Blog 2- Salome Jimenez

 Our Second Presentations

When we began preparing for the second round of presentations, I immediately noticed how different I felt compared to the first presentation earlier in the semester. During the first one, I was nervous, unsure of what to expect, and stressed about every detail. I was scared of messing up or forgetting information. This second time, I walked into class much more confident. I already understood how the presentation structure worked, what type of content the professor expected, and how to organize the slides. Instead of being worried about nerves, I focused on expressing the information in a clear and relatable way. Knowing what was expected allowed me to relax and actually enjoy presenting. I wasn’t overwhelmed or anxious — I was prepared.

Our professor gave us six major social topics to choose from: Healthcare, Environment & Safety of People, Education, Economy, Immigration, and Families. Each group had to connect two topics and show how they influenced or affected each other. This made the assignment more interesting because we didn’t just have to explain a topic, but show how issues in society are related.

My group was Group 4, and we chose Education and Economy. We wanted to show how education shapes the economy and how the economy affects access to education. My specific part of the presentation focused on education and income inequality, and how a person’s access to education can determine their future income and opportunities. I explained how students in low-income communities often attend underfunded schools with fewer resources, outdated materials, and limited extracurricular or academic support. Meanwhile, wealthier communities usually have better-quality schools with more funding, more technology, and better preparation for college. The economic divide begins early, and education either reinforces the cycle of poverty or becomes the tool that breaks it.

I also explained how education is directly linked to earning potential. Statistics consistently show that people with higher levels of education tend to earn more money and have better financial stability. Someone with only a high school diploma faces a much more limited job market compared to someone with a college degree. It was eye-opening to see how income inequality doesn’t start in adulthood — it starts when a child enters school.

To make our presentation more personal, our group included an interview with a recent college graduate. She explained how education gave her better career opportunities, but also how she struggled financially to get through school. She talked about working while studying, dealing with the stress of student loans, and pushing herself to finish her degree despite the financial challenges. Hearing someone speak from real personal experience reminded me that these statistics represent real people, not just numbers. I think this interview helped our class better understand how education affects financial stability.

Presenting this time felt different for me — in a positive way. I didn’t read off the slides. I spoke naturally and felt like I was having a conversation with the class. Instead of memorizing lines, I just talked about what I learned and why it mattered. Being the first group to present also helped because we didn’t have to sit anxiously waiting for our turn. Once we were done, we could relax and enjoy the rest of the presentations.

After finishing ours, I watched the other groups present, and I learned a lot from them as well. Group 3 presented on Immigration and Economy, and this presentation really stood out to me. They explained that immigrants are not “taking jobs” like some people believe. Instead, immigrants contribute to the workforce and create businesses that help stimulate the economy. They included interesting information about organizations that support immigrant-owned businesses, such as local Chambers of Commerce, USHCC, and the Asian/Pacific-American Chamber. Their presentation also included an interview with questions about the struggles immigrant families face, such as adapting to a new culture, finding support, and the emotional impact of living with fear due to immigration policies. They pointed out that immigrants are often extremely hardworking and resourceful, and many are entrepreneurs. I appreciated how their presentation combined facts with the emotional reality that many families experience.

Group 2 presented on Healthcare and Families, which focused on how difficult and expensive it is for families in the United States to access healthcare. They explained how many Americans receive insurance through their jobs, but even with insurance, the cost of healthcare can be extremely high. Deductibles, premiums, and medical bills can easily overwhelm a family financially. Some families delay treatment or avoid going to the doctor altogether because they cannot afford it. They also compared the United States to countries like Canada, which offer universal healthcare. In those countries, people do not have to choose between money and medical care. Here, families often fall into debt just trying to stay healthy. Their interview with a pharmacist and a nurse made the presentation even stronger because they shared what healthcare workers see on a daily basis — families struggling, delaying treatment, and feeling the emotional weight of medical costs. It made me realize how stressful the healthcare system is for families.

Group 1 presented on Environment & Safety of People and Healthcare, and their approach was unique. They talked about how health is affected not only by hospitals and doctors, but also by the environment that people live in. They spoke about air pollution, unsafe living conditions, and the lack of access to healthy food. They shared a statistic that caught my attention: 1 in every 10 premature deaths worldwide is related to poor air quality. They also compared life expectancy among different countries — the United States has a lower life expectancy than countries like Canada and Japan, even though we spend more money on healthcare. They interviewed Samir M. Elmir, who works in Environmental Public Health. He explained how environmental conditions affect community health in Miami-Dade County. I liked that they combined data, visuals, and a professional interview. Their project made me realize that healing people starts with improving the environment around them.

Overall, I enjoyed watching all the presentations. Each group did a good job choosing relevant topics and making meaningful connections between them. We were all much more confident and prepared than we were during the first presentation. There was a big improvement in visuals, research, interviews, and overall delivery. What I liked the most is that every group showed real-life effects of these issues. These weren’t just school topics — they were things happening all around us in society.

After seeing everyone present, I realized that all these topics are connected. Education affects income, income affects access to healthcare, healthcare affects family well-being, immigration affects the economy, and the environment affects public health. Even though we each presented different topics, everything tied together at the end. This project made me more aware of how social issues influence each other.

I’m proud of my group and proud of myself. I felt confident, prepared, and able to speak comfortably in front of the class. I also really enjoyed listening to and learning from everyone else. This project helped me improve my presentation skills and helped me understand these social issues more deeply. It was a great experience overall.