Jabea's S-2020

                   

        Mambo!! My name is Jabea Msola.

I am in a contest so please comment!!!

           I am 12 years old and in the 7th grade. I live in Owings      Mills, MD. I have a youth athletic clothing line called  KKwaM, which stands for Kushinda Kwa Maringo ("Winning with Style" in Kiswahili). I enjoy taking pictures and making vlogs (video blogs). I also like reading, digital drawing, dancing, running track, and gardening. This year is my 2nd year at AYA. I am taking the Melanin Mastery class.

Melanin Mastery

 KEY LEARNING

Adinkra symbol for wisdom

 
This semester we learned about how melanin helps our immune system.  Prior to taking this class, I thought that the immune system   only consisted of white blood cells. During this semester I learned the 4 lines of immune defense which are: 

1.Tissue Macrophages
2. Neutrophil Defense
3. Monocyte defense
4.The bone marrow produces more white blood cells. 

Along with other vitamins and minerals, a special biochemical polymer also enhances these functions. The biochemical polymer is none other than MELANIN!!! A type of plant melanin called allomelanin, helps us produce more white blood cells and other antibodies. This helps us fight off viruses and other invading particles better.  

Here is a presentation that my friend Kennedy and I made on Melanin in the Immune System.


 MOST ENJOYABLE 😃
The most enjoyable thing for me was going to Atlanta to share a presentation on polyphenol oxidase created by my friend Azza and I. It was very fun meeting my classmates in person. I also enjoyed answering questions about our presentation. 

Here is our presentation.

MOST DIFFICULT

The most difficult thing for me was making quizzes. My class was split into two teams and each one had to make questions for the other. We had to write 15 multiple choice questions. It was difficult because we covered so much information in class. We had to come up with both wrong and correct answers. 

Who knew it could be so difficult to come up with wrong answers 😂!

    I really enjoyed taking Melanin Mastery this year. Before taking this class I thought melanin was just a pigment, and something that protected us from getting sunburn. I never would have guessed that it helped our immune systems, or that it can be found in other living things besides humans. I didn't even know it was in places besides our skin! Now when I wear a T-shirt with a message about melanin, I will have a better understanding of what melanin is.

                      

THANK YOU FOR READING. 

  I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

      PLEASE COMMENT!!!