Blog 1 – Senior Final Lesson/Interview Reflection

1. What three lessons were most helpful for you to see, and why? 
• Airplane Museums, Benedict Paz: This presentation taught me that props and boards that you bring along with you should not just be there for display. I personally found them to be distracting unless you took time to actually interact with them. Overall, the presentation was well done and managed to keep you engaged enough about a seemingly uninteresting topic.
• Automotive, Vincent Valdez: This presentation was very well done. It was entertaining and informational. The slides and content were not at all overwhelming or confusing. The presenter also managed to speak articulately that even those who have no knowledge of cars were able to follow along. I learned that it would be beneficial to keep your slides as well as the information on it simple and (if possible) visual. I also learned how to change a tire. 
• Clinical Psychology, Aaron Martinez: Preschool Special Education, Ilse Gutierrez: I say this two presentations because they both kept the audience engaged throughout their lesson even though the topic may seem boring or self-explanatory. I learned that it may be best to have short activities throughout in order to keep the audience from falling asleep. It also helps that these two presenters had a good voice and overall presence but the little activities scattered throughout helped it be more enjoyable. 
2. List one thing that you learned about the senior project in interviews that will help you get off to a good start? 
• One thing I learned about the senior project from interviewing a senior is to not be afraid of how overwhelming the year is going to be. I was told that as long as we put in the work and dedicated time to the project, then there is nothing to be afraid. The senior said that whatever topic we chose to do our project on whether it is something convenient or something we are really passionate about, we should be proud of it. Be proud of not only getting through the year, but of the actual outcome since you had worked on it for practically most of your senior year. 
3. What topic(s) are you considering, and why? 
• Currently, I am interested in pursuing anything related to aerospace engineering or anything in the field of computer science. I have always been interested in anything pertaining to planes and the way they work. I originally intended to learn how to actually fly a plane, but I realized that I could do that on the side while I continue to pursue higher education. As for computer science, I also find it interesting but see it as more of a hobby. Playing around with computer programs at home has its merits and I want to see how far I'll be able to take it. 
4. What EQ do you think might be interesting to consider in guiding a project like this? (Please don't worry about any sort of formula... we want this question to come from your genuine interest.) 
• Aerospace Engineer: The typical responsibilities of those in this field include improving flight safety, fuel efficiency, speed and weight, reducing system costs and implementing new technologies to meet consumer needs. What is the key to making air travel safer for the environment and/or the passengers? 
• Computer Science: The most common role one does in a career in computer science involves computer structure which deals with the design and analysis of new computer systems and can even segue into mechanical systems and artificial intelligence. How much much more can current computer systems be improved to make them more reliable while being able to handle heavy traffic and prevent cyber crimes? 
5. What are some ideas do you have about finding summer mentorship? 
• At this point in time, I don't have many ideas when it comes to finding mentors. Everyone I have talked to has said that they use familial connections, which I find difficult because family or friends that I do know in the fields that I am interested in are not in the country. Still, even approaching friends if they have connections that they could pass on to you rarely works out since they are either in completely unrelated fields or it is too intimidating. The only other option is to look up professionals in the field and contact them either through emails or by phone, both of which seem very terrifying.