Mental health stigma, particularly among males, is a significant issue, as societal pressure to suppress emotions can lead to feelings of isolation and hopelessness. One contributing factor to this issue is toxic masculinity, a set of attitudes and behaviors associated with societal expectations of adult males. These expectations can lead to depression, suppressed emotions, and a reluctance to seek mental health support. Males are often taught from a young age through common phrases such as "boys don't cry," "man up," and "don't play like a girl," that expressing emotions is not masculine. Many males participating in youth sports feel the impact of toxic masculinity early on in their development. Positive coaching could be one way to mitigate the negative effect of toxic masculinity in youth sports and help young males find healthy ways to manage their emotions. Through action research, this project aims to investigate the results of positive coaching on young athletes' self-identity, willingness to express feelings, and the combatting of a narrow definition of male adulthood often present in the culture of sports. Data collected through interviews with coaches who have undergone positive coaching training and observations of youth flag football games will assist in evaluating the need for positive coaching training throughout Palo Alto youth sports.

In 2021 44% of high school students in the United States reported feelings of persistent sadness or hopelessness in the past year; that percentage then grew by 40% between 2009 and 2019(CDC). Students experiencing poor emotional and mental well-being are more likely to have decreased intrinsic motivation and hindered academic achievement, experience more disciplinary infractions, develop a negative view towards their education, and are less likely to contribute to the overall flourishment of individuals, communities, and nations(SPRC). Given that students spend most of their time in schools, on-campus resources, and intervention strategies are necessary to promote high school students' well-being (Child Mind Institute). While Bay Area school districts have implemented some resources for their students, in recent years, students have been reaching out for more support (Palo Alto Online). This project aims to unearth interventions Bay Area school districts could implement to promote and maintain student well-being across their high school campuses.

Nutritious and balanced meals for students can provide outstanding benefits to young students and overall create a healthier learning environment and lifestyle. Creating healthy habits at a young age while in elementary school can help provide students with a foundation to build on as they grow. Children need proper nutrients and fuel as a component of an active brain at its fullest potential. The best way to approach this issue is to use case studies, correlation approaches, and historical research to evaluate trends and patterns of current school-provided meals to discover methods of improving them. Comparing trends of COVID provides various methods used during the different periods.

This research project will investigate the pressing issue of global climate change and the crucial role of a well-informed and invested populace in achieving a sustainable future. However, the current reality in America needs to meet this imperative. Through conducting qualitative research in the form of interviews, the project aims to uncover the driving factors that have propelled individuals to engage in activism related to climate change. The collected data will be analyzed through coding to identify recurrent patterns and themes within the responses. The findings of this project have the potential to provide valuable insights which could be employed to mobilize a broader segment of the population to take action on climate change.

World War II is a well-known and well-researched war. However, there is a facet of the history of the war is missing. The queer history of World War II is an under-researched field. Every piece of history is worthy of note and is the aim of this research this project.

The emergence of new platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and BeReal has fueled social media's recent gain in widespread popularity among adolescents. This proliferation of social media has sparked a debate about its potential impact on the mental health of teenagers. A study that assesses the feasibility of Bay Area teenagers adhering to regular breaks from social media could provide valuable insights into how to motivate adolescents to modify their habits and mitigate the adverse effects of excessive social media use on their mental health. Such research could identify effective strategies for promoting mental well-being among teenagers and support their overall health and development. This research project utilizes an inquiry approach that is a needs assessment research. The project surveys students from a Bay Area high school to identify patterns in social media usage. The goal is to identify common themes between all of the survey participants. This research project aims to determine what motivates students to take social media breaks.

Anti-bias children's books are crucial in teaching children about diversity, social identity, and the relationships between different groups of people. They are interactive and allow children to think about these topics in new ways, which makes them developmentally appropriate. However, many preschools still do not include anti-bias books in their curriculum due to a lack of awareness or the belief that young children cannot understand these topics. A parent participation program that includes a 20-minute session on the importance of anti-bias education and using children's books as mirrors and windows will develop to address this issue. The program will include access to an anti-bias lending library for parents to choose books and activities. This project aims to evaluate the benefits of implementing such a library.

Climate change is an intense battle, and humanity needs to do everything possible to survive. Clothing waste is one of the most significant contributors driving the rise of climate change. If clothing waste does not decline, climate change will become irrevocable. This research project will be action based by developing an upcycling program to support environmental conservation. Surveys will be disseminated to 200 Palo Alto residents to measure clothing waste and buying habits in the city. The data collected will reveal the extent of the need for reducing clothing waste in Palo Alto. This study examines the effectiveness and feasibility of upcycling to reduce waste and aid the current climate crisis.

"South China Sea Fisheries are estimated to generate $100 billion a year, supporting around 3.7 million people" (RFA). It is undeniable that South China dominates the fishing industry worldwide. Still, the specific strategies to fish incredible amounts are often overlooked and significantly affect coastal communities. With the economy and populations' reliance on fish for food and
financial support, this industry is constantly growing, causing rates of illegal fishing to climb in certain areas. There are often inaccurate reports of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing due to the lack of regulation in areas where high rates of IUU fishing occur, such as the high seas, which make up 45% of our planet (NMSF). Poor fishing management is the primary cause of these activities. This research project examines the overexploitation of fisheries in the South China Sea and the resulting financial inequality through data collection from previous research.

Emotional intelligence (EQ) in the workplace is beneficial when communicating with colleagues and building positive relationships. Many employees, especially those in leadership roles, find it challenging to connect positively with their reports. A large piece of emotional intelligence is empathy and compassion. This research project will include a case study to identify techniques to build EQ in a workplace.