For my project, I wrote a paper about the benefits of taking a personal finance class and learning proper financial literacy. Throughout this process, I learned a lot more about the importance of personal finance and how it correlates to everyday things such as mental health, college prep, and, most importantly, taxes. Overall, my capstone is meant to educate people on how many aspects of their lives financial literacy truly can impact.

This website contains the results of all of my research, a small guide on taxes, my annotated bibliography, and another bibliography for additional sources that I used later on.

Website Link To Final Capstone: https://themoneyblueprint.tiiny.site/

Link to Annotated Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dD2GlesPsvFw5uvh1s7uEAQ3UuaS3AgbvU1GhrhNsQQ/edit?usp=sharing

For my capstone project, I planned and designed a raised wooden boardwalk at the Penllyn Natural Area to make a consistently muddy and difficult section of the trail easier and safer to pass through. I chose this project because I wanted to build something that would actually help real people, not just complete a school project. I started by meeting with my mentor virtually to figure out where to begin, then spent most of my time researching different types of wood that hold up well outdoors and studying different boardwalk designs to figure out what would work best for the specific trail. I also visited the site twice in person to walk the area and take measurements so my design would be accurate. By the time I finished the planning phase, I had put in around 80 hours of work. The biggest obstacle I ran into was the weather; the ground stayed frozen for a long time, which pushed back my timeline, so I used that extra time to make my research even more thorough. My dad, who is an engineer, helped me think through the structural side of things, and I also relied on websites and videos throughout the process. Beyond making the trail easier to walk, the boardwalk will also protect the ground underneath from being worn down by foot traffic. This project taught me that planning and research are often the hardest parts of building something, and that patience and following through on a long-term goal are skills just as important as any technical knowledge.

Works Cited DecksGo. “build a boardwalk with deck foot anchors.” DecksGo, build a boardwalk with deck foot anchors. Iron Woods. Boardwalk Bridge Pier Decking. PDF. Iron Woods, https://millwork1.com/sites/default/files/Boardwalk-Decking-Brochure-REV031515.pdf. Iron Woods. “Iron Woods.” Boardwalk Decking, Iron Woods, https://www.ironwoods.com/decking/boardwalk/. “mtBr.” Boardwalk design, mtBr, 2 July 2013, https://www.mtbr.com/threads/boardwalk-design.863264/. PermaTrak. “Timber vs. Composite vs. Concrete: Choosing the Right Material.” PermaTrak, 12 July 2023, https://www.permatrak.com/news-events/bid/102385/comparing-boardwalk-materials-timber-vs-composite-vs-concrete. Accessed 19 February 2026. Quigley, Annie. “DIY Boardwalk: How to Lay Down a Planked Path Yourself.” Gardenista, 21 June 2024, https://www.gardenista.com/posts/diy-boardwalk-off-grid-couple/. Accessed 19 February 2026. Rainforest Relief. “Boardwalks.” Rainforest Relief, 2003, https://www.rainforestrelief.org/What_to_Avoid_and_Alternatives/Rainforest_Wood/What_to_Avoid_What_to_Choose/By_Product/Boardwalks.html. Wilkerson, April. “Easy DIY Wooden Walkway | Path To My Outdoor Kitchen.” Youtube, 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTBmYG2JEyE. “Wooden bridge, Floating bridge, Timber Boardwalk Construction.” Accoya, https://www.accoya.com/products/inspiration/wooden-bridge/. Accessed 19 February 2026. York Bridge Concepts. “The Ultimate Guide To Wood Bridges: Design, Construction, & Sustainability.” York Bridge Concepts, York Bridge Concepts, 12 August 2024, https://www.ybc.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-wood-bridges/. Accessed 19 February 2026.