Guillermo Sauce blog post 2

 

 Reflection on Class Presentations: Economy, Careers, and Mental Health.

By: Guillermo Sauce

         Recently, I was part of a group presentation about the economy and future careers. There were eight of us in the group, and my part was the agenda slide. I introduced the agenda and gave a quick summary of what each person was going to talk about. I actually liked doing this part because it helped set the stage for the rest of the presentation. It gave me a chance to explain the topics only and guide the class through what was coming next.

       After I finished presenting the agenda, Erika Navarro took over with the introduction. But before getting into her part, she asked some questions to a few of our group members Alyssa, Michael, and Rebeca. I thought that was a really smart idea because it got everyone more engaged right from the start. They answered the questions really well, and it helped our group get off to a really good start. It felt more like a conversation than just reading off slides. Erika did a good job with the intro and helped explain why the economy and career planning are important topics for students like us.

     Then Alyssa Gonzales talked about how communication matters when trying to find a job. She shared how the way we see ourselves and how we talk in interviews can really change how we come across. She also shared a short interview with a friend who hasn’t been able to find a job. That made it more real it showed how important it is to know how to express yourself.

 Next was Alux Toledo, who explained how the government supports the economy. He mentioned taxes, spending, and interest rates. He kept it pretty simple and helped us understand how these things work to keep the country running and help people find jobs.

Michael Oliveros went after that and focused more on how the government helps with career programs. He brought up stuff like job training programs and support for people looking for work. I think he mentioned things like YouthBuild and other programs that help people find better opportunities.

Then Rebeca Castro talked about how Miami Dade County helps with career resources. She mentioned job fairs, internships, and tools like Handshake and LinkedIn. She also pointed out how the county tries to make sure everyone has a fair shot at getting jobs, which I think is super important.  

   Jalyssa Jean’s part was about how MDC helps students. She talked about things like mental health support, financial aid, and career advising. A lot of that hit home for me because students are going through a lot, not just with school but in their personal lives too. Knowing MDC has those resources made me feel better about the support we have.

At the end, Bianca Lopez wrapped it all up with a conclusion. She reminded us that the economy changes all the time and that we need to be smart and ready when planning our futures. Her part brought everything together nicely. Overall, I felt good of my group. Everyone had a role, and we all put in the work. I think we did a great job showing how the economy connects to our personal lives, especially when it comes to our future careers. My part was short, but it was cool to be the one who introduced everything and gave a preview of each section. It made me feel like I had a good role in helping the class understand what we were doing.

     I got to see Group 3’s presentation. Their topic was about mental health and social life, and honestly, it really got to me. The group members were Omar Vazquez, Melody Rosabal, Quintana Marmoles, Williams Valido, Stephen Gomez, Vianka Villota, Angelina Cuenca, and Ketsia Pierre. They were all amazing, and the way they presented was really good.

Group 3                                

They started by talking about what mental health really means not just being sad or stressed, but how your thoughts and feelings affect everything you do. They also explained how your social life plays a big part in your mental health. If you feel supported by friends or family, it can make a big difference. But if you feel alone, it can really hurt.

What really stood out to me was when they talked about things like anxiety, depression, and feeling lonely. I think that’s something a lot of people go through, especially our age. I’ve been there. I’ve felt anxious and overwhelmed before, so hearing them talk about it so openly made me feel like I wasn’t alone. It’s comforting when people are honest about those feelings. It helps others realize it’s okay to talk about it too.

One of the slides said something like, You’ll tell your story to a stranger but not the person next to you. Sometimes we hold in what we’re feeling because we don’t want to seem weak, or we think no one will understand. But the truth is, so many people are going through the same things. Presentations like this really help open that up. They also talked about how social media plays a role in mental health. I agree with that. Social media can be fun, but it can also make you feel like you’re not doing enough or that everyone else is doing better. It’s not always real, and we forget that.

     They gave great info on resources too like hotlines, therapy, and school counselors. It was good to hear about those options because sometimes people don’t know where to go for help. It’s not always easy to reach out but knowing there’s help out there can make a big difference. They even talked about how mental health issues can affect the whole community, like making it harder for people to focus at school or work. I never really thought about that before, but it makes sense. When people are hurting inside, it shows in other parts of life too.

        For me, both presentations were really meaningful. Our group helped me understand how the economy and careers are tied to things like communication, resources, and support. I liked my part, being the one to guide the class through the topics, it made me feel involved and connected to the whole presentation, even though it wasn't that much.

But Group 3’s mental health topic stayed with me too. I’ve had moments where I felt down or stressed, and it felt good to hear others talk about those same things. It reminded me that no one has it all figured out, and that we’re all human. In the end, I’m glad we had both topics in class. One focused on preparing for the future, and the other on taking care of ourselves now. You can’t really have one without the other. These kinds of presentations are important because they make us think, not just about school or work, but about life in general.