Senior Project Reflection

(1) Positive Statement
What are you most proud of in your Block Presentation and/or your senior project? Why?

Within my entire senior project I am most prod of  my mentorship and all the connections and advancements I was able to make throughout the year with that. Considering just my Block Presentation I am most proud that, for the most part, the class seemed very interested. I am proud of this because I was somewhat worried that people would find my topic to morbid or uninteresting and would not pay attention. In my mind, part of the way I addressed and presented the subject attributed to this interest but I could be wrong. 


(2) Questions to Considera.     What assessment would you give yourself on your Block Presentation (self-assessment)?

AE       P          AP       CR       NC

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

AE       P-          AP       CR       NC

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?
I am extremely pleased with the way my Block Presentation turned out so that is one thing that definitely worked for me. Honestly, I felt I could have continued to talk about my topic for the entire day if given the opportunity. One of the reasons I believe I found this so natural and easy was because throughout the year I never seemed to run out of good, reliable sources. No matter what I was researching, an answer, a case study, or foundational stuff, there was so much to use.
(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 had a difficult time through the year conducting my interviews, it was a challenge I faced constantly because of the nature of my presentation and the people with whom I was trying to speak with. Maybe to improve my senior project I could conduct interviews on people who would still be helpful but not as hard to meet with, possibly a college professor or retired law enforcement official.

(5) Finding ValueHow has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples.

As I have mentioned before, I have met so many people throughout local law enforcement and FBI that I will continue to utilize for as long as they allow me to do so.  Also, I am currently a candidate for a scholarship/internship with the CIA through my future college and I believe that being able to list references and provide letters of recommendation from FBI agents I have worked with throughout the year will really give me the upper hand. This project has also helped me realize that this is most definitely something I would like to dedicate my life to, and potentially do for as long as possible after completing my education. 

Mentorship

Literal

     Karen Martin

     Office of Public and Congressional Affairs

     FBI Community Outreach Specialist

     310-996-4212 

Interpretive

     I gained so much throughout the year by working with my mentor in various events. By attending these i have learned so much, seen new things, and met so many people. Yet, I believe the most important thing I have gained from this entire experience is the connections I have made. Not only will I forever remain in contact with my mentor, Karen but I have also met a countless amount of agents, directors, and normal people who all seemed interested and excited about what I planned to do in the future. Through meeting all these people i have fined valuable contacts and ties that will stick with me throughout my life. One example that made me especially prideful was when my mentor introduced me to a director and mentioned how she hoped she would still be in the FBI when I eventually joined. 

Applied

     What I've done through the past year helped explain my EQ in many ways that research never could. By having Karen as my mentor and meeting so many people in all areas of law enforcement and the justice system I was able to constantly get new opinions and ideas. This was a great help because it made a big difference in what i was constantly searching for and learning with my research. Answering my EQ was not something that came to me in two days after talking with my mentor and neither did the answer. It was a process that involved many people within the FBI and multiple aspects and jobs which really made my project larger than even I originally intended with my EQ.