Canvassing my community was both educational and eye-opening at the same time. I would say it was educational because it opened my eyes to the disparities my community faces, the beauty of the community, and the various agencies available to service the needs of the community. I never really took in the beauty of the mountains and the small mom and pop shops that were available to me. While investigating I located a satellite county health office in my small town. Looking up the data needed for my study I was able to see the disparities that lie in my county and the effects they have on co-morbidities. Because of surveying my community with my eyes wide open I was able to see that cardiovascular disease is a big problem. While digging for evidence I found that the African American population in not only my town but in the country, have much higher rates of cardiovascular disease. With the disease came help in the stroke recovery center and cardiac rehabilitation clinics. The population the unitized these services most often were older Caucasian males. It is a well-known fact that minorities suffer higher rates of cardiovascular disease, but they also are least likely to receive treatment. 
  While competing my AMNH certificate, I was able to look at life in a deeper aspect. The American Museum & Natural History project was able to show the basic units of life and how they form all the characteristic that make up who we are. Things like genetic makeup and cloning were discussed. By studying the genetics of life I was able to gain a better understanding and greater appreciation for developing programs that help find the cure for things like cancer and Alzheimer's Disease. People may not agree with choosing the sex of your child or altering eye color but it is fascinating that through studying different genetic properties these things can happen.  We can see how by studying genetics we can both help and offend the population. Surely everyone's wants a cure for Parkinson's but the thought of cloning sheep will send the world in an uproar. Achieving this certificate shows that I not only care about the big picture but also about how the big picture, life as we know it, will be changed with the developing of cures through genetic mapping.