Hello reader!
Finally, its over. I would like to start this blog post by saying that this is the second time I've embarked on the journey of writing my final blog post. The first version was deleted by my phone and lost to the abyss of technical errors forever. Thanks Obama.
I'm currently sitting on an amtrak train traveling to New York from Washington DC, where I just attended freshman day at American University. Seeing the college and all the students there really put things into perspective for me. If I attend, I will be interning in the city during my first semester. The admissions representatives and Deans of schools proudly beamed at their junior research opportunities. It was in this moment that I remembered AP research back home. The types of research the representatives were describing sounded eerily similar to the research my peers and I have been conducing in this capstone course. This was the moment that I realized how amazing the opportunity to participate in this pilot course was.
It's kind of sad: ending this two year journey. But I close this chapter of my life with the knowledge that this experience will help me succeed in my future and my career.
Goodbye for the last time :'),
Sabrina
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Saturday, April 9, 2016
So I finally did it. I finished my presentation. Well not officially, I still have to present one more time on Monday. The final time.
I can’t help but feel that I have come a long long way since the start of my project. I originally was stuck between three completely different projects, one of which included a three month excursion to Thailand. And yes, I am kind of bummed that I am not currently in Thailand riding elephants and being immersed into a new culture. BUT I think I have gotten a lot out of this project.
That being said, my first presentation was still atrocious. It began with a lot of impressive parkour and sweating. You may think I’m joking, but I’m not. I literally did some sick somersaults across the desks in an attempt to calm my nerves. After a bit of this, I began the actual presenting part of my presentation.
From my presentation video, I noticed that I, like most people who are anxious and put on the spot, used a lot of filler words, for example, like, um, or, and and. I also talked too quickly. But rather than focus on the things I did wrong, I would like to discuss a certain quote that I have found to be particularly meaningful and relevant to this whole process.
“There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.” This quote from Dale Carnegie basically outlines the three stages of this presentation for me. The first is the one I actually gave. That would be the original presentation, the first one that I did on Thursday April 6th. I definitely had lots of need for improvement. The second one would be the one I am giving on Saturday. This presentation or speech is the one that I practiced. Basically this means that this is the one that I will go into with the practice and the revisions that were given to me by the four separate teachers that were giving me feedback to my presentation. After these revisions, and a copious and ample amount of practice, I will go back to give my final presentation on Monday at four p.m.. I can only hope that it will end up being the presentation I wish I gave.
I can’t help but feel that I have come a long long way since the start of my project. I originally was stuck between three completely different projects, one of which included a three month excursion to Thailand. And yes, I am kind of bummed that I am not currently in Thailand riding elephants and being immersed into a new culture. BUT I think I have gotten a lot out of this project.
That being said, my first presentation was still atrocious. It began with a lot of impressive parkour and sweating. You may think I’m joking, but I’m not. I literally did some sick somersaults across the desks in an attempt to calm my nerves. After a bit of this, I began the actual presenting part of my presentation.
From my presentation video, I noticed that I, like most people who are anxious and put on the spot, used a lot of filler words, for example, like, um, or, and and. I also talked too quickly. But rather than focus on the things I did wrong, I would like to discuss a certain quote that I have found to be particularly meaningful and relevant to this whole process.
“There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.” This quote from Dale Carnegie basically outlines the three stages of this presentation for me. The first is the one I actually gave. That would be the original presentation, the first one that I did on Thursday April 6th. I definitely had lots of need for improvement. The second one would be the one I am giving on Saturday. This presentation or speech is the one that I practiced. Basically this means that this is the one that I will go into with the practice and the revisions that were given to me by the four separate teachers that were giving me feedback to my presentation. After these revisions, and a copious and ample amount of practice, I will go back to give my final presentation on Monday at four p.m.. I can only hope that it will end up being the presentation I wish I gave.
Monday, April 4, 2016
Hello readers!
So the final paper is finally finished. Like actually finished. Like I cant go back in and change the font or the spacing or the title anymore.
As someone who prefers to work with paper, turning in an assignment as important as a this one on a website was a little bit stress inducing for me. I had never really dealt with a plagiarism checker and seeing that my paper was plagiarized even 7% was a little bit painful. I worked hard on that paper and I and I feel like, even though it might've been irrational of me, I was a bit offended by the implication that I plagiarized at all.
But with the completion of my paper comes the beginning of my presentation. I am historically bad at speaking in front of groups and giving presentations, so this also makes me nervous. Clearly, this course has required me to step outside of my comfort zone on multiple occasions. The big question I face now is what kind of animations should I use for my transitions between slides? Should i put on a fake accent to make myself appear more exotic and and intelligent? Probably not. I read somewhere that blue is supposed to make people trust you and have a calming effect, so maybe I should make my slides blue. On top of the pressure that already exists with presenting my research to my teachers and peers for a grade, BASIS Scottsdale has been selected to send in video footage to the college board so they can assess our performances. I'm not really sure who these people watching my presentation at the college board are, but hopefully I give them a good show.
The presentation is supposed to be fifteen minutes with an oral defense. I'm hoping that my presentation doesn't go over that. It's funny to think that an entire years worth of work has to be reduced into a fifteen minute power point presentation. The opportunity to conduct research of my own interest at a college level has been one unlike anything else I have ever been able to do. It has helped me develop research skills that I otherwise would not have developed and think in ways that I otherwise would not have thought to think in. For example, in the physical attendance of my concerts, I noticed tendencies and trends that I have never actually considered noteworthy before despite attending numerous concerts.
At the very least, I got the opportunity to attend a bunch of concerts of artists that I otherwise would not have thought to go see, and that was a really nice experience. Talking to the security officers (people that I often overlook and avoid) definitely gave me a whole knew perspective of the concert scene as well. Honestly, seeing At The Gates was one of the most unique concert experiences I've ever had. I had never really seen people that old behaving that aggressively. Either way, I'm glad I went and that all my work has finally translated itself into a final paper.
Until next time,
Sabrina
Word count: 518
So the final paper is finally finished. Like actually finished. Like I cant go back in and change the font or the spacing or the title anymore.
As someone who prefers to work with paper, turning in an assignment as important as a this one on a website was a little bit stress inducing for me. I had never really dealt with a plagiarism checker and seeing that my paper was plagiarized even 7% was a little bit painful. I worked hard on that paper and I and I feel like, even though it might've been irrational of me, I was a bit offended by the implication that I plagiarized at all.
But with the completion of my paper comes the beginning of my presentation. I am historically bad at speaking in front of groups and giving presentations, so this also makes me nervous. Clearly, this course has required me to step outside of my comfort zone on multiple occasions. The big question I face now is what kind of animations should I use for my transitions between slides? Should i put on a fake accent to make myself appear more exotic and and intelligent? Probably not. I read somewhere that blue is supposed to make people trust you and have a calming effect, so maybe I should make my slides blue. On top of the pressure that already exists with presenting my research to my teachers and peers for a grade, BASIS Scottsdale has been selected to send in video footage to the college board so they can assess our performances. I'm not really sure who these people watching my presentation at the college board are, but hopefully I give them a good show.
The presentation is supposed to be fifteen minutes with an oral defense. I'm hoping that my presentation doesn't go over that. It's funny to think that an entire years worth of work has to be reduced into a fifteen minute power point presentation. The opportunity to conduct research of my own interest at a college level has been one unlike anything else I have ever been able to do. It has helped me develop research skills that I otherwise would not have developed and think in ways that I otherwise would not have thought to think in. For example, in the physical attendance of my concerts, I noticed tendencies and trends that I have never actually considered noteworthy before despite attending numerous concerts.
At the very least, I got the opportunity to attend a bunch of concerts of artists that I otherwise would not have thought to go see, and that was a really nice experience. Talking to the security officers (people that I often overlook and avoid) definitely gave me a whole knew perspective of the concert scene as well. Honestly, seeing At The Gates was one of the most unique concert experiences I've ever had. I had never really seen people that old behaving that aggressively. Either way, I'm glad I went and that all my work has finally translated itself into a final paper.
Until next time,
Sabrina
Word count: 518
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