Senior Project Reflection

PART I: Two-Hour Presentation

(1) Two-Hour Presentation Student Assessment

AE; this presentation was one of the very few which I felt I went above and beyond for:

·          Every slide had to be perfect to where the audience could read everything very clear, and the information wasn’t too crowded.

·          I rehearsed this presentation with my family several times to make sure I would meet content time.

·          I addressed the answers to my essential question very much in detail and depth.

·          I cited my sources and gave a variety.

·          I contacted various guide dog organizations to have a guest speaker come out and that turned out successful.

·          I traveled to Palm Springs to retrieve a very inspirational video I thought my audience would enjoy and hopefully be inspired with.

·          I prepared everything on time and met the requirements for “P” consideration.

·          I had the audience involved throughout my presentation.

·          I spoke clearly and clarified for understanding.

2) What are you most proud of in your 2 hour presentation and why?

Being a puppy raiser is a very rewarding job as I get to have a companion who travels with me almost everywhere. Although, I have become attached to Kater I know she will have to leave my arms one day to help someone with a visual impairment. So, I had my guest speaker who is blind talk about the impact a guide dog has had on her. It was extremely inspirational to me and the audience to hear of her experience firsthand. I was proud to share someone as special as this woman with my audience. Hopefully, they will be inspired to be a puppy raiser from this experience the same way I was the first time I heard of an experience.

PART II: Overall Senior Project Experience

(3) What do you think you did well on in the project? What could you have done better? Please explain.

Out of all my other three high school years combined this year was the most hectic. From the beginning, I decided to raise a guide dog in training and she has shown improvement in her behavior from the time I got her. Also, I think I did really well on my creative expression as well as all the other components. I really put my best food forward by avoiding procrastination on each and every component by going above and beyond. For example, for my second independent task I not only kept a log of the hours but I created a training video based on the commands I had taught her. I felt really proud of myself this year, but if I had the chance to redo one thing it would be my research binder. I had the average amount of research but I wish I could have excelled that number to gain even more knowledge of guide dog obedience.

(4) What is your EQ and what is the best answer to your EQ?

EQ: What is the best way to ensure a guide dog in training is chosen as an official service dog?

Best Answer: Temperament

(5) How has the last month of culminating events (e.g. I-Search, Two-Hour, Exit etc) affected your answer to your EQ? Has it changed? Why or why not?

The last month of culminating events positively affected my EQ answer. The reason for this was because at the beginning of the month I had my answer chosen already with reasoning to back it up. But, I was still a little uneasy about presenting it to the class since they might have different thoughts. But these last components really made me feel like the expert and gave me the extra confidence to KNOW this was my official answer and nothing could sway me from that mentality. It was like the hard rock a foundation I needed to make my answer permanent.

(6) What suggestions do you have in order to improve the senior project?

I suggest the teachers stress the importance of having research and explain that it’s not only a grade, but a lifetime of knowledge. Other than that, I liked how everything ran step by step and was easy to keep up with.

(7) Overall Senior Project Assessment
AE:

·          For many of my components I thought outside of the box and went above and beyond what was considered “proficient.”

·          I met rubric requirements and deadlines for every component and went beyond the requirements.

·          My two hour presentation turned out very well.

·          I probably surpassed my entire senior class with service learning hours.

·          I have a full-time commitment, my guide dog in training.

·          My senior project is not over at graduation but will last another five months.

·          I feel like I have inspired underclassmen; for example, one junior is considering this topic for her senior project.

·          I have dedicated much time, effort, and frustration to make sure Kater is being properly trained.

·          I am one of the youngest puppy raisers.

·          I created my first video ever all by myself for my second independent task.

·          For dog obedience classes, I would visit Palm Springs once a week.

·          For my college class, I gave a presentation about guide dog obedience so they could hopefully be inspired and awareness of the need for puppy raisers would be spread.

·          I sought out the best trainers to interview as well as searched every library around town for guide dog books. Eventually, I found one of my three important sources.

·          I became very dedicated and inspired by this senior project and it has taught me lifelong lessons.