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

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