My class “Climate Change and What New York City Can Do About it,” was my first and favorite PBAT. My favorite teacher Caity was grading my PBAT. My love for science and my admiration for Caity’s optimism and happy going attitude made me love the class even more. Science is the best, anything implying the wellbeing of the Earth just turns me on. Anything involving space, the environment, animal behavior, the brain, genetics, archeology to extrasolar planets, stem cell, bird flu, autism, and evolution draws my attention. 

     In my PBAT I discussed how the temperature of the Earth is rising. The rise of the Earth’s global average temperature is called global warming. Due to CO2 exposure in the atmosphere and people cutting down trees, the risk of this happening is increasing. MY PBAT question, “How does land cover affect temperature?” explains how lighter or darker land covers can increase the chances of local areas to become hotter or cooler. MY hypothesis involved observing the temperatures of lighter and darker land covers in urban areas with a flir one camera and see if different land cover temperatures has an impact on local areas to be hotter or cooler. 

     The overall PBAT was very enjoyable in completing. My only struggle was when it was time for presentation. Explaining the PBAT on my own in front of someone else wasn't something very endearing. Also to be honest I don't appreciate being watched; it made me feel self conscious. The last time I recall someone studying me was when I was  thirteen years old and I hadn't realized I had a huge red zit the size of two raisins stuck together across my forehead. That day I was in such a rush to get to school on time that I hadn't glanced myself in the mirror. The moment of realization was too late. A batch of middle school teachers had gathered together a good five5 feet away from me across the lunchroom table I was sitting at. They were whispering loudly, “My Lord” and “Poor thing” among one and other as they were gaping at me with such intense concentration and with the look of yearning on their faces. It almost felt like they were figuring out a way to pop my zit just from across the table. So that’s why I wasn't 100% confident about presenting to someone. I also feared of not making sense or being clear due to my tendency of talking low. Just the idea of explaining something to someone else made me nauseous. 

During the moment of the presentation my hands were shaking my mind was filled with I can’ts and I won’ts. Just the day before the presentation I even spoke to Caity to express my doubts. Nevertheless, I knew the presentation was vital for my grade and my doubts were unreasonable. I knew I had to get this done one way or another. Plus, the fact that it was something I enjoyed and worked hard on and it would be nice to share my passion for science with someone else gave me the confidence to push forward. I needed to break out of my comfort zone for a little while. I had to adapt myself into doing something I was not used to. Just like a lizard when they adapt to new living environments. I didn't like the idea of change at all, but who does?. It made me feel uncomfortable and self conscious. It's just one of those things that you have no control over it had to be done and it can't be helped. At the end of the presentation, I felt great pride and accomplishment. I had done something I thought I couldn't do and it felt great.