Blog 26: Senior Project Reflection

(1) Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your 2-Hour Presentation and/or your senior project? Why?

I am so glad that everyone participated on my activities. I worked really hard on them and tried my best to make them fun and make sure the class learned something new. I am also glad that I had plenty of speaking time.

(2) Questions to Consider 

 What assessment would you give yourself on your 2-Hour Presentation (self-assessment)?

I would give my self a P+. I deserve a P because I followed all of the requirements and make sure everyone was involved in my lesson

b.     What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)?

For my over senior project I would myself a AE. Each week I was up to date and made sure everything was turned in. I also got a AE on my exit interview and did really well in that. I took my senior project very seriously.

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?

The research checks helped me so much. I liked how each week we were required to bring 3 new articles. I liked how my research built up and at the end you have so much information. I can even use the research for the future.

(4) (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would have you done differently to improve your senior project if you could go back in time?

I would not change anything. I feel that I put in so much effort since the beginning of the year. I always tried to do my best.

(5) Finding Value

How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples.

Since I am now a Special Olympics bowling coach I will definitely be involved with Special Olympics for a very long time. I am now more apart of the special needs community and advocate for them. Through all of the components I can apply them to when I go to college and even when I get a job. For example the exit interview. This made me realize that this is how I will be interviewed in the future. I succeed and that makes me feel prepared for the real world. But over all of the components we needed to complete in our senior project will help me in the future.  

Rough Draft 2 Hour Lesson Plan

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArZeKIJ-DYRTdEdrOVBWUFRhbVpnVG15TWtTaGg4V3c#gid=0

Blog 25: Mentorship

Literal:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArZeKIJ-DYRTdE56S1VKdlp5WHQzVDFrMXpMN1lSbHc#gid=0


Interpretive:
What is the most important thing you gained from this experience? Why?
The most important thing that I have gained from volunteering at Pomona Valley Special Olympics is inclusiveness. This is a very important skill to have. To get the athletes to be included in events and activities I would need to talk to them try convince them to participate. To learn the skill of inclusiveness my communications skills have also increased. At Special Olympics coaches and volunteers make sure that all athletes are participating. I have seen how happy athletes are once they decide to join and play the sport. All of their worries go away.

Applied:
My essential question is: "What is the most significant way that Special Olympics can help a person with an intellectual disability gain social competence?"
From volunteering and coaching at Pomona Valley Special Olympics I have seen athletes grow and become independent. For example, I have seen a athlete name Dawn who at the beginning wanted everyone to do and complete tasks for her. She would not pick up her own bowling ball and did not want to participate. It took her a while to finally start to do things on her own. With the help of coaches and volunteers she is now becoming socially competent and independent. We worked with her on why it is important to do things on her own and how to do things on her own. I have witnessed first hand that Special Olympics does help athletes gain social competence. I am very proud to be part of this great organization that helps so many people across the world.

 

Project Update 11

When you buy a product from Pantene, Cascade, Tide, Covergirl or Bounty with an P&G coupon a 2 cents donation goes directly to Special Olympics. The coupons are in the newspaper and commercials are playing constantly on TV. The motto for P&G and Special Olympics is "For seeing the potential in every child".

Project Update 10

Every year a huge raffle goes on to support Special Olympics. The big raffles is a huge house that you can win. The tickets are $150 dollars each. This is the fourth year this has been going on. All of the profit that is made will go directly to Southern California's Special Olympics. The house is beautiful!

•  Built in 2008
• 6 bedrooms
• 6.5 bathrooms
• 7,500 square foot home
• 33,521 sq ft / 0.77 acres lot
• 3 levels
• Elevator
• Gourmet chef’s kitchen
• 4 car / 1200 sq ft garage
• 2 story living room
• Wine cellar
•  Office
• Wide-planked hardwood walnut & limestone flooring
• Full maid's quarters
• Guest suite
• Wired for smart home with control room
• Full residential security
• Grotto style pool with cascading waterfalls
• Located in Sherman Oaks, south of Ventura Blvd

Project Update 9

I made Special Olympics sugar cookies. I made them to look like actual medals. I made gold, silver, and bronze medals. These look just like the medals the athletes receive at tournaments. I am going to make more and hand them to the athletes for their end of the season party. They should like them.

Exit Interview Questions

(1) What is your essential question?  What is the best answer to your question and why?

My essential question is: "What is the most significant way that Special Olympics can help an person with an intellectual disability gain social competence?". My best answer is athletes need a strong support system to become socially competent. Without support and deciation from regional directors, area director, coaches, volunteers, parents, and caregivers athletes would not know how or to improve their social competence. These people work with the athletes in small groups and one on one to insure that their needs are being met and that they are gaining social competence.

 

(2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?

The process that I took to arrive to my best answer was looking for ways that other people influence the athletes. I read a lot of research how sports give self esteem and how sports prepare them for everyday life and how self esteem leads to social competence. I was sold on these two answers. While at mentorship I saw all of the volunteers, coaches, parents,and care givers helping the athletes in so many different ways. Not just in sports but in everyday life skills. This is how I learned what my best answer was. Athletes need a strong support system.

 

(3) What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?

At the beginning  of senior year I was lost on what exactly I should be researching. I was not sure where to start. Special Olympics has so many different branches that I could look into. So, I decided that i needed to narrow down on what I saw search. I did this before I even got my EQ approved. My problem was solved early on. My second problem that I faced was on my science project. I found that conducting an experiment very challenging. Even though Special Olympics is based in sports that was not entirely what I was focusing on. I found that conducting a study with people with intellectual disabilities is very challenging because your data can change quickly. I resolved it by completing my experiment and took that into consideration.

 

(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?

My two most significant sources was the official Special Olympics web page. This provided me a lot of information and it brought me to a bunch of different sites. This web site helped my answer part of my essential question. My second best source is my mentorship. While volunteering and coaching at Pomona Valley Special Olympics I witnessed first hand on all of the positive things Special Olympics does for the athletes. I saw how Special Olympics is a fun, loving, and supporting community.

 

(5) What is your product and why?

My product is becoming a bowling coach through mentorship. This is my product because I had to take a coach training class and I work with the athletes in a different way than just being a volunteer. I am very proud of the accomplishment.