Junior Project Artifact Reflection (Know, Do, Reflect)

Complete the KDR graphic organizer below with comprehensive thoughts. Each section should consist of
1-2 detailed, thorough paragraphs that showcase what you KNOW, what you can DO, and your
REFLECTION on your project. The boxes will grow as you type.
KNOW:
Explain the goal or
objective of the course,
what your project was,
and how your project
met that goal/objective
Discuss what you needed
to know in order to
complete the project
effectively and
proficiently, as well as
discussing what you
LEARNED upon
completing the
project.

DO:
Discuss the process of
what you actually did
in order to complete
your project and what
you can do as a result

o Think - because I
know (this) I can
now do (this)
Discuss new
technologies used,
new subject matter
encountered, new
skills learned or skills
that were improved,
etc. as you worked
through your project.

My junior project is called the Black Message and its an inspirational

quote from two African Americans that have made an impact in history.
The project was split into three components; the first component was a
brainstorm of ideas on what the Black Message would be, the second
was interviewing elderly African Americans, and the third was receiving
feedback on how the Black Message turned out. The brainstorm
included sketches of many different quotes from famous African
Americans and color ways of how it would look on an actual door. The
interview had a lot of questions such as: what is the first African American
quote that comes to mind? Or who was the most influential people that
you looked up to in your era? Or what is your favorite quote by an African
American? The people I interviewed were family members of mine, like my
grandmothers, my great grandparents, my godmother, mother and
stepdad. The feedback that later followed the interview captured the
insights of students perspective on how they perceived my art piece.
I needed to know a lot of information for my junior project. I needed to
understand the process of how to paint a door, as well as contacting
administrative about my project. I also needed to know how to use a
sander and the precautions that must be taken when working with a
sander. As I completed my project, I learned a lot more about the history
of African Americans, as well as how back in the day many influential
people had people who looked up to them. Some of those influential
people included: Fredrick Douglas, Booker T. Washington, Zora Neale
Hurston, Sojourner Truth, and Marita Bonner. I learned new quotes such
as: All great achievements require time-Maya Angelou, Without
education, you are not going anywhere in this world-Malcolm X.
In the beginning of the semester, I had no idea as to what my junior
project was going to be. When the time came to actually start working on
my junior project, I still had no ideas until the idea to raise awareness
about the African American Culture came to mind. I realized that a lot of
Black Heritage is often left out of school text books, and why wouldnt it be
cool to enlighten the students that dont know enough about Black
Heritage and to also show that minorities are just as important as the
Caucasian students. I started the project by contacting Mr. Anderson to see
if he would allow me to paint inspirational quotes by African Americans
who have made an impact in our world today on his door. As luck would
call it, Mr. Anderson was totally on board and was thrilled to hear that I
wanted to do this. Later on, I had to make sure that the Administrative
Staff was also on board and I also had to inform them that I am committed
to completing the whole project and it will be done before school ends.
This junior project was important to me, because it helped me expose
young African Americans to see and learn about people that are just like
them. It allowed me to be the teacher for once and show students how I
viewed Black History.
I learned new skills that included: how to use a sander properly, how to
paint the proper way, how to use stencils, and how to manually sand with
your hand. I improved on my drawing skills because practice makes
perfect and I am not the best painter. Along with learning some new skills,
I also picked up on better communication skills. I found myself being more
confident in front of my family members and not coming off as shy and
quiet as usually. The more I talked and asked questions, the more things
came out from my family members that I never heard from them before. It
was very pleasing to hear how they viewed influential African Americans in
their time. For example, my grandma said that A lot of young Black
Activist wanted to make a change in the world, rather than learn the

REFLECT: Reflect on
the process of
completing the project
(both steps taken and
knowledge and
experience gained).
What went well? Why?
What could have gone
better? How could you
have improved it?
How have you
demonstrated growth
in your knowledge and
skills as an artist, a
storyteller, and a
student as a result of
working through the
project?
Reflect on your
process of creating
memory, legacy,
and/or tradition, and
how using your art
has helped you tell an
untold story.
Did you meet your
project
goals/objectives?
Yes/No, Explain.
Did your project
produce the intended
impact on those who
engaged with it? How
so?

newest song on the radio.

The interviews with family members went surprisingly well because I
got to hear their side of African American Heritage during their time and I
was interested in what they had to say. It was difficult finding the right
time to meet up with my family members because of everyones schedules
with work and other family obligations, a couple of times things had to be
switched to another day. I wish I knew in advance what I wanted to do my
junior project on, because if I did I would have scheduled things a little bit
differently. I wish that there would have been better planning on my part
because it would have gone much smoother than it did and it would have
made my junior project a lot easier.
Reinforcing the history of African Americans at Clayton valley seemed
like the perfect job for me. It was the perfect project for me because I,
myself being an African American female loved to learn about my ancestors
and I was sure that other races loved to learn about theres as well. I just
needed a push and a little guidance to jump start everything, with the help
of Mr. Anderson, my Mom, and Mrs. Wickware I received that push. Mr.
Anderson, also known as my teacher advisor for the Black Student Union
Club, provided me with the motivation aspect to why students would enjoy
an inspirational quote. Other ideas Mr. Anderson came up with was quotes
that he said he would love to see on his door in the C-wing. My mother was
the one helping me brainstorm for my junior project behind closed doors
and giving me ideas on what type of art form I should use. Mrs. Wickware
was there to guide me on whom I should talk to once I knew exactly what I
wanted to do. I am thankful that I had three strong adults to help guide me
throughout my junior project because if I hadnt had their help, I probably
would have been lost in the mist of it all. I found out that I could use some
of my skills to my advantage when I knew what I wanted to do. Everything
that needed to be in cooperated was something that I enjoyed to do.
Photography, Painting & Drawing, and communicating with people were
things I took advantage of because for the most part were things that I
would do for fun and for public speaking was by force. Ive been told
before that I am a good public speaker; however its something I wouldnt
do for fun. But for photography and drawing that was something I did for
fun because I found myself being really good. I choose Photographer as my
specialty over Art class in the Arts Academy because it became so much
more than just pressing a button to take a picture. Therefore, I wanted to
improve my drawing skills by painting the Black Message. As a student
who tries to not admit the love I have for history, I feel like I can one day
be a strong African American Female Activist because I am so proud of my
success on this project.
I believe that I exceeded what I had planned on my proposal of goals
and objectives. When I first started my project, I wanted to just get it over
with; I wanted the semester to be over with. But during the whole process,
I feel like I have figured out my special gifts as a student and grown to be
the strong young lady that I am. My junior project might not have been the
best project among the other juniors in my class, but it surely impacted all
students on my Black Message that was seeking the works of history in
art. My student audience understood the quote written on the door
Ninety-Nine percent of failures come from people who have the habit of
making excuses and Success doesnt come to you, you go to it. These
two quotes where written by George Washington Carver and Marva
Collins. G.W. Carver was an African American man who was born into
slavery and was a botanist and inventor. Marva Collins was an African
American woman who was a pioneer school founder and an educational
activist. Students that attended Clayton Valley found it inspirational that
these quotes were written out on the door just before school was coming to
an end, because it motivated them to not stop working and from meeting
their own educational goals. It makes me happy that my junior project will
continually motivate students that will step into Mr. Anderson class every

day. It also makes me glad that I choose to go forward and make this
project the best and amusing rather than doing something that I didnt
truly care for. I became the voice to spreading awareness about African
American culture and thats something that Im proud of walking away and
ended the year with.