Jan 16th 2

The $200 project is continuing in a positive direction and we are excited about the presentation of our storefront work. I think that in the last week our group has been able to come together pretty effectively, and especially under Becky's  leadership we have been a bit reunited. Despite some shortness of Freshmen sales we are hopeful about breaking even and are looking for ways to do so. We have offered free candy with bracelets, and sent fliers to freshman advisories, both to no avail. Our next plan might be selling at Freshmen sports games, or trying to get the administration on board with advertising to Freshmen students. It's interesting because we all expected Freshmen to be the quickest to buy bracelets, and Seniors not to care nearly as much, but its been the opposite completely. I guess this goes to show that sometimes you can't anticipate how the market will play out, and you have to take a risk and try what you think is right. In hindsight I would have made all bracelets the same, without any "Class of" on them. This way we would have double the possible students and teachers and staff could also participate in purchasing the wristbands, but you learn as you wok and this is one of those lessons. Now all we can do is try our best to find creative ways to sell the remaining freshmen bands, and a few senior bands, in order to finish the project with a profit.


Also Mr. Fischer thank you for teaching me how to speak up in front of crowds eloquently in Freshman scholars, I am always grateful for all the skills you gave me and my fellow Scholars whenever I have to do a similar presentations and feel like I know how to be successful!!

Jan 16th 1

I have just finished the book Lean In by Sheryl Sandburg. Overall I think it was an excellent read, because it helped promote a national conversation about feminism, and because of its mainstream feel and constant name dropping of current day important people, the book was very successful in engaging people far and wide to think about or advocate for gender equality. I work for like than fifteen families as a baby-sitter, and I saw this book in almost every household, and found myself reading a few pages here and there. Now in class, I've have the opportunity to read the entire book and give myself a chance to really reflect on it. Sandburgs voice is very clear and present throughout the book, and in my opinion she isn't the most relatable or lovable character, I felt that she was a little bit cold and harsh, despite her eloquent points. Maybe this strong and decisive female voice will inspire other women to add some strength to their own tones in the future. Even though I am not a huge fan of he way Sandburg's personality shine though in this writing, I also realize that she likely had many people pushing her many different ways as this was a very commercial production, and in many ways her motto "Lean In" is exactly what she's doing by speaking very mater of factly through out her writing, and never act as though she doesn't know best, when in reality, its HER book and she should be able to know best. This is a bit abrasive, or annoying, but maybe I would be a bit more accepting of this behavior if it hadn't come from a women. Either way, I am happy to have read this book as it has challenged me to consider the ways I think about gender especially as a woman who has grown up with a fairly strong and independent attitude myself.

jan 9th 2

I am continuing to read Sheryl Sandbugs Lean In, and to quote an NPR article I read about the book is "not much of a manifesto but still a win of women." It's becoming a little bit difficult to take Sandburg seriously, apparently she was named the 5th most powerful woman by Forbes, and has billions of dollars, as well as two Harvard degrees. These things are all amazing and impressive, but they are also an indicator that Sandburg may not be totally in touch with the average woman's experiences with sexism. This might explain why she doesn't mention too many systemic factors of misogyny or oppression, in many ways she has the means to overcome these things. This raises an important question for me. I don't think that individual incidents of sexism or racism happen in a vacuum. Sandburg might be filthy rich but does that mean all her power gets her away from the sexism women face, especially in the corporate environment in which she works as the COO of Facebook. How do issues of sexism and patriarchy vary between social classes? At what point does financial privilege outweigh male privilege if ever? Does this explain Sandburgs' emphasis on personal decisions and responsibility, because she had so many options for every deception she's made? I am really more an more curious as to why Sandburg's personality shining through in the book is making me feel a little bit attacked (for lack of a better word). Her harsh judgement of women who have had extremely different options than she has seem slightly arrogant and the style of the book is a little bit too polished to the point where it seems a bit over produced. Either way, I appreciate the necessary questions brought up by the  dialogue and the way other feminists have spoken for and against the book is fascinating to consider.

jan 9th 1

In the past weeks we have enjoyed a vacation and are now back selling wristbands as part of the $200 project. So far sales are going alright and we will be trying to find new ways and places to sell them. We have found that people have been receptive to the wristbands, even though the market is pretty spread out with water bottles, calendars, and stickers all for BHS students. One challenge our group is facing is that we didn't originally plan to sell wristbands. It seemed like a reasonably easy project for the short time we had with so many things to work on with the storefront project. Even though we are hopefully going to be successful, it feels a little bit like maybe if we had had more time to think of an idea that we really were more passionate about we would be more motivated. I am still enjoying the project even though I might not have chosen it. Also, I am trying to get in touch with Sonciary from Promoboxx, this is because I am a bit worried that our selling wristbands at lunch will eventually get old for buyers. We don't have an extremely innovative idea, but they say that part of the success is really how you sell the product. I really am hoping that she will be able to help us with some great ideas for how to market our wristbands to BHS students and teachers, but especially freshmen as they are lagging behind in sales right now. Overall, I think my group is in a good place to move forward and be successful on the $200 project at this point