101 Student Blvd.
Concord, NC 28027
June 3, 2008
Judges, Graduation Project
Southern Wayne High School
124 Walter Fulcher Rd
Dudley, NC 28333
Dear Judges:
This has been a long journey for me, and what I have included in this portfolio represents some of the best, most meaningful work I have done in high school. I have been involved in sports and clubs and done well in my classes, but nothing I did prepared me for what I experienced this semester.
Like many Americans, I have been very concerned that the Iraq war might never end. I decided to focus my project on issues about the war. In my research, I discovered that a big reason why things do not seem to be getting better over there is because of the long, bloody history between the Shiites and Sunnis. My research paper examined this issue. I asked an expert of Muslim studies about this conflict, and even he was afraid that the bloodshed might go on for years.
For my fieldwork, I chose to work closely with Muslim experts to learn about the culture and history of the Middle East. What I learned changed my view completely. I gained an understanding of what makes them tick. I realized that much of what I thought about Muslims was just a bad stereotype. I organized a multi-cultural fair at Wayne Community College Auditorium, where more than 1,000 people saw exhibits and listened to speakers from Muslims representing Middle Eastern and African nations. Organizing the event was difficult. I