Final blog post

As the end approaches, I'm weirdly glad we have this assignment so I can look back and reflect on all the work I've done this spring term. I hated almost everything about English spring term but it was nice to explore a topic of interest and learn a lot about myself as a student and also, a person. I think over the pay 6 or so weeks a lot has come clear to me about my learning preferences and that will only help me in the future.1. What are the next steps for continuing to work on the project? Do you think you will keep working on it? Why or why not?It may be bad to say, but I'm really over my project. These last 3 weeks have been like pulling teeth for me. I learned I think enough to settle my curiosity. I got to realize this is the side of nonprofits I no longer want to persue in the future. I always believed not donating all the money was a choice but it almost wasn't an option for most charities. When I saw the vicious cycle it goes through I saw the unloyal charities would have a hard time ever becoming loyal. 2. What was your favorite part of this term’s work?I truly loved the ability to explore something of interest. I don't think I had enough curiosity to explore this topic in my free time. I enjoyed how for a whole term we can focus on something of choice, which is not something we get to do very often. I also liked the schedule and the fact we could set as many restrictions or guidelines as we wanted. Something I struggled in within senior seminar was the fact we rarely got guidance in assignments. It was hard to go into a seminar blind but with this project we had as much guidance as we wanted or not because we were the leaders of our classes each day. 3. What was your least favorite?My least favorite part about the project was the length. 6 weeks is a long time to be work on something for around 100 minutes 5 times a week. I lost interest in my topic after week 3 and wanted to just switch and move on. The struggle was almost finding things to do to keep me "busy" if I finished early one day. The reading was also very dry for me. My two books were strictly discussing financials with no plot, only tips. For me, it seemed dull and boring so it forced me to skim and only pick out what was really necessary. Another one of my least favorite parts was also the independance. I like the idea of the independance and choosing a topic, but I don't like working alone with no direction. It caused me stress and confusion and definitely have me a problem when it came to motivation. Having things to hand in day after day forced me to do everything and I need that. I know I had my own calendar but it's not the same as giving it to someone else so it reaches their expectations. 4. What piece of advice would you give to next year’s Senior Seminar students when they design their spring term projects?A. Take it seriously, although it's senior spring, it's your whole term of work so choose something your interested in not just something that's easy.B. Follow your calendar. I'm someone who does well with deadlines so I never really had a problem with meeting my goals until I had an issue with the charities. It set me back but my calendar helped me to see the bigger picture and replan my scheduling. Also, if your someone who doesn't work with deadlines well, work on it now. 6 weeks goes way faster than you think and you don't want to be throwing something together last minute that you were suppose to be working on all term (because the teaches I'll know).C. Have fun with the freedom! Take advantage of the lack of guidance and direction and explore a median of art you never have before or present your information in a new way. This term is suppose to help you realize who you are as a student, so explore and let yourself try new things.  5.What was the most important “truth” you learned about your own working process?I learned that I work well within guidance. I like having a teacher tell me how long a paper should be and I like knowing exactly what to prepare for. Work blocks alone was almost saddening and I had no desire to do things. Human contact within my education is very important to me as a student. I feel the need to collaborate with others and listen to ideas to inspire some of my own. I learned I should work completely independently, not in a classroom with some of my good friends because my mind won't be on my work, it'll be what I just saw on Facebook and have to tell them after class. I also learned I like the classroom setting. I think I strive in areas where I can ask specific questions and test the water before I have to answer with confidence. By putting my work out over the last term, it was honestly scary. It was a vulnerable move and made us all uncomfortable. I think the best thing about what I learned though was the classroom setting helps me. Next year when I can choose to go into a lecture or seminar, I know seminar would be good because I can collaborate with others. 6.What was the most important “truth” you learned about yourself?The most important truth I learned about myself is that I need a goal. I learned when I see an "end sight" I have all the determination I need to get what I need to get done, done. I know I have always been a hard worker but this term I realized that I have what it takes to make work I'm proud of 100% of the time. I realized with time and effort I can produce something I'm confident in showing my peers and family. I think this was good to realize about myself because it gives me the confidence I will need in the future. Whether it's pitching an idea to a boss or just going in for a job interview, I can say I worked as hard as I possibly good and show up with confidence. Because I have always lacked confidence within every aspect of my life this is exciting for me. I'm ending my spring term with high honors and I basically only had projects. Despite hating the fact I had projects, I set my mind to it and I achieved and I think I needed to do that to show myself what's truly possible for me. Over all, I can say I had a successful senior spring English term and I am a proud student of the work I produced.

Week 6- Blog 2

I presented Tuesday and I think it went really well. I hopefully got my findings across in the most effective way and people saw my progress over the weeks. I didn't want to do a complete repeat of my mid-term project so I had to think of the same project but in a different way. I did have a variety of different things to share, but its all under the same category which may be boring for my class. I had different things to present but it was all off of my website. Everyone was really impressed from my website and I enjoyed showing off my work.

I also liked listening to other peoples presentations. I've seen my peers work so hard over the past term so I love seeing what they found. Its cool to see all the final products versus just the pieces in work.

Week Six- Blog 1

YAAAYYY. FINAL WEEK!!!!! This is seriously crunch time and i am dedicated the next two classes and two nights of homework to my short video "praising the loyal charities". I am stressing a little but I think I will be feeling a lot better after tonight when I make a huge dent in everything. My website is done except for uploading my documentary which is really really good, it was surprisingly a lot of work and research. I thought the short paragraphs about each charity wouldn't take long but i had to choose the most important elements of each charity. A lot of charities do more than I could ever put into words but it's just hard to summarize it into a couple sentences with a video to capture everything else. Caley and I both made websites so we are going to collaborate with each other and almost edit. Neither of our websites correcting spelling or anything so our attempt is to make it perfect!

Really happy to be done with everything and i'm super nervous to present. Cant wait for it all to be done. I think the presentation will capture my growth across the board. Through my presentation I will make it clear that everything in my education skills have improved. I hope to show strong listening and speaking skills, strong research skills, good reading and writing skills and just a strong project.

Week 5- Blog 3

This is seriously crunch time and I'm not mentally prepared for it. I have a lot of work to do between now and wednesday and I'm confused on when we pass the paper in and all that fun stuff. Don't have time to do the project plus work on the paper. I have 500 projects in all 6 of my classes and its really just a force at times. I've dedicated my weekend to my website. I've made a lot of positive changes and worked really hard for it to be presentable with all the necessary information. I've done so much and I want to present it all in the best way possible.
I have regrets about not following deadlines as closely as I should have. Because of the road block I didn't find alternative things to do while I was confused and stressing, I just kind of stopped. This did not benefit me AT ALL and now I'm stuck stressing (per usual though). I have a lot to do in the next two days but it all has to do with my video. I just have to place the interviews and everything in the most effective way as possible so it will be a lot of trial and error!

Looking forward to the final projects.

Week 5- Blog 2

I'm just going to reminisce on my project right now. It's been quite the journey, i'm ending in a way thats very different from when I began. I have completely changed directions and views of my project and I'm actually happy about that. I'm still just so baffled at the fact NO CHARITY THAT GIVES UNER 50 CENTS WOULD TALK TO ME. That was definitely a road block and like i said in my last blog I'm really happy and relieved about how I turned it around but it was definitely a struggle that costed me about a week of wasted time. I think the biggest downfall of the lack of communication was the time lost. I spent a week strictly in and outside of class just trying to get these people to talk to me. I, now, don't even need those people to talk to me so a whole week was lost. I think that loss of a week effected me by effecting my mood and work ethic. It kind of just sucked the life out of me. I was sad annoyed and frustrated and made me lose all interest in my project. But whatever, i've learned to think on my own and move on so in the end the struggle benefitted me.

Week 4 maybe 5- Blog 1

WELL talk about road blocks. I've had an interesting go of it the past two weeks but I have turned my life around for the better. I am now looking at the positive side of loyal charities and trying to give them praise for what they do. They make tremendous changes in people's lives and thats something that deserves recognition. I don't want to forget about what I learned about the negatives and those are still included in all of my research but my final product is being altered. I'm not looking at the charities and taking the positive parts and putting those in a quick video. I have people talking about give kids the world, my interview from saint jude's and  red cross and so on. I'm excited to shine light on the positives now instead of dwelling on the negatives. This change was almost forced because no bad charity would talk to me but I'm still excited now.

I think this road block has taught me a lot about myself. I've realized (finally) i give up easily, almost too easily. I have no confidence in my own ideas and have almost always relied on Mr. Igoe to point me in the right direction. Not being able to "lean" on him and get information out of him has pushed me to the point of frustration, sadness and basically heart break. But look at me now, still standing in one piece and thinking on my own. So thank you Mr. Igoe for pushing me to think and search for something new, its appreciated (after the annoyance phase). I have come to see around you were just encouraging me to be independent.

Week 4- Blog 3

IM SO ANNOYED. I've gotten hung up on 3 times from the same charity, charities who agreed to answer questions have yet to do so after several emails and phone calls. I'm honestly not sure what to do at this point. I spent a free block all Friday trying to get the answers from Wounded Warriors and I got nothing but rudeness and a lack of sincerity. I'm so upset with how this project is going and I want to give up so bad. I try to be assertive and not take no for an answer but they realize I need them, they don't need me so its hard trying to get answers and connections to people when they have 0 desire to give me what i need. I think this challenge and struggle has been good for me though, I have stayed with most charities for a while now which i am proud of. I considered giving up on most charities a lot but i kept going and although i didnt get the wanted result i was still proud of my determination. These next and final two weeks are going to be intense but I'm ready for them..good luck to all