Senior Project Reflection

(1) Positive Statement

I am most proud of the activity because I felt that engaged many people and it was interesting to see what others had to say. I honestly felt like a lot of people learned new things and that was my main objective. I feel that a lot of students left with new information and have new perspectives on Latino Education. 

(2) Questions to Consider

a.     I would give myself an AE because I felt that I met the standards that were required and wet beyond. I felt like I did not just do a presentation, but a lecture kinda of thing, which made others think. I did not just present information, but I made it relatable and useful information. 

For my overall senior project I would also give myself an AE because the quality of my research, and product of different components were great. I feel like I have worked very hard on my senior project not for the grade, but because I am passionate about my project. I feel like I deserve the recognition for my work. I always tried to go beyond what was needed whether it was on my independent component, service learning, etc. I always tried to find the best. 

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?

My senior project topic worked for me because it was something that I could connect to and made it a delight to research. If I would have done my senior project on a hobby or something like that I feel like it would have been a struggle to research and present on it. I loved my senior project topic because it allowed me freedom to explore different areas and is something that I was able to apply!  

(4) What didn’t work for you in your senior project?

I would have preferred to have much more time with my 2 hr house to actually prep for the presentation. I feel like we only met a couple times, but if I actually asked people about it I would have not stressed out. 

(5) Finding Value

The senior project has been helpful because it has prepared me and allowed me to see that I am capable of speaking for 2 hours. I never thought that it would be possible, but it was not as hard as I thought it was going to be. I actually feel that I could have talked for so much more if I really wanted to. It has also helped me understand how I could efficiently organize different things through the working bib, and senior towers. I feel like I am able to organize my thoughts better. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to do a senior project and research something that I was passionate about. Because of my senior project I have been able to organize and communicate with others effectively. 

2-Hour Presentation

Or click here 

Service Learning

Log of specific hours click here: Service Learning Log

 

Description of duties:

 

I did various things such as: Made phone calls to parents, cooked spaghetti for a freshman event, spoke at presentations, helped recruit people for our Adopt a Family project, filed documents, volunteered at the new Uncommon Good site, attended educational confrences, assisted in planning event at Pomona College for entering high school students, and played college bingo with elementary students.

 

Due to the fact that I was helping at a non-profit organization there was always new events to plan and things to do, so there was no constant task that I was supposed to do (which is what I loved about it!)

 

 

Contact: Carlos Carrillo

Phone: (909) 625-2248

Email: ccarrillo@uncommongood.org

 

 

    Interpretive

 

The most important thing I gained from this experience was that I was able to reconnect with my Latino/a community and reinvest in them what has all ready been invested in me. For a long time I was not very active in my community because I was a little ashamed of the bad name that I felt many Latinos/as were giving to our culture. I distanced myself away from them, but my service learning helped me relight the passion that I had. I even had the chance to visit my old elementary school where I got quite sentimental because I was reminded of where I came from and reflected on my journey. Through Uncommon Good I was actually able to make a change in the lives of Latino/a students. By helping in planning events I was able to give back to them. I know how helpful Uncommon Good has been for me, so I just wanted to help others. I saw myself in a lot of the younger students so my service learning was an amazing experience that I will treasure always.

 

 Applied

    

For my first answer I basically said that community members must inform parents/students about resources such as non-profits like Uncommon Good.  Being able to see the good that this program does reensures me that my answer is credible and accurate. By working with students and parents who were all ready academically motivated and dreamt of going to college allowed me to see the differences in families who had not event considered college. I saw recurring patterns in families who were passionate about their children attending higher educational instituions like: active involvement within the program, emotional support from parents, and parents willingness to learn. I found it fascinating and would ask, "Why do they do what they do," which would lead to do research on a specific topic. Then I would ask, " How can we get all parents to do that?" My service learning was very helpful because in an indirect way it led me to different sources, which could have led to my answer.

Independent Component 2

La Plaza: Workshop about murals in L.A. 

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Confirmation Letter

Independent 2 Calendar Log

Literal

“I, Madelene Santizo, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 37 hours of work.” 

For my independent component I volunteered at La Plaza, which is a cultural and art museum located in downtown LA about Mexican-American history in Southern California. I did various things such as tours for different exhibitions, cleaned up exhibitions, helped with art or educational workshops, and did research projects for La Plaza. 

Interpretive

I've demonstrated 31 hours of work for my independent component by taking the metrolink to La Plaza to volunteer at big events during the weekends. Occasionally I would help give tours during the week for elementary students after school, but not as much as I would have liked to because of my school schedule. I had to be trained to become a tour guide so I learned a lot about Mexican-American history in Los Angeles. I have also supported La Plaza when hosting family events like: Cesar Chavez Day, the launch of their culinary art workshop, and La Plaza's 1 year anniversary. Though my independent component did not lead me to any "real product" I have attained more knowledge and made an impact on the lives of those who I shared my knowledge with. 

  Applied

This helped me answer my EQ because I knew that one of my answers would be related to the impact that stereotypes have on academic motivation. However, I was not aware of how this could be solved until I was inspired by what I learned at La Plaza. I saw how many Latinos/as lacked the knowledge of their own culture, and how by going to La Plaza they were learning new things. Seeing exhibitions about The Chicano Movement, Repatriacion, Gente de Razon, etc. really allowed people to see the struggle that their relatives underwent. One of the questions that I ask in the beginning of the tour is, "Do you think that you would pack up your things and leave to a brand new place if you promised a job, but would leave everything behind." A lot of people say they would not because they are not brave enough, but that is what many of the California settlers did. La Plaza really showed me the importance of knowing one's culture through history. That is why I made sure to tie in what I learned at La Plaza with my answer 2. Because of volunteering at La Plaza my best answer is Latinos/as must understand and embrace their Latino/a culture in order to reject stereotypes found in our society that limit their academic motivation and willingness to make a change. 

Helping 2013

Who did you interview: Bobbie Rodriguez
What day and time: 4/25/12 at 3:00 p.m.

(1) What ideas do you have for your senior project and why?

She is very interested in doing something with homelessness or alopecia, which is a medical condition where people lose their hair.  She explained that she wants to know why people prefer to stay homeless instead of going to a home and what causes them to be homeless. She is interested in alopecia because both her brother and sister have that condition. She said that she was not very sure on what exactly she wanted to study about alopecia, but she is interested in learning how it impacts females and males differently. 

When I first learned about her topics I thought that they were great ideas! I think that it is interesting when people do their senior projects on topics that are not so common. I thought that these are fascinating and would like to know what she finds. I told her that I like how she is looking outside the box and looking for things that are close to her. I was just worried about how she could actually do her project. I recommended that she forms connections ASAP to make sure that she had resources to ask for favors. 

(2) What do you plan to do to complete the 10 hours of service learning (working with an expert) which is due prior to senior year starting?  Note: They also have to complete the 50 hours during the school year.

She explained that she has an Uncle who lives in a home and tells her about all the stories about being homeless. She was inspired by this story. She plans to do her service learning with him if she does end up doing that. if she focused on alopecia then she would work with her sister since her sister is very active in spreading awareness about this condition. She said that her sister was even thinking about starting a non-profit organization for people with alopecia. 

I told her that helping start a non-profit organization would be a wonderful experience and help with her senior project. I was not aware that they had to complete 10 hrs of service learning before starting senior year, but I told her that it would be a great way to see which topic interests her the most just in case she was not sure. I told her to make sure to get ready to send a lot emails just in case and. I explained to her that service learning is really helpful because it is the time for you to do hands on things and learn from those experiences, but her service learning advisor would be her main source so make sure that he/she is informative and willing to help! 

(3) What do you hope to see or expect to see when watching the class of 2012 present their two hour presentations?


She said that she hopes to see that the class of 2012 know what they are talking about and show that they have learned something new! 


I did not really understand what this question meant. I said that she should pay close attention to the different techniques that students are going to use to present their information. I told her to see what she likes and may do in her presentation and see what she does not like so she does not repeat the same mistake. I advised her to look at her surroundings and observe any creative ideas. Also, she should look at what the teacher advisors may say during the presenation and take a comment of any of their recommendations or accommodations. I told her to not fall asleep, but see this as an experience to get a sneek peek of senior project's do's and dont's. 

(4) What questions do they have about senior project?  What additional recommendations would you give the 2013 student about senior project?  Be specific and note what you told them.

She was really interested in the different components, and I explained to her the major ones like independent components, I-search, service learning, etc. I also talked about how early in the semester you are allowed to think about whether your service learning is something that you will be committed to, so she shouldn't be stressed if she still was questioning her EQ. I told her that she had time to change her EQ in the early school years. I made sure to warn her about the college process and senior project. I told her that she should make time to do the college application, but to always stay on task and remember about her senior project. I explained that time management is crucial. I advised that she kept a calender with all of the dates so that she would make sure she would not have to turn something in with poor quality. I also emphasized that the senior project is not as hard as everyone says! As long as you have a passion for what you are doing then senior project is not that bad, so she should choose something that she knows she will be interested to learn more about. 

Answer #3

EQ: What is the best way to increase the number of Latino/a students that attend higher educational institutions

Answer 3: If Latinos are politically informed and vote, then the number of Latino/a students who attend higher educational institutions will increase. 

Source and Evidence: 

• Latino Education and Advocacy Days Summit
• Many Latinos are not registered to vote even though they are able to, this was said by George Ramirez. The only way that we can make change is by making change through politics!
• Look Who Is Voting. Youtube
• This video shows who is actually voting and shows video of politicians who made some sort of racist comment. The fact is that people who vote tend to be white and have certain views that may go against the benefits that Latinos have. Latinos should realize that they have power to make change.
• Election 2012: Predicting the Latino Vote
• In the election of 2012 it is clear that the Latino vote will make some sort impact, but no one is sure how much of an impact it will make. The fact is that Latinos do have power but they do not take that power into their own hands.

3-Column Chart

3 Column Chart may be found on the right side under Research