Senior Project Reflection

(1) Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your 2-Hour Presentation and/or your senior project? Why?

I am most proud of how I was able to effectively prepare for this over the course of two weeks. I was able to apply the knowledge I gained form my research and properly talked about it throughout my presentation as I delivered my answers. In other words, I had to learn new terminologies and apply it to my presentation and I was able to do so appropriately. 

(2) Questions to Consider

a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your 2-Hour Presentation (self-assessment)?

P

b.     What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)?

AP

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

In my senior project, I was able to easily find research on my topic and found many articles and sources. It was also good how the blog assignments helped move the Senior Project along at a steady pace throughout the year.

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

I'd change the way I did Senior Project first semester. I would have stuck with my original EQ. I think that my problem at first was being not knowing how to produce a good answer to my EQ. This was a struggle I had for a while, and it wasn't until second semester that I had a good understanding of how to do this properly.

(5) Finding Value

How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples. 

Senior Project has helped me find research effectively and become a better learner. Because of picking a topic of interest, I realized that I have a way of producing quality work in areas that play to my strengths. Now, I know that I can do excellent work by doing something that I'm passionate about, and not letting others make decisions for me. 

Mentorhsip

Literal

• Mentorship Log
• Robert Valledares (909) 274-8453

Interpretive

The most important thing I have gained from this experience would have to be learning to advance in my future career. This is beneficial to me because I have gained knowledge as a result of my mentorship to ensure success in my future.

Applied

Although my mentorship greatly consisted of training, I also did a lot of questioning when it came down to it. I was able to gain information on the best way for the Navy to fight terrorism. Basically a lot of talking was what has helped me answer my EQ. If I ever had anything on my mind when thinking about my best answers, I would just ask and we would go from there.

Exit Interview Questions

(1) What is your essential question?  What is the best answer to your question and why?

 

 My essential question is, "What is the best way for the U.S. Navy to fight the war on terrorism?" My first answer was keeping the use of Navy SEAL forces. My second answer is using specialized aircraft to effectively execute missions.  My third and best answer would have to be keeping the use of Navy SEAL forces. I believe this to be my best answer because where drones and specialized aircraft control the airspace, Navy SEALs have the ability to conduct operations through all fronts of battle, and even occasionally use drones. Their drones are slightly different, as theirs are portable and used mainly for reconnaissance, acting as scouts, and identifying enemy embankments. Aside from a SEAL's versatility, they are also America's elite fighting force. Specializing in unoconventional warfare, they are able to execute missions under complete stealth for snatch and grab situations.  

(2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?

   

A. As a foundation to my EQ, I basically researched everything I could think of that had to do with the Navy. I went from Basic Military Training, to how the Navy operates and fights around the world.  

B. A few of my potential answers were increasing the use of Spec Ops forces in combat, using advanced aircraft, and engaging in unconventional warfare.

C. Arriving my at my best answer wasn't really to difficult. Because of what I 've already known about the Navy, I knew SEALs were synonymous with being the elite. I decided to research further and sure enough, I discovered why they are known as the best. Their credibility lies in their mission successes.

(3) What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?

 

 At first, a few problems I faced was trying to figure out exactly who to go to for my mentorship. Since my essential question changed from how to prepare for BMT, to how to fight terrorism, my recruiter wasn't really the person to ask. Instead, I began asking my second mentor, Petty Officer Valledares, who has actually been on a few deployment himself. 

(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?

 

 My most significant source to answer my essential question was a website called navy.mil. On this website, I was able to see the specs and description of various aircraft and naval ships. My second most significant source was sealswcc.com. This website provided complete information on Navy SEALs and SWCC operators. 

(5) What is your product and why?

My product is something I'm very proud of. Throughout the entire Senior Project, I've been able to help myself with my career. Because of the knowledge I gained from the Navy from Senior Project, I was able to already go up in pay grade from E-1 to E-3. I will be getting paid more than others because of the knowledge I've gained. 

2014 Interview

1.  Who did you interview and what house are they in?
Marco Gonzalez in North House

2.  What ideas do you have for your senior project and why?
I plan on doing something that involves money because I tend to find my ways in benefitting myself towards finances.

3.  What do you plan to do for your summer 10 hour mentorship experience?
I plan volunteering at an insurance company since they will help provide with the basic knowledge I need.

4.  What do you hope to see or expect to see in watching the 2013 2-hour presentations?
A lot of good ideas that can be used or even new ideas I have never been exposed to before.

5.  What questions do you have that I can answer about senior year or senior project (or what additional information did you tell them about senior year or senior project)

How many interviews must be done and how many questions are usually required?

There are four interviews done throughout your senior project. The first two interviews are 10 questions, the third one is 20 questions, and the fourth one is the interview done here. 

Final 3-Column Chart

3 Column Chart

Independent Component 2

LITERAL
(a) “I, Jaime Plascencia, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”
(b) Petty Officer Valledares 
(c) Mentorship Log (60 hours)
(d) Throughout my mentorship, I have managed to complete many things. For example, thanks to all of the research I gathered about BMT and information on the Navy in general, I have personally benefited from it. I have gone from E-1 to E-3 before even going to training which means I'll be getting paid more from the start and I know I'll have a better income because of this. I've also had a better understanding of how the Navy operates to combat terrorism. For example, I did not know that the Navy had aircraft like the Prowler to disarm any enemy radar to sneak in additional aircraft without being detected. Essentially, I learned how many factions of the Navy work together as one effective unit.   

INTERPRETIVE  

The picture of the shirt shown above is the same shirt that I use when I go to my DEP meetings and the one that isn't given, it's earned. That's what I was told. After demonstrating that I was a potential candidate to be cleared for full duty, I was given this shirt. Sure it wasn't a difficult task, but it was still one that I had to prepare for as there were some people that were not able to receive this shirt. This shirt means a great deal to me not only because of my Senior Project, but because of the path I'm taking my life in.
The picture below is of my pull up bar. I use this whenever I PT at home. It's simple and practical, and it allows me to get a good workout as I can also attach it to rings on the bottom of my doorway to do curl-ups as well. 




APPLIED
This component has helped support one of my answers. One of my answers is increasing the use of Spec Op forces. They specialize in unconventional warfare which saves many lives. Not every mission would require sending in your normal soldier who isn't as specialized as a SEAL or a SWCC force. By using Spec Ops forces. We can more efficiently eliminate targets that have a huge influence on the opposition for example, the raid on Osama. 

Three Column Chart First Draft

First Draft