Blog 6 - Advisory Prep

The life of a CSI.

What has worked well for you concerning senior project this year?  What has made it a positive experience for you?  

• Overall from what I have done  so far Senior Project has been a great experience for me. Coming into this project I wasn't expecting such a positive experience. I'm learning valuable skills, knowledge, and gaining applicable work experience. Definitely one of the things that has worked so graciously well for me is my mentorship at the Pomona Police Department. My mentor is so unbelievably well versed in her field, and since she teaches Forensics, it helps her explains topics to me. At mentorship she throws so much information at me my poor little pen can't keep up.  Not only is my mentor instructing me on Crime Scene Investigation, she is also having me actively participating in her work to gain hands on experience and training. Which she explained to me is evidently a huge step towards a career in the Forensics Field.  Even if If my future deviates from the Forensic Field I am still learning skills that will be useful in any career. One of which is professionalism, and this is because I  have helped her package evidence in real or current crime cases. I am shown graphic images of horrendous crimes, so what is expected of me is to maintain that professionalism. Also by maintaining this professionalism I show I can handle, and that I am readily prepared to behave in a work environment. My mentorship has certainly made my Senior Project worthwhile and has given me a positive experience. Another thing that has worked well for me this year in regards to Senior Project is my Independent Component. Which is a Administration of Justice class over at San Gabriel Valley ROP. My instructor is kind and knowledgeable about Forensics, so when the time comes I do plan on interviewing him for my Senior Project. His positive attitude and some of the other students positive attitudes, since it is a small class has made my experience at San Gabriel Valley ROP a great one. Any advice I would have for other seniors is to just speak up and use their voice. If your struggling to find mentorship take a class or workshop related to your field and speak to the professor or instructor to see if they know anyone. Chances are they do which was how I found my mentor.

 What are you finding difficult concerning senior project?  How can you adapt to make that portion work better for you?  How might the senior team help?

• There is not much I find difficult concerning senior project. My mentorship is  running smoothly, my Independent Component is going great. After receiving clearance to count it as both IC's I don't have to worry about finding another one. I have more than enough people to interview and research is fine. The only thing that is getting to me is time. As I previously discussed with one of the senior team members I have a very busy schedule. Monday-Friday from 3-5 PM I have Independent Component. On Mondays or Thursday depending on the week I have mentorship from 1-3:30 PM. On days I have mentorship I worked out with the professor of my Independent component class  to come in a little late. On some Wednesdays depending on the time of the year its Pep Rally Committee, and every Thursday is the school newspaper club. Also I switched my volunteer work from Tuesday to Monday 6-8 PM. Saturdays are piano lessons, and Sunday I receive math tutoring for the SAT. All this on top of doing school work , Independent Component Class work, applying to colleges, while studying for the SAT's, and don't forget all the extra training I do to maintain my hobbies. All this creates for one heck of a senior year, and yet I'm still trying to find time to be a normal teenager and go out with friends. Yay! The Senior Team cant grant me the gift of time so this will be something I will have to manage on my own. The only adaption I have made is to become very good at time management, and using my planner. 

My daily calendar.