Capstone Project Proposal Draft

Name of student: Paige Litowsky Date: 10\15\21

Teacher: Mrs. Lacroix Block: A

The Capstone strand I have chosen is a project strand.

Proposed title for my Project Proposal: (write the proposed title for your Capstone Project in one
clear sentence): The effects a passion has on your health.

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:

How can immersing yourself back into your passion effect your everyday mental and physical
health?

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 chose this topic as my main focus because when i quit dance, which is my passion, i have
struggled ever since to maintain consistent mental and physical health. I want to see how
much my mood will change when i start to push my body like that again. This is a personal
interest because i have pushed aside wanting to dance again for so long but this will force me
to get started and accomplish it.

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

area of inquiry?

I know how dance used to make me feel. I know when i was having a horrible day I could
dance I would feel better. And i know that exercise and doing something that you love uplifts
your mood and helps your body run better.

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?

Right now my intended career area is somewhere in arts and English. This connects to my
capstone idea because dance is an art and understand the connection to the brain and the

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 body and being able to write it out into words connects with the English\writing part.

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

- English: writing my mood charts\describing the change

- Psychology: how exercising affects mental health and how being passionate about
something affects mental health.
- Art: dance is a fine arts form and i will be making a dance.

Personal Awareness and Responsibility

Strengths:
I am learning to take care of myself.
Last year's school year was tough for everyone. It was hard to stay motivated and feel like
your work meant something. Last year was when I really had to learn how to take care of
myself in and out of school. I had schedules and a planner, so I could balance my personal and
academic life. I made sure to carve out time for self-care and I also took charge of my
learning. All this made me a more productive person and student.
I am personally responsible, self-motivated, and can advocate for myself.
This one ties in a lot with the first one. I have picked up studying tools over the past two years
that make my learning easier and more efficient. In my social justice and comparative cultures
class, I always make sure to share my perspective on the topics we have in our class
discussions as well as stick up for what I believe is right in these talks. If I start to slack or
know I can do better on something, I take it into my own hands to get the help I need and
better understand the things I am learning.
Weaknesses:
I can express my needs and seek help when needed.
Although over my high school years I have gotten better at asking for help, it is still something
I struggle with. I try to convince myself that everything I don’t understand\what I am doing
wrong can be solved by just me. I am learning that this isn't always the case and there is
nothing wrong with asking for help.
Social Responsibility:
Strengths:
I can identify and appreciate different perspectives on issues and use and evaluate strategies
to resolve problems.

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In all the classes I took this semester, it is crucial you listen to other people. In social justice,
there is a range of political opinions within the class. Although I feel strongly about my
opinions, it’s important that I listen to other perspectives, so we can come to some sort of
agreement. Learning these skills has come in handy in all my classes and overall make
discussions go by smoother.
I value diversity, defend human rights, advocate for others and act ethically in all my
interactions, including online.
I constantly keep myself updated and educated on world issues and human rights issues. It is
one of my main priorities to understand more about the world and be an ally and advocate
every day. It is also very important to me that I share information with my peers about these
world issues. I share many posts about what myself and others can do in order to be better
for people and the environment.
Weaknesses:
I have positive peer and intergenerational relationships.
I do have positive relationships with a few of my peers, but I could work to reach out to more
people in my school as well as teachers and other staff. Building these relationships is
important to my education because I will have more people to connect with within the
school.
Critical Thinking:
Strengths:
I can analyze and critique my work and learning.
Writing is a big passion of mine. What comes with writing so often is being able to critique
your work efficiently. Since I have been writing since I was a little kid, I learned this skill early. I
can figure out what parts don’t fit in, proper paragraph sizes and how to break up my ideas
within my writing. When teachers give me feedback on my work, I can easily apply their
critiques into my work.
I can assess my progress.
From grade 9 to grade 12, my work ethic and grades have completely changed. I have
reflected on what changed, what habits I picked up, what environments I put myself in and
applied all the good things to my learning now. I have learned time management, scheduling,
study options and became friends with good influences so I could better myself and make real
progress with my grades.
Weaknesses:
I can analyze and make defensible judgements, draw conclusions and consider a variety of
perspectives.
Sometimes when I think of one way to do something it is hard for me to look outside of it and
see other solutions and perspectives. Once I like an idea, I can find it difficult to see the flaws

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in it. But I am working on being able to consider perspectives and solutions to the flaws within
ideas I have.
Creative Thinking
Strengths:
I can create new and unique ideas that may provide new perspectives that influence how
people think about topics.
In my comparative cultures class, I am constantly given opportunities to creatively show what
I have learned. I made a media art poster about Vietnamese culture, and I was able to express
many of the customs, traditions, art and literature of Vietnam. In drama class, I can create
skits and plays where I can talk about important issues that can be talked about. Acting is a
great medium for talking about things that are important to me.
I can persevere and understand that failure can be productive.
Although drama is great for creative expression, it is also very time consuming and difficult at
times. A lot of my ideas have flopped or been way harder than I expected. But understanding
that your failures can turn into really great things and become beautiful when you keep
working at it has been a great skill to learn.
Weaknesses:
I can take my ideas evaluate, develop, and refine them and make something productive out of
them.
I have lots of ideas for what I want to do, things I want to do etc. But I struggle with getting a
lot of them off the ground. If I made a list and really started to put effort into each idea, then I
could be satisfied with my progress.
Communication
Strengths:
I can reflect on the processes of learning and share what I have learned.
I have taken time to learn the ways I learn best. I love finding creative ways to express my
learning and the content I've absorbed. My reflections on assignments are usually insightful
and show that I understand what I've learned.
I can listen, learn to contribute meaningfully to discussion and debate, consider different
perspectives and build consensus.
There are constant discussions in social justice. I can put in profound points about our topics
as well as listen to other people's ideas. When there is a disagreement within the discussion, I
always try my best to understand where the opposing opinion is coming from. My classmates
and I are always able to come to some sort of agreement and understand each other a little
better.
Weaknesses:

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 I can work with other students to plan, inquire, and solve problems.
Group work has always been more difficult for me than independent work. I need to work on
collaborating with my peers and enjoying doing group work more often.
Personal & Cultural Identity
Strengths:
I understand what is important to me.
I am good at keeping my priorities straight. My family, friends and personal hobbies are very
important to me. Self-care and prioritizing my mental health are very important to me.
Choosing who I spend my time with and what I spend my time doing is one of the many ways I
keep myself happy and productive.
I understand how what I value has and will shape my choices.
In the beginning of high school, I had very different values than I do now. These values were
surface level. I just wanted to fit in and get by. Therefore, I was slacking in school, my health
was terrible, my mental health was awful, and I had the worst friends. Now that my values
involve valuing myself and the ones I love, I can form great relationships with people, work
hard in school and love my life so much more.
Weaknesses:
I can define myself in terms of my relationships with others and with the world.
I am still trying to figure out how to define myself in the world. It is confusing to figure out
exactly who I am to people and my place in the world but I believe that will come as I get
older and create my purpose a little more.

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

- Imovie: edit dance video there and present it

- Physical portfolio: hold all my mood charts, stretch plans and outlines
for dance

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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.

In this capstone I am looking into how being passionate about something can affect your
mental and physical health. It also has an element on how exercise improves health in
general. This is going to involve logging my moods daily on a chart, doing a daily stretch plan
and doing my old ballet exercises, and finally creating a dance for me and my old dance friend
to learn and perform on camera. I have researched the deuteriation of ex dancers mental
health and what causes it, how exercise helps mental health and the most affective stretches
that help you get flexible fast without hurting your body. I created a stretch plan and guide to
strengthening the most important parts of your body for dance. I have also created a mood
chart that I can fill out daily to track my emotions. I will create a dance that I can teach myself
to showcase my improved skills. Eventually, when I know the dance well and have taught a
friend, i will ask Melody (filming) to come to the studio with me and the friend so she can
record us doing the dance. I am hoping to solve the rut I have been in for the past few years. I
want to gain back my dance skills and start dancing all the time again. I want to improve my
body's health by giving it exercise. The end goal for the finished product is to hopefully inspire
someone to go back to what they love. It's hard to not let mental illness run your life but
connecting to pieces of your life that once brought you an extreme amount of joy can help you
take charge of your life and health. It is actually very common for dancers to become very
depressed after quitting dance because dance is such an adrenaline rush and takes up a lot
of your time. But I want to remind other athletes that you can find the pieces of your sport that
you love and reconnect with that.

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.

I will need a laptop to edit, a camera to record, and core strength and flexibility to complete
this project. I have my laptop and my friend Melody has a camera and has agreed to help me
record. As for core strength and flexibility, my stretch and strength plans will help me achieve
this.

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

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project?

I will need a friend to learn the dance with me as well as I need to find a local studio that i
could rent so i can practice and record my dance in a proper space. I can contact studios
around my area and start by asking if they allow people to rent space. I can also reach out to
girls I used to dance with and see if they would be willing to learn it with me.

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

I can see a potential obstacle as not getting as far in my dance skills as I want. But that means
I just have to adapt the dance to fit my ability. Another obstacle i can see is other things in my
life having more control on how bad or good my mental health is and therefore i lose
motivation. I just have to remember that this affects so many aspects of my health and when I
dance I feel so much better.

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

I'm going to be learning other dances besides the main one but I'm only performing the one
I'm teaching my friend because the others will be practice.

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.

World Health Organization. (2019). How to

promote mental health and prevent mental
health conditions. In mhGAP Community
Toolkit: Mental Health Gap Action
Programme (mhGAP) (pp. 38–62). World
Health Organization.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep27898.12

Herbert, R. D., & Gabriel, M. (2002). Effects Of

Stretching Before And After Exercising On
Muscle Soreness And Risk Of Injury: Systematic
Review. BMJ: British Medical Journal,
325(7362), 468–470.

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http://www.jstor.org/stable/25452208

Paterson, D. H., Jones, G. R., & Rice, C. L.

(2007). Ageing and physical activity: evidence to
develop exercise recommendations for older
adults. Canadian Journal of Public Health /
Revue Canadienne de Sante’e Publique, 98,
S69–S108. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41994847

KOLB, A., & KALOGEROPOULOU, S. (2012). In

Defence of Ballet: Women, Agency and the
Philosophy of Pleasure. Dance Research: The
Journal of the Society for Dance Research,
30(2), 107–125.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/23326529

Bonbright, J. M. (1989). The Nutritional Status of

Female Ballet Dancers 15-18 Years of Age.
Dance Research Journal, 21(2), 9–14.
https://doi.org/10.2307/1478626

Koutedakis, Y., Pacy, P., Sharp, N. C. C., &

Dick, F. (1996). Is Fitness Necessary for
Dancers? Dance Research: The Journal of the
Society for Dance Research, 14(2), 105–118.
https://doi.org/10.2307/1291004

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 References

Bonbright, J. M. (1989). The Nutritional Status of Female Ballet Dancers 15-18 Years of Age.

Dance Research Journal, 21(2), 9–14.

Herbert, R. D., & Gabriel, M. (2002). Effects Of Stretching Before And After Exercising On

Muscle Soreness And Risk Of Injury: Systematic Review. BMJ: British Medical Journal,

325(7362), 468–470.

KOLB, A., & KALOGEROPOULOU, S. (2012). In Defence of Ballet: Women, Agency and the

Philosophy of Pleasure. Dance Research: The Journal of the Society for Dance

Research, 30(2), 107–125.

Koutedakis, Y., Pacy, P., Sharp, N. C. C., & Dick, F. (1996). Is Fitness Necessary for Dancers?

Dance Research: The Journal of the Society for Dance Research, 14(2), 105–118.

Paterson, D. H., Jones, G. R., & Rice, C. L. (2007). Ageing and physical activity: evidence to

develop exercise recommendations for older adults. Canadian Journal of Public Health /

Revue Canadienne de Sante’e Publique, 98, S69–S108.