of the box is a
skill that I would like to continue trying to develop as that can benefit me later on in the
workforce.
Communication:
Strengths:
1. I can listen, learn to contribute meaningfully to discussion and debate, consider
different perspectives, and build consensus.
Being a very understanding and open-minded person, listening and discussing with people
about their views on things I have disagreements with is not a problem. I typically enjoy
having conversations with people about their views on controversial issues, values, and
political beliefs. Despite there being some heated debate and very strong opinions, at the end of
the day, I can always understand the other person’s perspective to something I do not agree
with.
2. I can reflect on the processes of learning and share what I have learned.

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I enjoy telling my personal story to others to try and inspire people to do good for themselves
and to not do the same mistakes I did in my life. Things such as social rejection, work habits,
relationships, and life advice are things I particularly share with my peers. In doing so, I not
only get to share my past but I can reflect on my actions; the positives to continue, and the
bumps on the road and what I can do to smoothen and pave the path.
Areas of improvement:
1. I can work with other students to plan, inquire, and solve problems.
In a collaborative setting, my critical thinking is not at the standard that I would like it to be. I
am usually quite slow when it comes to creating inquiry questions and researching relevant
data. Overall, it is important that I try to improve on my critical thinking skills and developing
confidence, even if I think an idea is not that great, I should pitch it in anyways.
Personal & Cultural Identity
Strengths:
1. I understand what is important to me.
I value 3 things that are important to me: friends and family, happiness, and time. Friends and
family are what keep me going. They are the bond and connections I have with people that
keep me motivated to do better for myself. It is crucial to find happiness and what makes you
happy. Hobbies of mine like gaming, going out, writing poetry, researching psychology, etc.
are all activities I love doing. Time is precious and you can never buy it back, I always
remember to use the time I have to do what I want to do but also remember to never take any
of life’s gifts for granted and to savour each and every moment of it.
2. I understand that culture is a broad concept that includes things like my
geographic region, nationality, sex/gender, age, ethnicity, sexuality, language,
and religion.
At school and within my friend groups, I am constantly interacting with people of different
backgrounds, sexual orientations, values, beliefs, and morals. Everybody is different in their
unique way and I am always aware of that fact and can embrace diversity, finding fascination
in multiple perspectives. Most importantly, no matter the person, who they are and what they
stand for, I treat everybody with the equal and utmost respect.
Areas of improvement:
1. I know my strengths and what makes me unique
I am very aware that my traits of my being extroverted, social able, and open are all positive
traits about me. However, because of my low self-esteem and self-worth, I sometimes see these
traits as negatives as I keep perceiving them as an annoyance to others. Thinking that these are
flaws that just push people away. I need to learn how to feel more confident with my traits and
embrace who I truly am as a person.

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Capstone Presentation medium: select one or more project mediums you wish to use to
present your project. Outline and give details about how you will present your project once
completed. You may use a combination of mediums.
o Electronic portfolio: Prezi or PPT
o Physical portfolio
o Website
o imovie presentation
o YouTube channel

My presentation medium will be in the form of either a podcast or a video. If I were to do a

podcast, it would be of me speaking 1 on 1 to different teens and youth about their personal
story and what they did to overcome the obstacle. Or, I could do a video of myself speaking
out to everybody telling my stories and having an open Q&A about my past, so I can give the
youth some faith and inspiration in their future lives.

Description of my Capstone project. Specific Project Details of the Capstone Project: what
will you research, create, study, produce, solve, investigate? What product will be produced
at the end of this project for evaluation. Write a one-page description outlining your
proposal.

I will be investigating to what extent does upbringing and social acceptance affect people’s
mental health and decision making? Researching on what are the main causes of stress and
anxiety on people whether it be because of school, social status, homelife, mental disabilities.

I want to see just how much of an effect all these different factors have on today’s youth and
what they have done in their lives because of these hardships. I want to have the opportunity
to see firsthand what it is like to work with other people and communicate with them every day
on a very deep and emotional level. Allowing myself to see and experience
working/volunteering in a program that which supports youth’s in need. My ultimate goal in this
project is to walk out of this program and feel like I changed somebody’s life whether it be in a
small or large way. I want to be as open and as vulnerable as possible to a group of people I
have never met before to show that you should be proud of yourself and stand strong for who
you are and how your experiences shaped you as a person. I want today's youth to
understand that they are not alone in this internal battle they constantly have to fight. I want
them to know that I can relate to each and every one of them in every way possible. My hope
is that by telling my story and inspiring other’s, today’s youth can continue the “legacy” and
spread share their stories to inspire the world around them. I want to connect people together
and assure everybody feels they have a place in this world since I can understand and relate
to feeling alone and lost.

I will want to produce either a video or a podcast of me telling my story: the hardships, the
pain, and how I overcame them. I will then allow the youth the comment and ask any
questions they have for me in the hopes I inspire and enlighten them. I am extremely
passionate when it comes to being there for others and helping those in need, so to have an
opportunity to do something like this is very exciting for me.

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 I will be job shadowing youth workers to develop an understanding of what they do and how
they support today’s youth through workshops and talks. I will be job shadowing at least once
a week, more often if my schedule allows me to visit Langley Youth Unlimited more often. Not
only will I be job shadowing but also interacting and communicating with those in the program.
Connecting, listening, participating in activities, and hearing the youth’s stories are the main
focuses of my time at the program. Overall, just involving myself with the program as well as
hopefully having the opportunity to share and express my story to enlighten, inspire, and
motivate today’s youth to help them become better people.

Resources/ Technology/Skills: Make an assessment of the resources, technology and

skills you will need to be able to complete this project. What is your plan to be able to
access/learn all of the resources necessary to achieve completion of this project? Detail
your plans.

In terms of resources, I will need something to film myself in front of a crowd. So either a
camera or phone camera will do the trick which is easy for me to gather since I own a phone. I
can also use my phone to record down any important information I learn during my time of job
shadowing. The acquired skills that I will need for this project is good time management skills,
making sure I stay on task with doing what is required. As well as strong social communication
skills which I know are very good after doing several activities in class which required to use
communication.

Mentors/Community Connections: What types of mentor(s)/community connections will

you need to help you complete your capstone project? How will your mentor(s) help you?
What is your plan to access the mentorship/community connections necessary for this
project?

I would need a youth worker as a mentor to help me complete my capstone project. They can
help me by allowing me to be a part of a safe environment where I can share my personal
stories in order to enlighten other youth to continue to do the same. I will need to make a
phone call to a company/group called “Youth Unlimited” to see what kind of opportunity I have
to make this project a success.

Project limitations: What are some project limitations and potential obstacles that you foresee
that might affect progress with your Capstone Project?

A potential obstacle that I could come across is not being able to share and include other
people’s voices and idea’s heard in my video/podcast for the sake of confidentiality and
privacy.

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Other considerations: List and detail any other related information/ considerations about
your project that you feel should be included in your project proposal.

I have to ensure everything that I want to do and put forward is properly ethical and does not
breach other people’s privacy and personal information. In short, ensuring the environment
around me is absolutely comfortable with my plans.

References: Provide a literature review of 5-10 PEER REVIEWED ACADEMIC references:

research, videos, etc. that offer some preliminary research you have done for your project
that shows you are able to access the key information that you will need to be able to
complete this project/work. Your list should be written using correct APA formatting.

Schoenfeld, N. A., & Mathur, S. R. (2009). Effects of cognitive-behavioral intervention on the

school performance of students with emotional or behavioral disorders and anxiety.
Behavioral Disorders, 34(4), 184–195.

Bonanno, R. A., & Hymel, S. (2010). Beyond hurt feelings: Investigating why some victims of
bullying are at greater risk for suicidal ideation. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 56(3), 420–440.

Batcho, K. I. (2013). Nostalgia: Retreat or support in difficult times? The American Journal of
Psychology, 126(3), 355–367.

Gustems-Carnicer, J., & Calderón, C. (2013). Coping strategies and psychological well-being
among teacher education students: Coping and well-being in students. European
Journal of Psychology of Education, 28(4), 1127–1140.

Gyurak, A., & Ayduk, Ö. (2007). Defensive Physiological Reactions to Rejection: The Effect of
Self-Esteem and Attentional Control on Startle Responses. Psychological Science,
18(10), 886–892.

DeWall, C. N., & Bushman, B. J. (2011). Social Acceptance and Rejection: The Sweet and the
Bitter. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 20(4), 256–260.

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