Ian+Final+Reflection

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__//Please complete the survey that follows. Your constructive feedback will be used to improve the program for future years!//__

1. Which of the following skill areas impacted you in a positive way as a result of completing a Senior Project.
 * Researching
 * Writing
 * Speaking
 * Technology
 * Use Organization
 * Time Management
 * Creativity
 * Problem Solving
 * Over the course of the senior project, I had to utilize a variety of skills. I conducted through research while preparing to write my research paper. I used my writing abilities to produce my paper. I used speaking skills during my presentation. I used technology to arrange campus visits, prepare my presentation, and correspond with individuals involved with my project. I used organization and time management to ensure that I completed my project and met other obligations. I had to solve a variety of problems over the course of my project, from finding a mentor to making travel arrangements that allowed me to fulfill my obligations to the United States Senate Youth Program and my senior project during my trip in March. ||

3. Which aspect of the Senior Project was the most difficult for you to complete? Explain.

I had difficulty finding time to complete my senior project and fulfill the many obligations I had in addition to the project requirements. Because my year was so focused on gaining admission to colleges and securing funds for my education, I spent the vast majority of my time pursuing these resources, and my senior project was a secondary consideration. Additionally, I had a heavy schedule before the project began, working every day after school, taking challenging courses such as 1020, and participating in many extracurricular activities, making finding time to complete my project very difficult. ||

4. What affect did the Senior Project have on your:
 * employability skills
 * working independently
 * acting responsibly
 * responding to criticism and questions
 * being reliable
 * your college or post graduation preparation
 * your personal life
 * The senior project forced me to do a great deal of work independently, from conducting research to planning trips. It was integral to my college preparation, giving me the opportunity to visit colleges and ask questions of students and faculty members. It helped me become much better informed about the colleges I had applied to, and my experience throughout the project was integral towards my final college choice. Through the process of revising my grant application, I had to respond to criticism and amend my proposal according to suggestions made by staff members. ||

5. Who was able to support you in your project: teachers, advisors, mentors, family members? How did these people support you? Were there times/tasks you needed help with that couldn't be provided by your support system?


 * I found support throughout my project from teachers, advisors, mentors, and family members. Teachers helped me with the logistics of my project, helping me make travel arrangements and improve my grant application. My advisor helped keep me organized and moving forward on my project. My mentor provided me with a “home base” while in Washington DC, providing transportation and ensuring that my needs were met. My family members continually encouraged me to make the most of the project. I did not find that there were tasks which couldn’t be provided by the support system I had available to me. ||

6. How do you feel about the quality of your completed Senior Project? Explain.

I feel that my physical project was not as high a quality as I could have hoped. I had various commitments competing for my time. My first and foremost priority was to gain admission to completive colleges and to secure funding for my undergraduate education. This was the effort to which I devoted the majority of my time. My single-minded pursuit of this goal meant that other endeavors were often sidelined, including my senior project. I did not see the completion of the senior project as one of my top priorities throughout the year, and my project has suffered as a result. I ended up completing it relatively late in the process, and feel that the end result was a bit rushed. While I am slightly disappointed with my physical project, I couldn’t be more pleased about the experiential component of my project. The experiences I had at American and George Washington Universities were invaluable. I was quite pleased with the quality of my visits, and the breadth of personalized experiences I had at both schools. ||