Jhulianna Marin Blog #2-

 What I Learned from the presentations. 

For these presentations we explore the topics of education, mental health, fun and social life, family influence, and future careers. Each presentation informed us about how these topics are related to us and also how they have an effect on us. I will be reflecting on the three presentations and what I learned, how they connect, and why they matter right now. 

Group 1- The economics of education 

This group’s presentation focused on how education is deeply connected to economic opportunity. They really broke down how education is so much more than just getting good grades or finishing school. It actually plays a huge role in how strong a country’s economy is. One of the biggest things that stuck with me was how education directly impacts job opportunities and income. Like, someone with a bachelor’s degree can earn almost double what a high school grad makes. 

They also showed how not everyone has the same access to education. Some schoolers get less funding, so a lot of students don’t have the same chances to take advanced classes or even get reliable internet at home. It made me think about how unfair the system can be, and how your zip code or background can shape your whole future. 

Another major point was the amount of debt some people have because of students loans. Over $1.7 trillion in debt is a huge deal, and it’s scary to think about how many students are dealing with it. In my opinion the group did a really good job showing why investing in education is isn’t just helpful but also necessary. 

Group 2(My group)- Mental health, and fun and social life 

I’m proud of what we shared in out presentation. We focused on how mental health and social life are completely connected, and how both have changed a lot especially since the pandemic. People are more aware now, which is great but there’s still a lot that needs to improve. 

We talked about how mental health services have grown, like the 988 hotline and how MDC offers free counseling and virtual support. But there’s still big problems, like lack of mental health professionals, the stigma arroyen getting help, and how some groups are still left behind.

Then we moved into how social life has changed less face to face fun, to a more digital interactions. Some people feel more isolated now, even when they’re constantly online. We also talked about the pressure to “look happy” on social media, even when you’re in your lowest. And I think is something that a lot of us can relate to. 

For my prat I talked about some suggestions that i had for local, state, and the national governments. I think the main suggestion for all three would be funding more the mental health facilities and not overlook people with these type of issues. Also I think that that by making MDC more engaging would help some students feel more welcome and comfortable with other people. 

Group 3- Family & Potential careers     

This group talked about how sometimes careers are sometimes passed down, not just through advice but through pressure. This group message made me question are we following our dreams, or just doing what our families expect? Like, if your dad is a doctor, are you becoming one because you want to… or because it’s expected?

They also brought up the idea of “breaking generational cycles” and how choosing your own path isn’t being rebellious, it’s being brave. I liked how they made space for both sides. It’s not wrong to follow in your family’s footsteps if that’s your dream but it’s also okay to choose something totally different. 

Another part that stood out was how gender roles and class influence our career paths. Like, girls being pushed into caregiving jobs, or kids from low-income backgrounds avoiding certain careers because they seem “unrealistic.” They even talked about an aspiring F1 engineer who was told “that’s for guys”—but she kept going. 

The group’s message about the “myth of the self-made professional” really stayed with me. No one gets where they are completely alone. Behind every success, there’s family, mentors, teachers, or just someone who believed in you. That’s something we should remember more often.

How is everything connected? 

At first, it felt like each presentation was about totally different things. But honestly, they all connected. They all asked the same kind of questions: What shapes who we are? What holds us back? What helps us move forward?

Education gives us tools, but access to it depends on our background. Mental health and social life are tied to how supported and connected we feel. Family and careers show how expectations and traditions can either lift us up or hold us down. Together, the three topics show that our lives are influenced by so many outside forces, some helpful, some limiting. But once we recognize them, we can start changing the story.

Final thoughts

These presentations weren’t just classwork, they were personal. I learned a lot, not just about systems and facts, but about people. About myself. About my classmates. It reminded me that everyone is carrying something pressures from family, stress about money, mental health challenges, or just trying to find where they belong.

I feel like we are more aware and more human. And more ready to speak up for the kind of support we all need, whether it’s better education funding, more inclusive mental health services, or just being allowed to chase dreams that don’t always fit into someone else’s plan. At the end of the day, we’re not just students we’re people figuring life out. And this class, these presentations, they gave us a space to do that. I’m glad we had these conversations. I hope we keep having them.

 One last thing I want to mention is how this project actually made me think differently about my own life. Before this, I hadn’t really stopped to think about how much family, money, or even the internet impacts our decisions. But now I see it. I think more about how I can support others, and how I can be more intentional with the choices I make for my future.This project wasn’t just for a grade it really changed how I view the world a little.