Helping 2013

Interviewee: Priscilla West
April 24, 2012 1:50PM


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

• Priscila: I was thinking of doing film, but specifically documentaries. If not, I could do cheer because I'm going to be in cheer throughout senior year. I was in cheer for nine years and I love it so it wouldn't be a problem. If I do documentaries, I would like to focus on social issues like the California Public School System, or rather the state of it. 
• Me: You already know how you're getting your hours?
• Priscilla: Yes, for cheer I know a place and I could volunteer to get my rates deducted. 
• Me: How about for film?
• Pris:  I don't know how I would get hours for film, but I want to get into sociology so it would help me. I could take a film class, but I'm in ROP this year, so I wouldn't be able to do that.
• Me: You could take a class at Cal Poly.
• Pris: Yes, but I don't know if I can get one for both semesters. 
• Me: Make sure to look into before you give up on it. 

 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?  

• Pris: I have two hours for cheer already. I have a private lesson for it. For film, I have a friend that knows the director, and I've met him before so I can call him up and see if I can help out on the set or do anything. It needs to be with a professional right?
• Me: Service learning needs to be done with a pro, but if you really, for film, you can make your own as your independent component. If you met with a professional to get feedback on your work you could document it and present it as evidence of work. 

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

• Pris: I hope to see things I can learn from, whether it is about their topic or how to present. I hope that it's hands on and we don't just sit there for an hour and a half doing nothing. 
• Me: I like that you want it to be hands on, because some people don't want to do anything. Please, encourage your classmates to bring the required materials. I would cry if I was expecting people to bring something and they showed up empty handed. Also, come on time for everyone's sake because it looks bad on you, and it distracts the presenter. 

Do you have any other questions?

• Pris: How many different components are there?
• Me: It's hard to count them because there are components that go on through out the whole year. Basically there are Independent Components 1 and 2, four interviews, science fair, and research is counted as a components. 
• Pris: How crazy is the work schedule?
• Me: Personally, I have been on a really crazy work schedule because everything just snow balled. You look at the schedule and you think "Oh, this isn't due until next month," and you focus on what's due at the moment. The problem is that these projects take weeks and you end up waiting until the last minute. If I could redo this whole year, I would have sat down and planned out how and when I was going to finish each thing. It's really up to you if you want to take this advice, but I really wish someone would have warned ma about how easy it is to get caught up in the daily work and forget that you need to do 30 hours worth of work for independent components or how busy your interviewee's schedule may be, or even that finding reliable research material can take a while unless you can buy a book. Try to never underestimate how long something will take. Ask the current seniors how long it took them to do these things to get an idea of the average time. Prepare yourself!