Extra Blog Post : December

So for I didn't do much for this month in December due to the fact that my mentor is only in when there are school days open. The first 2 weeks of December all I did was go visit my mentor and I also spent some time with the child I'm being a big brother to. Now that we've been on vacation I haven't been able to due much because the child I work with is on break and my mentor's office is open on school days so they're on break too. 

Extra Blog Post : November

Well for this month all I did was hang out with the kid I'm doing the big brother program with. I saw him 4 times this month and all we really did was play soccer and football. It's the usual thing we do now a days. I recently bought him a football since he said he likes to play football. This month was pretty easygoing.

Blog 10 : EQ

1.   Review this.  Confirm by stating "I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ."

Essential Question 
Once a topic is chosen, the student will develop a working essential question.  The purpose of the working essential question is to help the student build a strong foundation of research which will allow him or her to create an essential question that encourages depth and rigor in the chosen topic.  An essential question must:

• Provide a framework for studies (It calls for breadth and depth of research, Is not a yes/no question)
• Take a stance (It allows you to argue some point, Cannot be a recitation of facts or a list)
•  Format (It is specific, The wording makes sense)

I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.

2.  Review the following EQs and

• Tell us if each meets the rule of three.
• Tell why they do or don't.

 a.  What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss?
Yes this meets the rule of three and it allows for multiple answers, arguable, and wording is good. 
 b.  What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?
No it does not meet the rule of three. It can be researched, it's arguable, but the wording doesn't make sense.
 c.  What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?
No it does not meet the rule of three. It can be researched, somewhat arguable, but it doesn't seem to specific.
 d.  How can an anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?
Yes this meets the rule of three. The wording makes perfect sense, arguable, and can be researched. 
3.  Based on your review of the rule of 3 and your experience with assessing four EQs, please write another draft EQ for your senior project.  The senior team will be meeting with students shortly for EQ revision and approval; you are expected to bring your research notebook to that meeting with your EQ draft written inside in pencil.
What is the most effective way to help out a person who is dealing with depression? 

Blog 9 : Lesson 1 Reflection

1. Positive Statement
What are you most proud of in your Lesson 1 Presentation and why?

I am proud that I actually made time, that I had tons of information to even go over time, and I got comfortable real quick. I'm proud of that because I didn't think I would be that ready for it.

2. Questions to Consider
       a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 1 Presentation (self-assessment)?
       AE       P          AP       CR       NC
I would give myself a P.

       b.     Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 1 component contract.
I'd give myself a P because I met the P requirements and I mentioned my research, mentorship, and a real life example. I also maintained volume, eye contact, and I think I kept my audience engaged. 

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 1?
What worked for me in my lesson 1 was that I actually liked talking about my topic and could've gone over time just talking about my topic.

4.  (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 1?
If I had a time machine I would write down more notes on my note card so I could talk more about things I wanted to mention because after I finished presenting I thought of more things I could've said.

Extra Blog Post : October

This month I've just been doing the same thing as before, but yesterday when I went to go and be a big brother to Jard, we actually watched a bmx freestyle event. I asked him if he wanted to play football since that was his favorite thing to do, but he wanted to watch the even so it was cool to just watch the event until I had to go. I recently want to my box back at the office as well to see if there are any more kids I can work with, but sadly no.

Blog 8 - Research and Working EQ

1.  What is your working EQ?
How can you best help out a person deal with depression?

2.  What is a possible answer to your working EQ? Please write the answer in thesis format. 

• The best way to help out a person would be to give them antidepressant medications and psychotherapy. 
• Antidepressant medications combined with psychotherapy has been proven to be effective. 

3.  What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ?

The most important source for me to answer my working EQ has been APA(American Psychology Association) because it is a site all about psychology. 

4.  Who is your mentor, or where are you doing mentorship, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?

My mentor is Patti and she works at the School of Mental Health Services and what I'm doing relates to my EQ because I'm doing a big brother program and I get to see what I can do to help out the person I'm working with. 

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

What I plan to do for my 30 hours is to be a big brother to kids who are depressed. I will go over to their school and take them out of class for an hour just to play on the playground, draw, color, talk, and pretty much just hang out with them.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

I can show evidence by taking a picture with the child I'm working with, show some of the drawings, and show other things we've done together.

3.  And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

Doing this will help me explore my topic more in depth because I'm actually working with a child that is going through depression. I can see how each child would be different from the other, I can see what I should or shouldn't talk about when I'm with them. 

4.  Update your Senior Project Hours log

Extra Blog : September

For this month I've began to work with 1 kid. I was suppose be to working with 2 other kids but one of the boys mom's never got back to me about when to get her approval. As for the other boy, he is a more recent case, I need to go back to the office so I can check what school he goes too. For now, the kid I'm working with is a very relaxed, funny little kid. He's in the 4th grade and his favorite thing to do is play sports or draw. I go to his school and get to take him out of class for an hour. So far I've gone to see him 5 times. I have a bag that my mentor gave me that has supplies like a deck of playing cards, drawing book, colored pencils, colored markers, crayons, a soft toy football, and some clay. 

Blog 6 - Second Interview Preparation

1.  Who is your mentor and where do they work?

My mentor is Patti Azevedo and she works at the School of Mental Health Services. 

 2.  What five questions will you ask them about their background?

-What has it been like to work with the School of Mental Health Services?

-What did you have to do in order to work here?

-Where else have you worked? Doing the same thing as you are doing now though.

-What college and classes did you take?

-How was the job when you first started out? 

Blog 5 - Mentorship Reflection

1. Mentorship question: Describe your experience in how you found your mentorship?  If you haven't found one yet, describe your experience so far in the search of a mentor.
I found my mentor through Mr. Purther. I was having trouble finding one at first, but luckily Mr. Purther gave me the email and number to my mentor. My mentor actually was a mentor for someone that already graduated. 

2. Research question: What has been your most important article you have read so far and why?

I actually haven't an article that was most important to me. I've read different articles and the one I found most useful was by the National Association of School Psychologist because it gives you information on childhood depression, some reasons why a child is depressed, the risk factors, what you can do to help, and even more resources, websites, and organizations. 

Extra Blog : August

Hello there. This is my extra blog post for August and I will just tell you what I am about to do in the month of September. My topic is going to be on psychological counseling, otherwise known as psychotherapy. My mentor, Patti, found some kids that I can be a big brother to while they're dealing with depression. I even got my own little box that has my name on it where she will put other forms like the one in the picture down below which means more kids for me to work with. She also said that she's going to get me a badge with my picture on it saying I'm legitimately working with the School of Mental Health. I didn't have the chance to do that over the Summer because no parent wanted there child to have a big brother, they felt that they're son or daughter was fine. I have 2 kids that I can be a big brother to now. I can meet up with them 1 hour once a week, but for some strange reason 1 mother hasn't replied to my email and the other one hasn't answered my call.

Blog 4: Interview Preparation

1. Who do you plan to interview? Why? 
I plan to interview my mentor Patti because she has experience in what she does and she can provide me with information that I need.

2. You have to ask five questions. What additional questions do you plan to ask?
I'll ask her questions more focused on depression in the kids that she's worked with. I'd also ask her what books or articles she recommends that I read.

1. What skills do you think are needed to help out a child with depression?

2. What books or articles do you recommend that I should read that are about psychology or depression?

3. What are the do's and don'ts when helping out a child with depression?

4. Has there been any problems in the past where a child that you worked with who had depression and something else like anger or suicidal thoughts as well? 

5. How do you help out a child dealing with depression? 

Blog 3: Topic Choice and Working EQ

1.  List your topic here: 
Psychology. I want to help out teens or pre-teens with depression.

2.  Write a question that helps to focus your research this month.
How can you best help out a person deal with depression?

3.  Post the working bibliography (WB) on the right hand side of the blog and share it so anybody can view it. 

Blog 2 : Mentorship

1. (Know) Using google doc (drive) link a log of specific hours and a description of your duties (click here for an example) to your blog post.  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rRUbGnyaaZGPayvYbQ_ZIKukFBGC8BGuK3Qne93ppf8/edit?usp=drive_web

2. What is the contact name & number of where you volunteered?
 Patti Azevedo
Program Administrator
School Mental Health Services
Pomona Unified School District
605 North Park Avenue
Pomona, California 91768
909-397-4491 x26594
909-623-9560 (Fax)

3. (Need to know) What questions were raised because of the 10 hours of experience?  List them.     What's a good strategy when helping someone deal with their depression? 
What if the person isn't really cooperative? 
What if you have your own personal problems? 

4. What is the most important thing you gained from this experience? Why? 
The most important thing I gained from this experience, even though I actually didn't be a big brother to a child dealing with a depression just yet, was to put the patient first. Each session would be different, either bad or good from the last session, but either good or bad, I can make it better. 

5. What is your senior project topic going to be?  How did what you did help you choose a topic?  Please explain.
My senior topic is going to be on helping pre-teens, possibly teens, deal with depression. I've always loved taking the time to help out some one that is sad and slowly make them happy again. By doing what I did it helped me realize even more that this is something I could see myself doing in the future. 

Blog 1: 2-Hour Presentations

1.  What presentations did you see?
Lizzeth Acuna - Karate 
Jasmin Quiroz - Soccer Training 
Sarah Solar - Goalkeeping
Francisco Gonzalez - Film Production 
Samantha Cooper - Military Leadership 
Nathan Mira - Graphic Design 
Richard Reinaga - Independent Filmmaking 
Erika Lara - Acting 
Rhaven Innis - HIV
Isaac Salas - Engineering 
Kimberly Gonzalez - Counseling 
Jesus Ortiz - Soccer
Alexis Teixeira - Teaching Kindergarten 
Adrian Olivares - Strength Training 
Jazmin Castro - Physical Therapy 
Stephanie Salas - Counseling 

2.   What questions do you have that haven't been answered about the senior project? This can be about the senior project in general, any components or about a presentation topic you saw or what they said.  
-How long do you have to talk? 
-How long can your activity be?
-Do you have to mention your mentorship?    

3. What has the most important part of the senior project based on what you are seeing in the 2-hour presentations?
The most important part would have to be making sure that everything is in order, makes sense, powerpoint has plenty of information, and not too much talking. 

4. What topic are you considering doing and why?
I'd like to do my topic on counseling psychologist because I'd love to help people deal with their problems. 

5. What are you doing for your summer mentorship?
Honestly I'm not too sure what exactly to do for my summer mentorship, but I'll most likely go volunteer at a hospital.