Seeing such a wide range of capstone projects makes me feel both excited and a little overwhelmed. I’m excited because the variety shows how creative and impactful youth development work can be. It gives me hope that my own project can reflect my passions and values. At the same time, I notice a little stress creeping in — there are so many directions to go in, and I want mine to be meaningful and well-designed.

I feel motivated, though, because the examples remind me that each project starts with a question or a small idea that grows over time. They make me think about issues I’ve been passionate about in my own work, like supporting youth voice, addressing racial equity in schools, and helping students feel seen and heard.

Idea : A project on how youth-led discussions can change school culture around race and equity.