Blog 23: Final Lesson Reflection

(1.) Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your block presentation and\or senior project? Why?

I felt that my stage presence was immaculate during my senior project presentation relating to store management. I had great volume, a professional and fiery presence, and I had kept the audience engaged by providing substantial, high-quality information backed up by reliable sources such as books and examples from mentorship. These aspects are extremely important when it comes to telling the audience about a relatively information heavy topic. The key element of a good presentation is finding the balance between high-quality source information and being interesting to your audience.

Behind the scenes for my senior project, I worked extremely hard on both of my Independent Components #1 & 2 along with putting in a total of 113 hours into my entire senior project. I felt that both of my Independent Components that were posted on the blog contained high quality information and related flawlessly toward my essential question. I was also extremely detailed on those Independent Components' and the importance behind them. From training new volunteers and organizing the main loading dock, I worked in collaboration with a team, which is the absolute essence of being a manager; working with fellow employees to successfully complete objectives.

(2.) Questions to Consider

a. What assessment would you give yourself on your block presentation?

Undoubtedly, I would give myself a grade within the P+/AE Range. I worked extremely hard on rehearsing and absolutely dominated the front with every aspect of my oral presentation. I was strong, confident, and I kept my audience engaged and entertained. As said before, great quality of information and interesting stage presence are definitely the main factors within creating a successful senior presentation. I referenced lots of high quality sources and provided a ton of examples from my mentorship at Habitat for Humanity Pomona Valley.

b. What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project?

Speaking from honesty, normally I don't ever give myself or recommend my grade to be higher than a P. However, I found that during the overall senior project I had met lots of deadlines and put in an extensive amount of work into my senior project. I found that the senior project was absolutely eye-opening and revolutionary to changing and adjusting my opinions about store management. My own blood, sweat, and tears were etched into the very fabric of this project. Keeping strong during the hardships and high workload of mentorship was one of the most fantastic feats I've ever accomplished. Throughout the summer and even to the spring I've stuck with my ReStore through thick and thin, and my mentors have commended me as a valuable volunteer, worker, and leader. Also, compared to lots of other senior's blogs, I feel like I've added more detail and more emphasis on the importance of the work that I have performed. Very rarely do I say this about a project: I know I worked hard and I know I deserve an AE. 

(3.) What worked for you within the senior project?

• Multiple qualified mentors
• My emphasis on research and mostly using book sources
• The detail added on each of my blog entries
• My ability to meet deadlines and gain quality information
• My ability to go above and beyond in my exit interview and lay out my extensive mentorship record and knowledge of my Independent Components and answers for my EQ 

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

Extremely hard to find flaws within my mentorship. I would say that if I had to change anything, my mentors would be present to watch me during the senior presentation and I would take more pictures with ReStore workers and the people I have trained during the course of my Independent Component #2.

(5.) Finding Value; How has the senior project been helpful to your useful endeavors? Be specific and use examples.

My mentorship has taught me the importance of being adaptive both as a manager and a worker. Always expect the unexpected. Never leave anything to chance. Always respect the possible occurrence of Murphy's Law. Be prepared. Hope for order, but thrive in chaos. I've also learned an entirely new prospective on customer service and leadership and performance management. As a person, this senior project has aided me extensively in real world, high-risk scenarios that involve close collaboration with other people. The connections I've made at my mentorship have actually given me a leg up. I've been given the invitation to take a job straight out of high school by the ReStore and I really find that as an accomplishment as a volunteer. This project I will never ever forget because I've actually found a career path that I'm proficient at, straight out of high school. During project groups in the future, I'll be able to plan out and take charge of any teams and meet deadlines effectively. I say that with the utmost confidence. Thank you senior team for this difficult, yet challenging and insightful project. The hardest of steel was forged in the fieriest of flame.