The Class of 2020

Lauren Curcio, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Psychology and minor Cinema Production

This project was the first big documentary I ever directed and produced. It was definitely tough, but I made it work. I was able rent equipment from Media Culture for two weeks in early June. I reached out to my friends who I graduated high school with in 2020, and they agreed to being interviewed. I was able to get four people, which was enough to fit in my timeframe.

The interviews were scheduled during the summer since everyone was off from school. Everyone had work but luckily, it worked out with three of my friends. The fourth person I was able to film at a later time.

When conducting the interviews, I wanted to make them feel more comfortable by conducting them in their own personal spaces. I wanted the interviewees to not only answer the questions, but show something that was a part of them. For example, Rosa gave a room tour since she moved into her new house and had her own room for the first time during Covid. Joe shared his retro collection, Iris showed her computer and desk, and Gianna showed her new desk and bookshelf. Each space demonstrated something about the person. I wanted the viewers to not only hear their stories, but see and get to know the people themselves. Each subject did a great job with their interviews. They went into such great depth with each response, while also showing what best represents them.

After shooting, the editing process took a while. Even though the project was almost twenty-two minutes long, the editing process could take days, even weeks. I took it one step at a time and spoke with my supervisor. I showed her parts of the project I edited and she shared her thoughts. I had to reshoot some parts and also add new clips.

I ended up shooting scenery at different schools and towns early on a Sunday morning. It was great because everywhere was practically a ghost town. I was able to film without worrying about pedestrians. I enjoyed working on this project and will continue to work on projects like this post-graduation.

Infinite Dance Sport

Julia Seleznyov, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Computer Science

For my final project, I worked on something super cool that combined my love for computer science and my deep knowledge of ballroom dancing. I am creating a special app or website that makes judging big ballroom dance competitions easier and more organized.

In the world of ballroom dancing, they use a detailed point system to make sure everyone gets a fair shot and to help dancers figure out where they can improve. It's similar to how they judge Olympic figure skating, looking at things such as how technically good the dance is, the overall performance, the music, and the choreography.

Currently different dance organizations around the world have their own ways of scoring. But in the United States, we're trying to make our own system by taking the best parts from other systems. I found out about this when I was involved in competitions, and my coach asked me to help because there aren't many examples of point systems for ballroom dancing online. We're mostly relying on what we can see with our own eyes.

The main idea behind our app is to give each judge their own login, where they can focus on the specific things they're judging. All of their scores get sent to one central place, making everything more organized. We also want to store this information in a way that makes it easy for dancers to see and use the results to improve. Our big dream is to use this system in competitions all across the United States and connect American and European competitions.

To build the app, we chose Snowflake, a web-based platform. We set up three judges with their own logins and put in information about six top dancers and five different dances. Judges would pick a couple and dance, then give scores in four categories: how technically good it was, how well they moved to the music, the choreography, and how well they performed and partnered. Once the scores were in, a success message would pop up, and the scores would go into a big database. We also made charts and graphs to make the scores easy to understand.

Snowflake was super helpful because it let me handle both the look of the app (the front end) and the technical stuff behind the scenes (the back end). I used Python and Streamlit for the front end, making it easy to edit the app in real-time. For the back end, I created databases on Snowflake and input the info using an Excel sheet, making sure everything connected smoothly. I even designed the logo using Canva and put it online for the project.

In the end, finishing this project makes me really happy, and I'm excited to keep making it even better. This mix of computer science and ballroom dancing isn't just solving a problem in competitions—it's laying the groundwork for more cool ideas in the future!

Ketamine as a Pain Medication for Chronic Pain and Acute Kidney Pain

Tashia Seneviratne, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Biology 

Research literature reviews on particular subjects, including ketamine and its possible effects on kidney function and chronic pain, can be insightful and beneficial. Since ketamine has generated interest for its possible analgesic qualities and its impact on renal function, I expected to find a substantial quantity of previous study on the subject. I also anticipated seeing a range of study designs, such as observational studies, clinical trials, and systemic reviews. I gained a lot of knowledge about the current status of research on ketamine's effects on renal function and chronic pain while doing a literature study.

I learned that ketamine has demonstrated promise as a possible treatment for chronic pain disorders, despite being best recognized as an anesthetic and recreational medication. According to the majority of research, ketamine may reduce pain through influencing the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, which is involved in the transmission of pain. Moreover, studies I read suggested that ketamine has complex and varied impacts on renal function. Ketamine could prove to be advantageous in a variety of ways such as NMDA receptor modulation, central sensitization, anti-inflammatory effects and neuroplasticity which is when the brain adapts to changes. Ketamine is usually administered in small doses for chronic pain than when it is used for other purposes such as general anesthesia. It can be administered through many methods such as the oral route, nasal sprays, intravenously and topical creams. The NMDA receptor is important in controlling synaptic change, learning, and memory in addition to transmitting pain signals. As an NMDA receptor antagonist, ketamine blocks the receptor's ability to function. Ketamine binds to these NMDA receptors and acts as an antagonistic of NMDA. Ketamine can potentially lessen pain perception by changing the transmission of pain signals in this way.

While some research has indicated that ketamine use may cause kidney damage, other studies have indicated that the drug may not have a significant or even positive effect on renal function. When interpreting the results, it is essential to recognize the subtle differences and the limitations of the available evidence. As I read through academic literature through OneSearch accessed by the CUNY library, I came across some unexpected and surprising discoveries. For example, I found contradictory results from several studies, which emphasize the need for greater investigation and a deeper comprehension of the subject. Furthermore, research has been conducted on the possible advantages of ketamine in the treatment of chronic pain problems, like limb ischaemia, which I was not previously aware of.

Completing a study literature review helped me grow personally by improving my analytical and critical thinking abilities. It enabled me to gain a greater comprehension of research techniques, the scientific method, and the significance of evidence-based practice. In addition, performing a literature review can help me become more skilled at combining data from many sources and clearly communicating complicated concepts.

In conclusion, performing a research literature study for the capstone on ketamine and kidney/chronic pain is rewarding. It enabled me to expand my critical thinking abilities, obtain an in-depth understanding of the subject, and contribute to progress within the field of science and this topic.

A Reflection on The Miseducation of Cameron Post and the Harms of Conversion Therapy

Hunter Guttenplan, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Psychology and minors in English Literature and Political Science

My capstone project was about the negative effects of conversion therapy and how it is portrayed in The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth, as well as research on how the portrayal of conversion therapy in the novel relates to conversion therapy in the United States.

I learned a lot about conversion therapy with the assistance of my former English Professor, Harry Thorne. I took his Coming of Age Narratives class, and we read a book called The Miseducation of Cameron Post. The novel immediately captivated me. Reading a young adult novel about mental health and psychotherapy was very enjoyable, especially as a Psychology major. The novel was so enjoyable that I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do for my capstone project. I could combine two of my academic interests, English and Psychology.

The results I found in the research were actually exactly as I expected. The representation of the oppression of people with queer identities in The Miseducation of Cameron Post was supported by real-world statistics. I learned a lot about Gender Dysphoria, therapeutic interventions in relation to conversion therapy, the fact that people in the LGBTQIA+ community are eight times more likely to report having attempted suicide, almost six times more likely to report high levels of depression, more than three times as likely to use illegal drugs, and are three times more likely to be at high risk of HIV and other STDs. I also learned about the public opinion in the United States regarding conversion therapy, and the influence of negative beliefs and clinical competence on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual individuals.

One of the most interesting parts in my opinion was the high economic burden of conversion therapy. To be more precise, that economic burden is about nine billion dollars, which is outrageous.

If I were to continue developing this project, I would research the difference in conversion therapy throughout the years, as well as look at countries other than the United States. That way I can broaden my research on the issue since it doesn’t just apply to our country. I would also look at the difference in how conversion therapy was done throughout the decades. For example, I assume that conversion therapy was done differently in 1975 than it is now, especially due to the fact that homosexuality was not as socially acceptable back then as it is now.

It was a pleasure to work on this project under the guidance of Professor Thorne, and it was a rewarding experience doing this capstone project for the Verrazzano Honors Program.

 

An Unforgettable Experience in an Ensemble

Huma Ahmad, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Political Science and minor in Spanish

It seems like just yesterday when I participated in my final performance for A Doll’s House alongside my fellow actors. The atmosphere in the dressing room was charged with anticipation as we readied ourselves for the stage. It was during this preparation that a fellow actress proposed the idea of collaborating on an independent play with the current ensemble. Recognizing the merit of this suggestion, I embraced the concept wholeheartedly, and the journey from that moment has brought us to the present.

The subsequent day marked the culmination of our efforts in a directed student-based production titled Rossum’s Universal Robots. The array of emotions I experienced—ranging from joy to a tinge of melancholy—reflects the myriad challenges and lessons that have defined our collective journey over the months. The exhaustive hours, days, and months invested in rehearsals ultimately allowed me to immerse myself in the role of Helena Glory. This transition posed a personal challenge, as my prior commitment to embodying the character Nora from A Doll’s House raised concerns about seamlessly adopting a new persona. However, overcoming this apprehension enabled me to authentically connect with the essence of Helena Glory.

As I reflect on my acting journey spanning the last year and a half since my initial foray into the discipline, I am struck by the sense of completion. From my inaugural class with Professor Wickstrom to the mastery of acting fundamentals, I am profoundly grateful for the experiences and opportunities afforded to me by Staten Island College. The recent trilogy of performances was not merely a conclusion, but a celebration of profound emotions and significant accomplishments, instilling in me a desire to perpetuate such experiences in my future endeavors.

Looking ahead, I aspire to sustain my involvement in theatre beyond my tenure at CSI. I am hopeful that, post-graduation, avenues to participate in diverse theatrical productions will continue to unfold. The last three nights of my performance have solidified my commitment to the craft, and I eagerly anticipate the prospect of contributing to and participating in future theatrical ventures.