Cin Closet

My last STEAM course at GCE was called Entrepreneurship. In this class I learned how to create a business. I had one Action Project in this course, and throughout the course I had to figure out what business I wanted to create. I came up with a fashion app. The reasoning beyond it was to help people figure out what to wear. This class taught me so much about business and inspired me to start thinking about what I want to do with my life. I want to be my own buss so hopefully I can find my passion one day. What I struggled with was figuring out the numbers to make my company work. I over came that problem by talking to my teachers and class mates. Over all I enjoyed this class! 

                          

Mi Cuento

The last project in my Spanish class I had to create my own story, using the vocabulary that I learned throughout the year. Taking Spanish for a year really taught me a lot, I'm more confident speaking Spanish, and I know how to write in Spanish more. I enjoyed taking this class! And I can't wait to see how much more Spanish I learn in college. 

"El Cuento." SlideShare 2013. 

Hay una chica, se llama Ina. Ina es muy bonita y muy talentosa con maquillaje. Ella va a Sephora. En Sephora Ina ve a una amiga Sophia. Ina está feliz porque Sophia es muy talentosa con maquillaje también. Dos chicas compra maquillaje. Dos chicas camina la casa de Ina. Es muy caliente porque es verano. Sophia no está feliz, está enojado. Ina le dice a Sophia “¿quieres un sandía?” Sophia dice “¡Sí!” Sophia y Ina va a Tony’s, en Tony’s Sophia ve a un amigo Adam. Sophia le dice “¡Hola Adam!” Adam le dice “¡Hola Sophia!” Adam trabaja en Tony’s. Sophia le dice “¿Adam dónde está sandia?” Adam le dice “¡ahí¡” Sophia y Ina compra una sandía. El Fin.

Be Your Own Boss

The last unit in Endurance was called Apotheosis. In this unit we investigated the endurance of survivors. I learned so much about myself in this unit, I learned how mentally strong I am and how much I can physically, emotionally, and mentally endure. This class by far was my favorite this whole year because it thought me so many things. For the last Action Project the purpose was to create a survival manual to help me survive the accomplishment of my mission and dreams. Down below is my project I hope you enjoy.
    

Workout Madness

The second unit in Endurance was called Katabasis, in this unit I learned about different journeys of endurers. I learned about David Blaine and how is a magician, illusionst, and endurance artist. I used his plans as inspiration to frame my fitness strategy and take a first step into pursuing it. If Endurance follows the path of the hero, "Katabasis" represents the diving: the planning and the first "taste" of living the dream. I love working out and seeing how my body can change from eating healthy and being fit. The action project was a 12 hour video vlog that showed me throughout my journey. I chose to do a workout challenge. For one week I worked out for 12 hours. It was mentally and physically challenging, but I pushed my self to do it. My video shows me working and also talking about the experience. My body is so sore from working out the whole week and doing it for so many hours. I didn't show my whole journey just parts of it. I enjoyed this challenge it was fun and I hope you guys enjoy my video. 

                             

The Road That Never Ends.

Endurance is the third and last Humanities course of the Global Vision series, after the courses Equality and Journalism. The first unit is called Morpheus in this unit I learned about endurance and how there's different levels and strengths. The purpose of the first action project was to imagine what your life will look like after achieving your vision. What I struggled with was visioning how my life will turn out. How I overcame that was sparking up my imagination and thinking about what I want in my life. This project was fun because I love writing and making up stories. I love this course so far and I can’t wait to learn more. I hope you enjoy my project.

"Livingwellpcs." 2016. 

I grew up on the Northside of Chicago, my parents had me in their teens and did a damn good job. I was one years old when my sister Jiselle was born. Around that time my parents decided to move out of my grandparents house, and got their own apartment. My parents did struggle but they worked hard for us. My sister Jiselle and I were attached to the hip growing up, she’s my best friend. I was four years old when my second best friend Jaylyn was born. She was the cutest baby, and resembled me a lot, and to this day she is my twin. Growing up Jiselle, Jaylyn and me were the best troublemakers. When I was eight years old my baby brother Eric Jr was born. My parents finally got their baby boy! My sisters and I were so excited! He was so perfect to me and I still remember the first day I met him, he so was tiny. He was the missing piece to our puzzle. Growing up my parents taught me to never give up, they taught my siblings and I to be strong and independent. I’m so lucky to be blessed with such a loving, and caring family. I don’t know what I would do without them.

Fast forward to when I was fifth teen years old. I just transferred to a new Elementary school, I was super nervous and wanted that day to end so badly. But lucky for me I met amazing people, and will never forget them. I was always really competitive in school, I set my mind on a goal, and did my best to achieve that goal. I've been that way ever since I was little. I work hard to get what I want. Towards the end of eighth grade, I got a call from a High School called GCE. They told me if I came in for their orientation, and take a class I will be able to get a four year scholarship. I went to the school at first it was weird, but I liked it. I ended up getting that scholarship. The end of my Freshman year in high school, I got my first job. I loved it that job, I learned how to be independent and work hard. Three years later I got a new job at a retail clothing store, I worked at that job all through out college. GCE taught me how to go out into the world and get what I want. I’m truly grateful I was able to attend that school. I met people that I will talk to for a lifetime. I will never forget my GCE experience. If I didn’t go to that school I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Fast Forward to my life after college. I graduated from DePaul University, it was a HARD four years. I struggled but I made it through ups and downs. When I was a freshman in college, I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to major in. I would always go back and forth and  that showed me how indecisive I am. Being that way is definitely hard and challenging. It was a physical challenge because I felt like I was wasting my time, and a mental challenge because I didn't know what to do. I was the first Vargas to graduate from a University. After I graduated I got my first actual good paying at twenty four years old at Children's Memorial hospital as a Neonatal Nurse. Growing up and becoming a young adult, I always looked up to my mom. She is the strongest person I know. She went through so many struggles in her life and over came all of them. She showed me how to be strong and not let those struggles put me down. My mom did struggle going to a community college, and like me my mom didn't know what she wanted to do at first. When I'm down and need guidance I always go to my mom. I got married at twenty seven years old, and had my first child when I was thirty. I’m thirty four and expecting my second child. Looking back at my life I am very proud of myself so far, I’m truly grateful for how my life turned out. My life isn't over yet, I'm going to keep pushing myself. I can do better and achieve more of my goals I want to do everything possible. I'm going to teach my kids everything my parents taught me I can't wait to see what they become. 

Puerto Rico

For my Spanish class we were asked to pick a Spanish speaking country and do research on it. We had to come up with comparisons between the country we picked and where we live. Find out information about the culture, and come up with two questions. The country I picked was Puerto Rico, the reasoning for that is because I think Puerto Rico is a beautiful Island and I hope one day I will be able to visit it. I hope you enjoy my project. 

Peter Ferrara, 2016. 

Comparación:

El tiempo en Puerto Rico es mejor que Chicago. 

Vieques Puerto Rico es mas tropical, pero Chicago. 

Comida en Puerto Rico es muy diferente. Algunos hay arroz con gandules y lechón, Mofongo, Pasteles, Bacalao. Este tipo de comida es mi favorito. 

Puerto Rican Food. 2017. 

En Puerto Rico hay palmas y playas contra Chicago hay lagos y árboles. 

Casas en Puerto Rico son muy brillantes y alegres Chicago no. Las casas en Puerto Rico son influenciadas por etnicidad. El estilo de casa en Puerto Rico se llama Ponce Creole.

Ritz-Carlton San Juan Casino and Spa. 2014.

Cultura:

Cultura moderna puertorriqueña es una mixta parecida a antepasados incluyendo a Taíno, Europa, África y otros países Norteamericanos. 


Como la cultura es tan mezclada, hasta en el tiempo de hoy generaciones después la comida sigue aquí. Arroz y frijoles vinieron de Africa. Alguna comida Taino todavía se usan como yuca, chiles y maíz.



Dos preguntas:

Me gustaría saber; ¿Puerto Rico tiene festivales musicales como aquí en Chicago?

¿Cómo es el clima en el invierno en Puerto Rico?



Citations: 

"Boricua Kids." elboricua.com. N.P. N.D. Web March 31, 2017. 

"Puerto Rico, Discover a Magnificent and Unique Island." topuertorico.org.  Magaly Rivera. 2017. Web. April 6. 2017.

Never Grow Up

The second unit of the elective course Stage Chemistry is called Below & Above. In this unit, I learned about physics concepts of rate, work, force, speed, gravity, and mass. I have been to multiple plays at Goodman theater and other theaters around Chicago. I have seen how each set design is different, what worked with that set design and what didn’t work. This unit explored movement where, when, and how. Here is a link to my first Action Project so you can see my blueprints.  For the last Action Project, I had to build a 3D model of my stage. My model had to include all elements that will be used in my adaptation, including the moving parts. The most challenging part of this project was building my stage and figuring out my movements. How I overcame that problem was looking at examples from the previous class and talking with peers to get ideas. I am proud of how my stage came out and I hope you enjoy it.


The first photo down below is my stage with out any props, and the second photo is my stage with props.

Photo Taken by JV. Stage. 2017 

Photo Taken by JV. Stage with probs. 2017

Peter Pan will be flying. He will be attached to a moving deck. The back stage area is very dangerous for anyone who isn't trained to work with certain equipment. Below is a safety sign and some safety protocols. 

Protocols for Harness:

• Please do not pull on harness while in use.
• A crew member must be with you while putting it on.
• Make sure harness is on currently. 

Caution. JV. 2017

Protocols when entering the play:

• Please do not run walk.
• Watch out for other people.
• Do not rush to seats.

Please do not run. JV. 2017

To make sure Peter Pan is able to fly, it will take up to 20 pounds of force to move him on the deck. We need to move him one meter. The formula I used is W=(F)(D). I took 20 pounds multiplied that by 4.44822 and ended up with 88.9644 Newtons. I multiplied that number by 1 and got 88.9644 Joules.

Math by JV. 2017. 

Down below is a GIF of Peter Pan flying. To create my harness and deck, I used a LEGO piece, string, and cardboard. To make Peter Pan fly in real life, he will be wearing to a harness that will be attacked to a moving deck. He will have to be very careful while he is in the harness. The deck is above the stage area and will only work when Peter Pan is in the harness. Once he releases himself it will stop working.

Peter Pan Flying. JV, 2017. 

The GIF here I am showing my second movement, which is the door and window opening and closing. These are trapdoors on their sides. The door is the entrance to Wendy's room, actors will be coming in and out of the door durning the play. The window is the scene where Wendy leaves with Peter Pan to go to Neverland.

Moving Door. JV, 2017.