Note+to+Future+Seniors

(Below isn't a portion of senior project requirements; I just added it in on my own for future students' use. During my interviews with the teachers I was asked what I would tell the underclassmen about my senior project and what tips I would give them so I decided to add this into my wiki. It can also be found at the very bottom of my journal page which is quite the extensive read.)

Reflection/Tips for Underclassmen: I just made this wiki public today (April 15th, 2015) so hopefully underclassmen will be able to view this and use it if needed in the future. Alright down to tips.

First of all, choose a project that you know you will enjoy or something that interests you. If you hold no interest in your topic, it will be very hard for you to actually put the time that is required into it. It also makes it much more enjoyable because you have fun with your project if you hold an interest in it.

Next, don't be negative at the get-go. The senior project seems scary, daunting, and a ton of work at the beginning. I'm not going to lie and say that it isn't, but it does get better throughout the process. It's actually not as bad as it seems right away because as you become more interested and involved in your project, it doesn't seem as much like work. In the beginning you can be nervous and a little scared (actually that's probably a good sign because it shows that you care about your grade and how well you do) but know that if you put the time and effort into your project you will do just fine no matter what. By the time judging week rolled around, I felt prepared for the project fair and presentations because of all the work that I had completed and I was actually excited about those two assignments. Also, even though Twitter and the concept of tweeting about your project all the time may seem like it's an awful idea at first, or you may not be too enthused about it...it really isn't too bad of a thing. I'm really happy that I tweeted as much as I did because it was another reference for me to refer to when I needed to know when and what I did. I would recommend setting up another Twitter account so that you can keep an accurate count of your tweets and then tweet away. Go crazy with the Twitter (Mrs. Trower also really enjoys checking on it and favoriting things in the summer)! If you want to see what and how I set mine up, you can follow me @LakeIntern (I'm not planning on deleting it anytime soon).

Thirdly, use your time wisely...don't procrastinate! The earlier you get started on your project the better. I started mine in the spring and had my internship fully complete by the start of school. That made it so much easier for me to actually have fun and enjoy the things happening during my senior year. Also, keep pushing and motivating yourself. It will get hard after a while, you may think you're way ahead of the game, but still make sure to double-check deadlines and progress every so often; it will help you not have to complete last minute work. Make a timeline and check things off as you go, it really helps with organization purposes.

The teachers are there to help you with your project; they want you to succeed, don't forget that. They may push you harder than you expect or want, but it's because they do want you to succeed and do well with this project. It is an intense project and a great learning experience for you, but you have to use it wisely. If you have questions, ask the teachers. They helped all of us on our projects throughout the year when they could. It was harder during the fall because both Mrs. Holmberg and Mrs. Olson were on maternity leave, but when they got back they answered whatever questions I asked.

Lastly, the senior project isn't a bad thing, it's a great learning experience and I happened to enjoy mine immensely. When you are completing it, keep an open mind with what you are learning and doing. Learn from the tasks you complete, the people you meet, and the things you see and grow yourself with that new acquired knowledge. As long as you actually complete your project, you will be the master of your project because no one else had the experience that you did. I have really enjoyed my experience and hope that our class has reinvigorated the upcoming classes on how beneficial and fun the senior project can be if you strive to make it that. Thank you teachers, classmates, mentors, and everyone who I learned from during this experience! Underclassmen, if you're reading this, I hope it helps! Good luck, I'm sure you'll do great!