Capstone Project

As a senior in the Global Studies Diploma Program, you are tasked with creating a year-long capstone project that explores a global issue of your choosing. We gather comprehensive research, write a research paper, and create two other products to show our learning. Here, I will be documenting my process as I complete each step.

For my capstone project, I chose to explore immigration laws and the conflicts immigrants typically encounter when they first arrive, navigating the Global Studies themes of human rights, globalization, and non-violence & war. My essential question is: How do immigration systems shape people's identities and the way immigrants are perceived? My goal for this project is for people to understand not only the hardships that come with immigrating, but the joy of being able to share and integrate multiple parts of a person's identity.

Annotated Bibliography

My first step in this process was starting my research. I already had some basic knowledge, but I needed to build a stronger understanding of what immigration was and what it involved. I focused on learning about the different types of immigrants, including refugees and asylum seekers, to better understand the range of experiences people have.

Product #1: Research Paper

My first product is my research paper about immigration systems and identity. It focuses on how immigration works in different countries and how those systems affect the way immigrants are treated and understood. I used a mix of articles, reports, and real-life examples to understand both the legal side and the human side of immigration.

Immigration is often viewed through laws and policies, but it is also a deeply human experience that shapes identity, opportunity, and belonging. Immigration systems reflect the values and priorities of different countries, and these systems can influence how immigrants are treated and perceived. In countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, immigration is possible but often limited by complex processes, long wait times, and strict requirements. In contrast, countries like North Korea restrict movement almost entirely, showing how immigration laws can also be used as a form of control. These difference reveal that immigration is not just about movement, but about access, power, and the ability to build a stable life.

As immigration systems continue to evolve, they create both opportunities and challenges for those navigating them. While some systems allow for economic growth and cultural exchange, they can also reinforce inequality by favoring certain groups over others. Immigrants are often expected to adapt quickly while facing barriers such as legal uncertainty, family separation, and social misunderstanding. At the same time, immigration contributes to cultural diversity and the sharing of ideas, showing that it is both complex and impactful. Rather than viewing immigration only as a political issue, it's important to recognize it as a human experience shaped by resilience, adapatation, and the desire for belonging.

Product #2: Booklet

My second product is a mini booklet about immigration and identity. I created it by taking the main ideas from my research paper and turning them into shorter, more understandable sections. It connects to my essential question by showing how immigration systems shape people's experiences, identities, and opportunities, especially through real-life processes and challenges.

This mini booklet presents a more accessible and personal perspective on immigration by breaking down complex ideas into clear sections. Instead of focusing only on laws and policies, it explains what the process actually looks like, including documents like visas, green cards, and citizenship. It also shows how immigration affects identity, as people balance their culture with adapting to a new environment. By including challenges and resources, especially in Connecticut, the booklet connects larger global ideas to real communities. Overall, it shows that immigration is not just a system, but a human experience shaped by resilience and the search for belonging.

Product #3: Poem

For my third product, I created a poem that serves as the creative component of my capstone, designed to give a human voice to the research and perspectives explored in my other work. I developed this poem by drawing on themes from my comparative research paper on immigration systems, as well as insights from my booklet that centers on local immigrant experiences. Together, these pieces are connected: the research provides the global and structural context, the booklet grounds the topic in real communities, and the poem synthesizes both into an emotional narrative that makes the experience more personal and accessible.

This poem highlights the emotional journey of immigrants, capturing both the struggles of leaving home and the strength it takes to rebuild in a new place. It reflects on feelings of displacement, identity, and resilience, while also emphasizing the richness immigrants bring with them---through language, food, music, and tradition. Rather than focusing only on hardship, the poem celebrates immigrants as creators of culture, showing how their stories, memories, and contributions shape and expand communities. The purpose of this poem was to encourage readers to see immigration not as a loss, but as a powerful exchange that continuously transforms and strengthens society.