Extra Blog Post - December

Ironic how the weather has just kicked up, handing us days of shivering and gloom. And yet, I no longer pursue the origin of these changes. I no longer lay my interests in the change of climate, but in medicine and the work a doctor does for her patient. 

With change of topic comes change of mentorship. Farewell Rainer Luptowitz and good greetings to Dr. Ishak Bishara. 

I mentor in Dr. B's office known as Durfee Family Care Medical Group. It's a family practitioner clinic, so treats all kinds of problems from headaches to broken bones. It's the place to go to receive a regular checkup. 

I was introduced to the this clinic by my aunt who sometimes goes into the office, making sure orders of medication are being delivered or received, or that communication is good between offices. 

My time there has been great. Dr. B, the phlebotomist Yaneli, the receptionist Candy, and all of the nurses are kind and open to me shadowing their work. 
It is a good place where patients receive the care they desire, which I am happy to see every time that I attend. 

Extra Blog Post - November

Climate Contact at Central Command

My essential questions is: What are the three ways human kind is most affected by climate change?

One way in which I, personally have been affected is a time 5 years ago. During the month of November, the weather all around was very dry, which sparked up an autumn fire. I had seen the raging fires in the news, but I never thought I would experience one. That night of the fire, my mom told me to pack my things. It felt surreal. Luckily, my dad was more optimistic, and told me that the fire wouldn't catch up to our house. I wash't too sure of his words, seeing as the fire was pretty close. Luckily, it never did catch up to us, and I was grateful. That night, I also thought of how my aunt had been forced to evacuate her own house. Because unlike us, she hadn't been so lucky and the fire burned her home.

Climate change is dangerous. It sparks more fires and peoples homes get destroyed. 

Blog 10 : EQ

1. I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.

2. 
   a. What is the most important factor in weight loss?

• Not a yes or no question, which calls for depth 
• It takes a stance, allowing for an argument 
• It is specific and makes sense
• A good EQ - Meets the rule of three     

   b. What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?

• Not a yes or no question, which calls for depth
• It takes a stance, allowing for an argument  
• It could be more specific 
• Needs some work - Does         

   c. What is most important in creating a hairstyle a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?

• Not a yes or no question, which calls for depth
• It takes a stance, allowing for an argument
• It could be more specific
• Needs some work         

   d. How can an anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?

• Not a yes or no question, which calls for depth 
• It takes a stance, allowing for an argument 
• It is specific and makes sense   
• A good EQ - Meets the rule of three       

3.  What is the best way for a doctor to increase patient satisfaction?

Lesson 1 Reflection

Positive Statement

1. From my Lesson 1 presentation, I am most proud of my content/information. I spent a while trying to decide which answer I should present about, in my presentation. I finally decided that I wanted to explain to the class that residential areas being destroyed is one way that human kind is most affected by climate change. I spent a long time researching just that component of how humans are affected by climate change. I  went really in depth with my answer, and I believe that depth was shown when I presented to the class. I was especially proud when Mrs. Wonders told me that my content was very good; it confirmed that I did my research well and presented it well. 

Questions to Consider

2. 
  a) The assessment I would give my Lesson 1 presentation: P
  b) I deserve a P because according to the contract: 

• I had great body language (I did not fidget around or make disruptive moves)
•  I maintained eye contact at all times (I never took my eyes off my audience and always made sure they were registering my message)
•  I engaged my audience by showing them pictures of different ways human kind is affected by climate change (it was engaging because we can all relate to the different climate situations), I also asked their opinion of how they think human kind is affected by climate change
• I gave three specific examples of instances where human kind was affected by climate change (hurricane Katrina, my house almost being burned down, and the lakes being dried out that I wanted to vacation at)
• I cited 5 published sources (I had the MLA url at the bottom of each slide of which source I used, and each time I had a fact, I also said the author's name who primarily had that information.)
• My whole presentation was a source from my mentor, as I said at the beginning of my presentation, because in one day that I spent with my mentor, we were discussing how human's residential areas are affected by climate change. So, a lot of that discussion information was relayed in my presentation.

What Worked for me in My Lesson 1 Presentation

3. I believe my information worked best for me. I researched a lot and in depth, so I knew my information very well. I also rehearsed my presentation many times, so spoke smoothly and without looking at my powerpoint. My powerpoint also did not contain a lot of text, but was simply a visual aid. I maintained eye contact with the audience as well, at all times. I also remained calm and professional and kept the audience's attention.

What Didn't Work

4. There were two components that did not work out as I had expected they would,  
  unfortunately. 

1. One was my volume. I believed I projected my voice well. I believed this because as I spoke, I saw kids nodding along to my words, as if they were agreeing. I saw them paying attention and engaged, and none of them looked confused or like they couldn't hear me. Also, after my presentation, I asked a couple of classmates how I did, and they said they could hear me well. Therefore, I thought my volume was not a problem. However, Mrs. Wonders pulled me aside and told me that I had spoken in a low volume. This broke my heart. Therefore, if I could, I would go back in time and speak louder and make sure that my teacher is able to hear me loud and clear. In future presentations I will also make sure I am loud and clear to everyone.
2. The second component was my time. Before my presentation, I spent a lot of time practicing my speech; to say my information in a calm and confident manner, and to also make sure I could make time. However, I noticed that whenever I present, I get carried away on my information (I get into the zone) and I just talk and I end up talking faster than when I practice my speech beforehand. That is what happened in my Lesson 1 presentation. Before, when I had practiced my speech, I hit a time of 7:10. In my Lesson 1 presentation, though, I got into the zone and talked faster and hit a time of 4:58. This is unfortunate since I could have made 7 minutes of time, at least, if I had spoken slower. If I could go back in time, I would slow down my speech speed, and also keep an eye on the clock, to make sure that I am not talking too fast. For future presentations, I will practice more on slowing down my speech.

Because of these two components that did not work out, I gave myself the self assessment grade of a P, and not an AE, sadly. 

I still give myself a P and not an AP because my content and research that I did and reported in my presentation was far better than the speed of my speech and my not so loud volume, to my teacher. 

October - Extra Blog Post for the Halloween Tricksters

One last hoorah for our dear friend, Mr. James Edwardinsky Hansen. A moment of silence for the fallen genius. Mr. Hansen has not died, but he was one of the most famous and dedicated climate scientists in our world. He has chosen to become a climate activist and retire from working at the government's NASA research group. 

Dear James was one of the first gentlemen to warn the people that human green house emissions were causing the global climate to warm up. Scientists since then have studied his predictions.
He also studied the dangers of sea level rise, and tried to explain to scientists that they should warn people more ferociously of the danger.

Mr. Hansen's research has always been important and has shown new ideas. Yet, one of his most profound qualities, was the words he voiced. James was outspoken and went far to make sure people heard of the state of the world's climate. He had even been arrested at certain times.

Mr. James Hansen was a true citizen, only wanting the best for his world's environment, for the world of his fellow brothers and sisters. He is one of the reasons I became interested in Climatology. I hope to be an active and outspoken citizen like him, to fight for the best of the world. 

Blog 8 - Research and Working EQ

Working EQ

What three ways is human kind most affected by climate changes?

     Because of precipitation level change, water level change, ecosystem change,  
     and weather change, humans are being affected in:

• Economy (resources)
• Residential Areas
• Adaptation

Most Important Source

The Environmental Protection Agency has provided a lot of insight and information because they study, record, and analyze the environment and the changes that occur. 

Mentorship

My mentor is Rainer Luptowitz, a graduate at UCR, where I speak with him. He studies precipitation changes and how it affects different regions. One day we discussed the El Nino and La Nino and how it affected regions. This made me think about how the people would be affected. I decided I wanted to focus my project on how climate impacts people's lives. 

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

Independent Component 1 Approval 

What I plan to do for 30 hours

       

       I plan to research two very common diseases in California residents. These diseases will be type 1 diabetes and cervical cancer. I will research what each disease is, how people can contract it, how it affects the person's body, and what current treatment for the disease is. These diseases are affecting our men and women and it is the job of doctors and nurses to inform them of what they are going through, and help them get through it all. I am going to spend my 30 hours researching these components, and also interview my mentor and the office phlebotomist about their experiences with patients who have these diseases and how they have helped those patients. I will then write an essay in the form of a letter to a friend, on my findings. 

How I will show and what I will do, to show evidence of my completing 30 hours

       I will show evidence, and the results of my research component through means of an essay in the form of a letter to a friend.

How this independent component will help me explore my topic, more in depth

      I believe this will help me explore my topic more in depth because my essential question is: what is the best way for a doctor to increase patient satisfaction? To satisfy a patient, the doctor needs to first understand everything that is happening inside that patient. Once they understand what the patient is going through, they will know how to better approach and help that patient. So then they will better know how to satisfy that patient. Researching two very common diseases will help me with this. Since many people are experiencing these diseases, a doctor must understand the diseases to better help and satisfy those many patients.

Senior Project Hours Log

      Updated. 

Additional Post: September

Did You Know...?

That a common misconception is: 

What is a climatologist? Oh, weather. So a climatologist is just a weather person, right? Like the news anchors!

WRONG! 

A Climatologist studies weather, yes. However, it's a little different than just weather. Climatology is different from what the news anchors report. What the news anchors report is day to day weather, Sunday through Saturday. That, my friends, is Meteorology. The study of weather, day by day, over a short span of time. Climatology is the long version of Meteorology. Climatology is the average temperature of all of those day to day points, over a long span of time. This long span of time can range from about 30 years to about 1 million years. Climatology shows the global temperature and its long term affects and other components such as that. Climatology is what shows us global warming and changing patterns of precipitation. 

Climatology also shows what kind of environment an organism lived in at a certain period in time. It shows how life could have prospered and dealt with changes. This is important because if we can know how another organism adapted to past changes, it can help us figure out how organisms can adapt now to current environment changes. 

And that is Climatology.

NOW YOU KNOW...!

Blog 6 - Second Interview Preparation

My mentor is named Dr. Ishak Bishara. He is a medical doctor at Durfee Family Care Medical Group. He has his degree and is a professional in medicine and dealing with family practice.

1. What is your position and role in your current job? What do you do?

2. What do you think a successful doctor is and how do you become one?

3. What is the educational path one must take to become a doctor?

4. What classes, experiences, other jobs have helped you the most in becoming the   
   great doctor that you are? How did they help you so much?

5. What is the most important or valuable thing you have learned from your studies 
   in college and your current work?

Blog 5 Mentorship and Research Reflection

Describe your experience in how you found your mentorship

     Once I realized and decided that I no longer wanted to study Climatology for my senior project, the thought "mentor" rushed into my head. Who would mentor me? How would I find a mentor at such a short notice? I was worried and anxious because I remembered that finding my first mentor had been such a tiresome and laborious task, almost failing all together. Luckily, my dad shared with me that there are many family members in the medical profession. We called up a few family members and friends who could not help me, but there was still hope. That's when we called my Aunt Patty and she gladly told us that she knew just the person to mentor me. Amazingly, she knew two doctors that could do it. This news was pure joy since I had such a hard time even finding just one person, before. My Aunt Patty told me a couple of days later that a doctor in West Covina was happy to help me in my project and I would be able to start mentoring right away. However, I found out that he did medical works in podiatry, which was far from my interests. It was unfortunate that I could not mentor with him, and so my last hope lay with the doctor in El Monte. It took weeks to get through all of the confirmations with the doctor and the manager of his office, but finally it was all completed. My Aunt Patty finally told me that I had a mentor. I was so happy and that Monday, she took me to the office and introduced me to Dr. Bishara and the rest of the staff. Everyone was extremely kind and welcoming and I have had good times there ever since.

What has been  your most important article you have read so far and why? 

     The most important article that I have read so far is called, "ACP American College of Physicians -Internal Medicine- Doctors for Adults." Family practice deals with biological, behavioral, and clinical sciences. Treated are people of all ages and both genders, every organ system and disease. Family practice is a very wide and general scope. Lastly, there is a family relationship between each doctor and her patient. This article was most important because it showed exactly how family practice is and what a doctor does in this practice. This was important because it is part of my main focus in this project, which deals with the relationship between a doctor and patient and how a doctor can increase patient satisfaction.

Additional Post: August

A Brief Look Into the Journey of Being a Climatologist

1. What do Climatologists do?

       Climatologists study the climate of the earth, over a long period of time. The 

  observations of Earth's climate can range from ancient times, up to current 

  times. Studied, is the ocean, atmosphere, terrain of the earth, and human 

  activity. These four are interconnected, and effect the climate. They each have 

  different characteristics in different regions, and therefore each region has a 

  different outcome of climate. Climatologists study all of these components, and 
  how they effect and are effected by human doings. Climatology is an important 
  job, as the scientists can tell the people what the state of our world is in and 
  what direction it's heading into, so that we are always aware and can know what 
  actions to take,in any case.

2. How to Become a Climatologist

    A climatologist is a research scientist, and most research career positions 
  require at least a master's degree. However, it is best to earn a Ph.D, if I am 
  to acquire a successful and reliable job, considering the high demand and 
  competition. Educational courses to take are Physics, high level mathematics, 
  Chemistry, computer programming,and sometimes Engineering. Physics, Chemistry and 
  math are required because one must know them to understand the dynamics of the 
  atmosphere, ocean, and terrain, as they work together to determine the weather. 
  Computer programming and engineering are important because the scientists must 
  know past and present climate trends to predict future ones. One of the best ways 
  to lay out the data and see the trend, is with graphical maps and models. To 
  become a successful scientist, it is important to have high skills in 
  communication, critical thinking, and in math especially. Scientists must always 
  communicate to each other, their findings, to understand, with critical thinking, 
  what is happening with the subject at hand, and how to proceed forward.

3. Why I Chose Climatology for My Senior Project Topic

  One may think that I have chosen to study Climatology for my senior project because it is my passion in life. However, that is not true. My passions lie in the arts, and I have dreamed of living my life in other fields, such as the Circus or creating movies. Thinking realistically, I decided that having a career in science would be better, as it pays well and is in high demand, due to the world's constant changing. Science, like Climatology, has some of my interest. I love the dynamic of science: how many different things work together and effect each other, even creating new things. This is why I thought to have a career in science, specifically Climatology. Climate caught my interest because I realized that weather determines every single person's daily life, which is a major role. It affects many people's actions and plans; what they wear, where they vacation. Climate changes the world, with its powerful disasters and beautiful days. And although climate depends on and is effected by humanity in absolute no way at all, humanity depends on and is effected by climate, in most ways. This is what has interested me, the relationship that humanity has to the climate. This is what led me to choose Climatology for my senior project topic. 

Blog 4: Interview Preparation

Who do you plan to interview?  Why?
      
      I will be interviewing my mentor, Dr. Ishak Bishara. He is a medical doctor at Durfee Family Care Medical Group. I am interviewing Dr. Bishara because he has his degree and is a professional in medicine and dealing with family practice.

You have to ask 5 questions.  What additional questions do you plan to ask?

    1. What is the difference between a P.A. and a doctor ?

  2. What is your opinion on Physician's Assistants (P.A.)?

  3. Why would someone want to be a P.A.  and not a doctor?

Blog 3: Topic Choice and Working EQ

Blog 3: Topic Choice and Working EQ

1.  Climatology

2. Towards what area of Climatology do you want to place your focus? (i.e. drought, 
   precipitation, cloud formation, climate determination in different regions)

3. Link On Right

Summer Mentorship Component

Summer Mentorship Component

1. Mentorship Log


2. What is the contact name & number of where you volunteered?
   
     Rainer Luptowitz
  1.760.898.9824

3.  What questions were raised because of the 10 hours of experience?

      1) How will I decide an essential question? Should it be catered towards what my  
     mentor is working on, so that he will be able to help me more?
  2) Will I still be interested in Climatology, after doing my project on it?
  3) Will I learn enough and be familiar enough with topic, after doing my entire 
     project on it?
  4) Will having a graduate student versus a professional scientist mentor me, 
     cause me to not get the most out of the whole project and experience?

4. What is the most important thing you gained from this experience? Why?

     I believe the most important thing gained was the exposure to the field, to the science I want to focus my project on, and most likely even my career. Having the chance to see a scientist actually work. To see what kinds of projects they have, the environment in which they work in, and to see them focused on their life's research. I saw that it was difficult work, but they still enjoy it because it is their passion. This was important to me because after I have gained more experience, I must decide if I want to dedicate my life to the science, and if I will have the passion to know that it is all worthwhile. 

5. What is your senior project topic going to be?  How did what you did help you choose a topic?

     I have decided that my project will be on my study of Climatology. Ever since completing the College to Career project, Junior year, I took an interest in it. Therefore, it was exciting to find a mentor in that field. And after gaining some experience watching a Climatologist work and explain their research, I kept my interest. When Mr. Luptowitz explained why things like airflow and aerosols affected climate in a region, like precipitation, warm weather/cold weather, or dry land, it interested me how everything effects each other. Therefore, I decided I wanted to keep pursuing Climatology and choose it to be my topic.

BLOG 1: 2014

BLOG 1

1.  What presentations did you see?

    Ski Patrol, Radio Frequency Field Engineer, Soccer, Clinical           

    Pharmacy, Music Store Operation, Electrical Engineering,  

    Animal Adoption, Teaching Middle School Math, Theatre  

    Acting, Organic Architecture, Counseling.

1.  What questions do you have that haven't been answered about the                                              senior project? This can be about the senior project in general, and                                      components or about a presentation topic you saw or what they said                                                  How many activities are required for the presentations?                               How much time is required for each component when presenting the project (e.g. Hook activity, best answer)?

1. What has the most important part of the senior project based on what you are seeing in the  2-hour presentations?                                                                                                                                                     The answers to the essential question seem to be most important, as they determine the rest of the presentation and activity.

1.   What topic are you considering doing and why?

         I am considering doing Meteorology, Climatology, or another  

    atmospheric or physical science because that is the kind of 

    career I am interested in, right now.

1.     What are you doing for your summer mentorship?

         I will chose a mentor who works in or specializes in one of 

    the above careers, as that will be the topic of my senior 

    project.