Semester Reflection Part 2

What four-year college/s are you interested in and why?

For now, I have narrowed my search down to art colleges. My hypothesis is that if I go to an art college, I can not only complete the necessary courses for my GED, but also get an idea for the art business. It would be a perfect transition from school to work. I could definitely get an internship through school, and then segway into a full time job. Some colleges I am looking at are:

Otis College Of Art

UCLA

Maine College of Art

San Diego State

Seattle Pacific University

Describe your vision for yourself in pursuing higher education.

My vision for myself beyond high school and college, is one day working for a design company or a large clothing company, doing design or advertising. I feel like this is what I should be doing, and so this is why I plan on going to an art college. I would learn the real design process and gain experience through working with the teachers and mentors in college.

What is a quality in a classmate that you would like to develop in yourself?

I would have to say that the biggest quality in a classmate in which I would like to develop in myself is focus. I have a really hard time dedicating all of my time to one thing at a time. I see this quality in several of my close friends, and it helps them complete assignments, goals and projects on time and with high quality. This skill would do the same for me, and I think next year, I will have enough on my plate that I will have no other option but to focus extremely hard on each thing.

What is the greatest challenge facing your generation? What will be necessary to address it?

I think the biggest problem facing my generation is the ability to solve problems and complete goals without someone holding our hand the whole time. We need to be less dependent on other people, and adapt the mindset that the generations before us had. We have new technologies now that have allowed us to become addicted to instant gratification. We now depend on these new technologies to solve problems for us, and have forgot how to solve them on our own.

Semester Reflection 1

What project was most valuable to you, and what have you gained from it?

My most valuable project this year was definitely Ampersand. I did the cover for the book, providing me with a great portfolio item for college, as well as writing a piece I am extremely proud of. My topic was one that was very meaningful to me, that applied to me and that I was/am feeling. My piece was about the teenage job market, and the recession's affect on adults. It was full of evidence and composed of over 6 full scale revisions. I am extremely proud of everything I did with that project, and I believe I made something that will help me in the future. Therefore making it my most valuable project.

Describe one valuable mistake you made this year.

A mistake I made this year was not taking more leadership roles in Humanities. I was concentrating more on playing it safe, instead of taking a risk and challenging myself. I decided to end this cycle by taking on the lawyer role in the Mock Trial project. I went into the project very nervous about the amount of work I was getting myself into. It was hard getting used to, especially because the project was only a week. However, this didn't change the workload. As I progressed through the project, the research turned into fun. I enjoyed finding points to ruin someone else's. So I guess my biggest mistake was not taking more of these opportunities.

What challenges do you face as a student in a project-based learning environment?

Some challenges I face as a student in a Project-based learning environment, is the option to work alone. You don't get lot of these chances normally, however this year I did. I took advantage of these in projects like Media Saves The Beach, in which I created an art piece and a research paper alone. The art piece went on to be sold to Larry Rosenstock . I would have to say that is the biggest challenge in an project based learning environment.

Writing Reflection

When I walked through the 11^th grade commons before exhibition, I read a piece of my writing from the beginning of the year. It was for the American Icons project, and as I read it, I couldn’t believe I wrote it. Full of repetitive sentences, constant “-ing” verbs, and way too many sledgehammer words. Immediately after, I went inside and read my Ampersand piece. I was astonished with the differences.

I realized that when you follow the writing tips, it fixes every problem you are having with your piece. When I eliminated “-ing” verbs, my piece sounded more professional and began to flow a lot better.

Example from piece:

Before

Men and women in their 50's and 60's left stocking shelves, working the register, bagging, all tasks which my parents described themselves doing when they were teenagers.

After

Men and women in their 50’s and 60’s left to stock shelves, work the register, bag–
all tasks which my parents described themselves doing when they were teenagers.

In my ampersand piece I also began to use evidence more to my advantage. My piece was about the teenage job market, and the recession's affect on adults. I use a lot of evidence, 99% from primary sources. Research papers by the Census, Department of Labor, etc.

Example from piece:

“Teenagers who deliver newspapers, bag groceries, or serve hamburgers in their after-school jobs are often more likely to go to college and have better lifelong careers. And make more money, too,” wrote Alexis M. Herman, Secretary U.S. Department of Labor in Report on the Youth Labor Force in June of 2000.

In the future, I hope to write fluently with all the writing tips in mind. Ampersand was my best piece of writing this year, and still, I made several revisions the whole way through. I continually referred to the writing tips list constantly, and in the future, I hope they stay installed in my head.

Historical Buddy?

I think I would most like to run into FDR. He seems like the nice nerdy kid in a wheelchair. Now, he wasn't diagnosed with polio until later in his life, but I would like to picture him in a wheelchair his whole life. We would be in the library together, and I would ask him to help me with a history paper about the founding fathers. He is my age, but looks much older, and busier, but he helps me anyway.

We carry on talking, and our conversation becomes a casual get to know type of conversation. He tells me he has been dating a girl named Eleanor and is planning on marrying her as well. I disagree with his decision and asked him if he was afraid of getting old. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," he replied.

He was working on a political paper. I am in no way a politician, but he seemed to carry on talking as if I knew anything about what he was saying. He kept describing himself, "I am neither bitter nor cynical but I do wish there was less immaturity in political thinking." That I understood. He had an interesting way of communication that the dumbest of the dumbest even understood what he was talking about.

I chose FDR because he seems like an interesting person that I could see myself actually getting along with. An optimist with a strong sense of humor. Everyone fell in love with FDR, what is stopping me?

Sources!

FDR Inaugural Speech

Second- No Known Source. Couldn't Find.

Housemate- Gatsby

If you could bring one character from any one book that we have read this year with you when you go to college, who would bring? Why?

Straight up Gatsby. I would want him to be my housemate in college; not only would he have no trouble paying for necessities as well as "recreational activities" but he would be the perfect partner in the way that he would help hook it up with cute girls at every function that we would throw. He is a good looking guy, but also he has kind of a sketchy side as well which I do not appreciate, but in this case I am using early book style Gatsby, before he became a softy. The bootlegging part of his identity isn't too much of a problem anymore, considering prohibition came to an end in 1933.

With Daisy out of his life, he would become the perfect roomate. No more crying in the middle of the night, and running around complaining about his problems. None of that. So off we would go on our quest for knowledge and the college experience one day at a time. Enjoying each others company for the following 4 years.

Trial Reflection

1. Summarize the facts of the case, as presented by the prosecution. Include relevant witnesses and testimony.

We gave constitutional and bill of rights facts. We let the jury know through john adams and james madison that what they were doing was going against everything we worked for as a growing nation. We also used facts recalled prior events in history in which the us government had tried this sort of law before, and they all were abandoned or put on trial for racial profiling or they were deemed unconstitutional. We kicked ass in this trial.

2. Summarize the facts of the case, as presented by the defense. Include relevant witnesses and testimony.

The defense used facts from Jan Brewer most, and tried to convince the jury that what they were doing was not " racial profiling, but they were "protecting arizona citizens AND the immigrants themselves". They brought up the heat of the desert and the danger in crossing.

3. What was the most significant piece of evidence, in your personal opinion?

The most significant piece of evidence to me were the rules stated in the constitution about states' rights, and how sb1070 is breaking these rules. A state does not have the power to set immigration laws, just like states cant declare war, make treaties etc.

4. What was the most significant argument made, in your opinion?

The prosecution's (mine and dvaughns) argument above. That about how sb 1070 is breaking the constitutional rules that prevent states from declaring war, making treaties and making immigration laws from another country. They tried to argue against it, but we won the jury over, convincing them that they were clearly wrong.

5. What do you personally believe the correct verdict should be? Do you agree with the jury? Why or why not?

In real life, I am half and half about it, but in this trial, my team did the most research. We prepared harder and longer. And we wanted it more. So therefore, we convinced the jury to believe what we told them, so I agree with them as well.

In my complete honest opinion. I believe i deserve a 50/50. I was up late every night. Sweat blood and tears went into this project for both me and dvaughn and my whole team. We deserve every last point possible. We researched harder and longer than any other team, and we were more prepared than any other team. We dominated.

Letter People

Private Rand L Sharer

I have decided to be an AMERICAN SOLDIER IN MIDWAY

I chose this because I watched some videos in class about it, and it was a successful battle for Americans. I want my letter to be semi- happy and anti depressing.

I am going to be a younger male who sneaked into the navy, and barely survived the battle. I am writing to both my parents, and 17 year old gf back at home.

LINKS and RESEARCH

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/midway.htm

In command of TF 16 was Admiral Raymond Spruance, who had taken Halsey's place at the last minute when Halsey had been packed off to a Honolulu hospital suffering from an odd dermatitis that covered his entire body. Spruance was almost the opposite of the pugnacious Halsey, a cerebral and even cautious commander with cool, steady judgment. But in the Battle of Midway, Spruance stretched "calculated risk" to the limit. When the Japanese Striking Force was located, Spruance quickly determined that it would be several hours before he would be in the best position to launch his planes. He decided not to wait; risking everything, he let loose with an all-out attack at once. Spruance knew that striking immediately would increase the odds of catching the Japanese ships at their point of maximum vulnerability, just as they were recovering the Midway strike force. He also knew it meant that his own torpedo bombers would run out of fuel before they could make it back to their ships. With luck they might be able to land at Midway; more likely, they would have to ditch their planes and make the best of it.

http://www.worldwar2history.info/Midway/Battle-of-Midway.html

WW1 & WW2

1. What are the most interesting aspects of World Wars 1 and 2?
World War One- the thing I found most interesting was the truce on Christmas. I thought that was crazy, but I don't think I would be able to do that.

World War Two- The flying fortress' role in the war. (the bombing of the ball bearing factories, nagasaki/hiroshima...)

2. What do you hope to learn about these wars?

The in depth stories and reasons behind all of the important events that Randy always brings to the table when we start a new subject. ( ;

3. How/Why are these wars important today? How do they impact and/or inform our world today? hint: think about alliances, democracies around the world, cultures, international institutions, nuclear (and other) technologies, etc.

They are important today, because we can attempt to learn about what we did wrong, and how we can go about fixing them next time. They impact our world in many ways, between friendships grown through the war, the future that could have been if things would not have happened the way they did, and the technology that we discovered through the wars (the nuclear bomb, machine gun, fighter planes etc)



And btw, Josh Hartnett was inspirational in pearl harbor.

GOW FINAL ESSAY

Grapes of Wrath Essay- Philosophies

Jim Casy’s moral philosophy guides the novel by the transformation he sparks in Tom Joad, the personal affect he has on the other characters, and the personal affect people have on him. His morals slowly altar the novel’s direction, inspiring many characters to take action towards improving themselves and their situations, in order to repair the damage the depression has caused them and their families.

Casy was a vocal person. When we met Jim Casy in chapter four, he immediately voiced his opinions on several things such as sin, faith, and the human spirit during a conversation with Tom Joad. “Ain’t got the call no more. Got a lot of sinful idears –but they seem kinda sensible.” Page 20. When we first began to read, I had mainly negative opinions of him. He first spoke about how after his sermons, he would always take a woman out into the grass and “lay with them”. The image of a pedophile former priest came to mind whenever I would read his name. However, as I continued to read and dissect his words, ideas and beliefs, I began to relate with a lot of them. “I love people so much I’m fit to bust, sometimes. An’ I says, ‘Don’t you love Jesus?’ Well, I thought an’ thought, an’ finally I says, ‘No, I don’t know nobody name’ Jesus.” Page 23. As the novel continues, outsiders Jim Casy and Tom Joad become close. As they traveled, Jim’s words began to register with Tom, a former felon with a bad attitude. Jim Casy spoke about the love he saw in people, and how there are people who do good in the world, and people who do bad, but we all are connected together as a bigger soul. Towards the end of the book, the transformation is visible after the death of Jim Casy hits Tom hard emotionally. His emotions all come together in a burst of inspiration to fight for what Jim Casy spoke of. “Then I'll be all around in the dark - I'll be ever'where—wherever you look. Wherever they's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Wherever they's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there... I'll be in the way guys yell when they're mad an'—I'll be in the way kids laugh when they're hungry and they know supper's ready. An' when our folk eat the stuff they raise an' live in the houses they build—why, I'll be there.” In the end, Casy’s words and beliefs helped Tom realize the good in humans, and encouraged him to promote kindness. He also helped Tom see the power of people coming together as a group. Casy believed, and Tom went on later to quote that two men together are always better than one man alone. "When they're all workin' together, not one fella for another fell, but one fella kind of harnessed to the whole shebang -- that's right, that's holy"

Jim Casy was once a preacher. He would travel from house to house, door to door, sharing beliefs that would soon leave him. He felt that, if he had trouble finding a reason to believe the laws and rules put down by structured religion, why should he be preaching that message to people. "Before I knowed it, I was sayin' out loud, 'The hell with it! There ain't no sin and there ain't no virtue. There's just stuff people do. It's all part of the same thing.” Along his travels, and throughout his life, he never asked for payment from another person, only a meal. These acts of kindness helped people get through the things they were facing easier with help and advice from Casy without payment. Without him, things probably would have been a lot harder to bare. "I brang Jesus to your folks for a long time, an' I never took up a collection nor nothin' but a bite to eat."

Jim Casy was affected by people, just as much as he positively affected people. Both him and Tom Joad were almost outsiders, not understood by many people. As he began traveling and working in various places, he discovered his love for humanity, something he was willing to give his life in order to defend. His sacrifices and words are often biblical. His last words "You don't know what you're a' doin'" is an almost exact reflection of Jesus' last words, "Forgive them father, they know not what they do." The characters inspire him to help the workers being used by the companies and corporations controlling the farming industry. He attempts to gather them, but fails when he is killed during a riot. His martyrdom steered the novel in a huge way, impacting the Joad family as well as all the people that knew him.

Jim Casy gave the novel a figure that people could take advice and inspiration from. He brought love to the people, and sacrificed his life in an attempt to save the people being used wrongly. His moral beliefs guided the novel's direction, and without him, the book would be even more depressing then it already is.

Dear Mr President,

You should change your name to Robin Hood. Steal from the rich, give to the poor fits your plan for the coming years of your term. You have left the upper middle class with a sense of fear. Fear that our money isn't coming back to us in the end. Fear that one day, healthcare will be the same for all people, even those who can and can't afford it. Fear that one day immigrants from southern countries will be welcomed into our country, and given rights and money that many americans no longer have. So Mr.President, give us our money back, assure us that those who work harder then others, will earn more then others and go on now, apologize..kiss it.

Ampersand:Freedom vs Structure

I like the freedom I got for ampersand, because there was a vast range of topics I could choose from. Even though my piece is being directed a good deal towards internship and work, I feel like I never would have thought of doing what I am doing without the hours of thought and free work time we got. I feel like I have used this free time well.

I like the structured aspect because it makes the book a little more readable and professional. This prevents kids from writing about childish and completely unrelated topics.

Choose one character from The Grapes of Wrath and list four important quotes said by or written by this character. Explain what you believe these quotes reveal about the character

Tom Joad

"What the hell you want to lead 'em someplace for? Jus' Lead 'em."

I loved this quote for several reasons outside of the book's meaning of it. This reveals to me that Tom is very opinionated and free spirited, and doesn't like it when people tell him what to do with his life. That doesn't mean he doesn't appreciate advice or guidance, he just doesn't want to be forced to take a single path. He is just living.

" I don't give a damn who know it. An' I'm goin' to my old man's place so I don't have to lie to get a job."

This shows me he is honest and he isn't easily affected by other people's view of him.

"But sometimes, a guy'll be a good guy even if some rich bastard makes him carry a sticker."

This tells me his family and him aren't very wealthy and that he is a straightforward guy. He doesn't hide much.

"I ain't got a thing in the worl' to win, no matter how it comes out."

He has nothing. He is a loner and sort of a rebel.

Interview

For someone two weeks overdue on her first baby, Leslie Gereghty was surprisingly optimistic about doing an interview over the phone. Her voice is unique; a raspy calm whisper similar to someone with a constant cough or frequent asthma. She takes deep breaths in between words, I admire that. People don’t think before thinking anymore. As I edit our interview, I am having a hard time deleting the pauses and long breaths I had marked. They seem well placed-intentional. She sounds tired though, more than usual. Coming from an afternoon meeting, she had been rushing around all day. From day one, I had always looked at Leslie with great amazement. She seems like one of the people that are too creative. She is one of the people that you model your life after, an artist in every meaning of the word. I dressed formally when we met for the first time, sweater vest and slacks. She told me before I left, “Never wear a tie.” I respected that. I have noticed that she is always running. She always has something going on. At first I wondered if being so wrapped up in music all day, had taken away any of the joy it once gave her. “Yeah, it has, unfortunately. I think in one hand it’s good, because now we play music all day long, but it does mean that I don’t play music during the day, and then come home and play music just to relax me anymore.”

Interview: Leslie Gereghty

Q: How and when we’re you first inspired to pursue music as a career?

I think I probably knew from a very young age that I do would do music. I don’t ever remember not being a musician; I started music lessons when I was four.

Q: After going through college and getting your bachelors in music, what would you advise someone my age to do right now if they wanted to pursue the same thing?

Choose your colleges and majors carefully. There are just so many careers in music between law and business and performing. There are so many. So explore, really research different alternative degree programs that are applicable to the things you want to learn.

Q: After getting your bachelors, then masters at northwestern, you pursued doctoral studies in the Department of Music and Human Learning at the University of Texas at Austin. What did you do? What was it like?

Music and human learning- college level music teaching and education. It was a lot of research; and I already had a masters and bachelors degree in piano performance, so it was something new. I was always working as a musician. I never just went to college. I was always teaching. So that was good, because some people don’t even work in college, and they are dumb (Laughs). So I was gaining experience while I was learning. I ended up leaving Texas for a good job offer that I couldn’t resist.

Q: What was your job offer?

Senior editor at a music publishing company.

Q: How did these courses change your views of music? What did it teach you that you didn’t already know? Did it change your views on music?

That’s a good question. It was a lot about how people learn and how…I’m not sure if this will translate, but a lot of teachers teach things, and the students don’t really learn. Teachers have to be responsible for their students learning. It taught me a lot about how the human brain works and learns and processes information, which helped me.

Q: Do you feel you made the right decision going into an art related field, opposed to a more guaranteed higher paying business profession?

Yeah, there is a saying that you don’t choose music, music chooses you (Winton Marsalis), and I think that is very true. I think that there are three different groups of people. People that do music because there is nothing else, and they are often in trouble. Then, there is the second group that do it because they can’t see themselves doing anything else. Then the third group of people that find a balance to do music and something else, which is cool, but I was definitely the second group. I don’t want to make it seem like if you are unsure about something not to do it, but you will definitely know. It’s all about your experience.

Q: Even with a bachelor’s degree in music, did you feel unqualified going into music as a profession? Were you nervous? Did you ever feel that you weren’t good enough?

Oh yeah. Of course I did. It takes a lot of time to gain enough confidence and experience to feel good about your self as a musician. There are still parts of my business that I feel like a total klutz. Even though I never doubted my degree choice, there were so many times I wanted to quit. I had serious struggles with doubts.

Q: How did you overcome those? Did you put those thoughts aside?

I realized I was there for me. Regardless of if I won the competition or if my career was important to anyone else, I didn’t care what they thought. I knew what I was doing and I knew why I was there. It wasn’t their life. I didn’t care. You just have to focus on what you want. It’s like that band teacher you had. He said you weren’t good enough. You weren’t good at the skills he required, but he didn’t see what you WERE good at. That’s why you have to keep going, and not always listen to people that may be professionals.

Q: With a baby on the way, and your business directed towards music lessons for kids and adults, do you think that having the baby will give you a chance to learn about a child and their views on music as they grow?

Oh sure. It will be really fun to expose her to music at such a young age. And that will probably be a whole new area of curiosity for me.

Q: How did opening a music studio teach you about business, the balance of money and time, and how to keep a business open in troubling times?

Well, it teaches you everyday. And I mean every day; and I come across something I don’t understand everyday. But, I also have sought out professionals that can support my areas of little knowledge and help me understand more; people like accountants and mentors and business advisors. I have no business background and they helped a lot.

Q: Has your business been affected by the market? How so?

I do think so, because any time before, that I’ve ever started a teaching studio, it just exploded. But it has been a lot slower of process this time. People will call and ask how much it is, and say thank you very much and hang up. Music is not a necessity. Like for you when you never got lessons, it is probably because it just didn’t fit into what you needed at the time. It was last on the list. It is unfortunate.

Q: How does your work affect their personal life? Do you still find yourself doing all the things you once did before this company was your main priority? (Jamming)

Yeah, it has, unfortunately. I think in one hand it’s good, because now we play music all day long, but it does mean that I don’t play music during the day, and then come home and play music just to relax me anymore. So yeah, it has in a way.

Q: Is music still fun for you? Or has it become business?

Well, my job is fun, you know? I absolutely love what I do, so its fun in that way, but its still a job so I have to do things I don’t like to. Like, memorize the chords to a song by an artist I hate, because a kid wants to learn it. (Laughs)

Q: Did teaching music affect you in any way? What have you gained from teaching?

I just love the look on people’s faces when they get something. And it has brought so much happiness into my life that I just want to share it. And I want other people to feel that. It became a matter of fulfillment for other people, where as performing its all about you, and who you are impressing. I just feel a lot better sharing it.

Q: Were you ever an intern? Where? How was your experience? If not, why?

Actually I never was. Well, when I first started teaching I got a job at a college level, and I was assigned to a professor that mentored me because I didn’t have any college teaching experience. And I had to watch his lessons and he had to watch mine and it was annoying and I hated it. But I learned a lot from it.

Revision Questions:

What can I add to the intro?

Do you have any suggestions for the sub headline?

Do you think the intro matches the interview?

Internship: Week 3: Last Day

This photo displays the design aspect of my internship project. I did a lot of advertising for them, needed or not (haha).

I liked this one most because it is calm but also flashy. I think it displays a theme of modernism here, flaunting helvetica bold with various color gradients and mixed opacities. I like it.

This one is a summer camp sheet I was asked to design. I originally made this on illustrator, saved it as a jpeg, inserted it into illustrator again, and ran a live trace on it, giving it the hand drawn wavy look on the text. I once again feel like this displays an aspect of modernism. With illustrator, your possibilities are endless.

Internship Final Week- Day 3

Leslie Gereghty- Recreational Music Center (Owner/Teacher)

1) Q: After getting your bachelors, then masters at northwestern, you pursued doctoral studies in the Department of Music and Human Learning at the University of Texas at Austin. What did you do? What was it like?

Music and human learning- college level music teaching and education. Lots of research; and I already had a masters and bachelors degree in piano performance...so it was something new. I was always working as a musician. I never just went to college. I was always teaching. So that was good because some people don’t even work in college…and they are dumb (Laughs). So I was gaining experience while I was learning. I ended up leaving Texas for a good job offer that...you know I couldn’t resist.

Q: What was your job offer?

Senior editor at a publishing company..Music publishing.

2) Q: Do you feel you made the right decision going into an art related field, opposed to a more guaranteed higher paying business profession?

Yeah, there is a saying that (Winton Marsalis) you don’t choose music, music chooses you. And I think that is very true. And I think that there are three different groups of people. People that do music because there is nothing else...and they are often in trouble. Then, there is the second group that do it because they can’t see themselves doing anything else. Then the third group of people that find a balance to do music and something else…which is cool…but I was definitely the second group. I don’t want to make it seem like if you are unsure about something not to do it, but you will definitely know. It’s all about your experience.

3) Q: Even with a bachelor’s degree in music, did you feel unqualified going into music as a profession? Were you nervous? Did you ever feel that you weren’t good enough?

Oh yeah. Of course I did. It takes a lot of time to gain enough confidence and experience to feel good about yourself as a musician. And there are still parts of my business that I feel like a total klutz. Even though I never doubted my degree choice, there were so many times I wanted to quit. I had serious struggles with doubts.

Q: How did you overcome those? Did you put those thoughts aside?

I realized I was there for me. Regardless of if I won the competition or if my career was important to anyone else…I didn’t care what they thought. I knew what I was doing and I knew why I was there. It wasn’t their life. I didn’t care. You just have to focus on what YOU want. It’s like that band teacher you had. He said you weren’t good enough. You weren’t good at the skills he required, but he didn’t see what you WERE good at. That’s why you have to keep going, and not always listen to people that may be professionals.

4) Q: How does your work affect their personal life? Do you still find yourself doing all the things you once did before this company was your main priority? (Jamming)

Yeah, it has. Unfortunately. And I think in one hand its good, because now we play music all day long; but it does mean that I don’t play music anymore, and then come home and play music just to relax me anymore. So yeah, it has in a way.

5) Q: Did teaching music affect you in any way? What have you gained from teaching?

I just love the look on people’s faces when they get something. And it has brought so much happiness into my life that I just want to share it. And I want other people to feel that. It became a matter of fulfillment for other people…where as performing its all about you, and who you are impressing. I just feel a lot better sharing it.

Internship Final Week- Day 1

In the course of one typical workday, how many different people do you directly work with? How many people are indirectly affected by your work.

On a typical day, I will work with anywhere from 2-5 people. The studio is usually quiet due to the lessons in progress, but different teachers will rotate in, and I will help them prepare for a lesson, break down, manage their upcoming schedule etc. I don't think people are indirectly affected by my work. I can't think of how anyone would be.

Describe your direct collaboration with others—how does it go & how does it influence the work?

Direct collaboration is something I haven't experienced in great amounts at my internship. I have been a very independent worker in everything I have been doing. I have been helping a lot with events that the RMC has been having such as their Fun Friday and RMC Jam events. I guess that could count as collaboration, because the teachers and I work together to accomplish a common goal. Working together with the teachers to host good events, teach productive lessons and ensure a common sense of learning together have been a couple main goals I have tried to accomplish with the teachers and students at the RMC. I think this has influenced the work in a very positive way. I hope someone has walked away with something more than a music lesson because of something I have done.

Describe your indirect impact on others through your work—there are probably many people you never actually see who are affected by your work. How does this happen? How does this influence your work?

I think by designing advertisements for the RMC, people have seen them and have began to think about taking music lessons. Who knows if I have inspired the next Hendrix, Peart, or Lambert. This influences my work by inspiring me to keep designing for companies, because all it takes is the right design to catch someones eye, enough for them to read the poster and be inspired.

How might different resources change the way we work?

I think with better resources, my internship could expand their lessons and appeal to an older and more experienced audience. Right now, their classes are more directed towards the young (3-13) and older (40-70). I think by having more resources (Better drums, acoustic drums, brass lessons etc) they could close the gap between 13 and 40 and appeal to young adults such as myself.

How would you use collaboration if you were in charge?

If I were in charge, we would work a lot more as a tightly knitted team. A team bound to teach every kid a musical instrument before they get an xbox or ps3. To teach them how to think on the spot and play collaborate with friends on more creative things than xbox live. Participate in a quartet, join marching band. Something has to change with the exposure of music to kids.

Internship:Week 2, Day 4

My week was a very difficult week. I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do as my final project. I ran into conflict with my mentor several times about what they wanted me to do and what I wanted to do myself. There were arguments and disagreements, but through talking with my mentor and teachers, I have realized that I can only do the best I can do. I guess the highlight is negative, but positive in the way that it was a learning experience. Life at work is constantly busy, stressful and confusing. People often encounter obstacles and challenges. Some hit the obstacles and fall, while others find a way around them. I am trying to learn how to find my way around them. My week was a roller coaster. I hope I can get off of it soon.

Internship: Week 2, Day 3

Today I hit a brick wall. I was stuck, sick and extremely curious about how this internship and my projects were going to get finished on time. It lead me to think about how someone in my situation would take this obstacle, and overcome it. How someone in the world would climb over the brick wall and keep going. It has made me wonder about how incredibly hard it must be to have constant pressure and stress to keep your business afloat and a constant income in these times. I am just an intern, and I am feeling so much stress just to succeed. From now on, I am more inspired to constantly try to find a better way not to have to encounter these walls; and to find a way around them before I hit them.

Questions For My Mentor:

Do you feel you made the right decision going into an art related field, opposed to a more guaranteed higher paying business profession

How do you feel this choice affected your life and future?

With a baby on the way, and your business directed towards music lessons for kids and adults, do you think that having the baby will give you a chance to learn about a child and their views on music as they grow?

Even with a bachelors in music, did you feel unqualified going into music as a profession?

How did opening a music studio teach you about business, the balance of money and time, and how to keep a business open in troubling times?

Internship: Week 2, Day 1

I have grown to appreciate teachers more. It takes a lot more then it looks to teach something. I say this because I have began to teach music and several other things on a daily basis. The words and actions it takes to do something that you have aquired a skill for, are like chinese to someone who has never done it before. It comes naturally to you, but getting someone to understand, is very difficult. Last night, my neighbor called me asking for help in biology for her final tomorrow. She asked if I was good and I said that I had taken honors bio and could help her with what she needed. When I got there and sat down, I didn't know how to explain anything. I could answer trivia and narrow down multiple choice, but had forgotten how to get to where I am. It led me to wonder how my teachers were so good at making you understand. I don't know if its the several years of repeating the same lessons over and over again, or good memory or something else. All I know is that it is not easy.

Project description

I work at the Recreational Music Center. The Recreational Music Center is a music studio in NTC that teaches lessons and classes on all different instruments. I am doing several projects. One of my main projects is creating a First Time Buyers Drum Reference Sheet for parents and students looking to purchase their first drum kits.

Through making this, I am hoping to learn even more about the quality of drums. I am also looking to help prevent people from wasting money on bad quality drumkits that are still expensive. I will include a list of what to look for when buying a drum kit, a list of good starter kits and bad starter kits. Something like this would have been helpful to me when I was looking into buying my first drum kit.

By doing this, I will be helping the RMC find more affordable drums for their customers, and also for them as well. I began research for this project on Wednesday. On Friday I went up to Anaheim for the North American Music Merchants Show where I saw many good products, but also a lot of bad ones for customers to be aware of.

This project is going to take a lot of research and time. When it is finished, it will be anywhere from 5-7 pages with pictures and stories from other people that got fooled into buying a bad drum kit when they were young such as myself. It is going to take a lot of writing, so I am going to need to spend a lot of time with several drafts of the final project.

This will be exhibited at the RMC Jam on January 23rd. I am trying to get a couple of special guests and bands to appear at this event in Liberty Station. I will also hopefully have a draft done by this friday.

Summary

This was an amazing week at internship. My internship sent me up to every musicians heaven-The Namm Show, where I met several inspirational people and got a couple more clients for my internship. It was the best trip of 2010 so far. My cohort meeting went well also which I feel made my internship mentor a little happier about the whole internship experience. I think we will be starting off with a whole new outlook of this experience on Tuesday.

I faced several challenges this week. I had a lot of work that needed to be done, but I am still working hard to finish everything. I needed to concentrate a little harder and make myself free from distractions, and it is working well now.

Something that surprised me this week was the amount of clients that they had. I cleared out their database of clients that were former and new, and they have a lot more than I expected. I didn't expect a lot of people coming in for their events, but a solid 20-25 people came through, which made me feel good about the amount of people that will be seeing my final product.

I would describe my first week to someone that has not had internship before in one word. REAL. It was so unbelievably similar to what you are scared of going into an actual job. But just as other things do after the first week, it got better.

Internship-Day 6

My interview is going to be hard. My mentor is counting down the days until her baby arrives, making solidifying dates for things very difficult. But I am hoping to learn a lot more about my mentor/mentors.

Some things I would like to learn a lot more about are:

How does their work affect their personal life?

Do they enjoy doing what they do?

How did they decide to make music their career opposed to anything else? Was it a hard decision?

Do they feel that working here is harder then working at a traditional workplace?

These are all important to me because they are all things I am asking myself when I think about going into music. I hope hearing from them will help me understand, and I will take their advice into great consideration for the future.

Internship: Day 5

Project title: Drum Reference
Project description: Create a detailed reference sheet for customers at the Recreational Music Center looking to buy a drumset. Include price differences and information on what to buy and what not to buy.
Project schedule:
Friday-NAMM SHOW
Tuesday-Fri- work on getting information, and filtering information from the Namm show.
Mon-Wed.- Work on design for the reference sheet.
Materials & Equipment needed: Printer, Paper, Computer.
Project documentation: How will you keep track of your work?
I have been keeping track of my work in a folder on my computer, through pictures of my travels and quotes from people on various occassions.
How will others know about it?
Through my blog and through passing it out at my internship.
What will you have to show when internship is over?
Several completed designs, a completed reference sheet, several pictures from the namm show, and some other things that are still being developed.

Internship: Day 4

PROJECT IDEAS-NARROWED

• After School Music Program
• Advertisements Inside NTC Buildings
• Update Student Roster
• RMC Jam Event

1. What academic skills could you use on the job?
Time management and organization. I am an organized person in general, and I think I could somehow incorporate that into my work for internship, as well as my final project. Possibly a better way of organizing things for the studio, or updating work to make it more organized.

2. What forms of collaboration could you use in a project?
I want to collaborate music, art, and business into my final project by possibly having bands play at one of their events to increase the amount of people that come in.

3. What technical skills can you use at your internship?
I can learn a lot. So far I have learned how to sync 5 different instruments together to be able to hear each other, so people can come in with several people, and jam a song together electronically.

4. What new things can you learn while working at your site?
It is hard to answer this, but I have learned a lot about real world job application and how much it really takes to own and run your own business.

5. How can you exhibit, showcase or otherwise share your work?
During their weekly friday fun nights, during their RMC jams, over one of their summer courses, during one of their classes or during one of their friday night liberty events.

6. How can your work or your skills & abilities help your company or organization?
By giving them an extra set of hands and eyes to help carry out everyday tasks. I feel like I got here right on time to help them out with whatever they needed.

Internship: Day 3

PROJECT IDEAS

• New logo/website template
• After School Music Program
• Advertisements Inside ntc Buildings
• Update Student Roster
• RMC Jam Event
  

Answer these questions to get started:

1. What skills would you like to develop at your site?
I would like to develop a better schedule and method of doing and keeping track of my work such as a daily work log, to do list or a separate blog for my work.

2. What interests do you have regarding the work done at your site?
I am interested in the teaching of the classes and lessons. They are laid back and very casual, but still extremely helpful. I think it would be fun to teach a class there or at least assist a teacher during one of the lessons.

3. What needs can you address (needs your mentor has, your company has, etc.) based on your skills and interests?

Organization of the roster/calendar and daily work. I can produce new designs for them without having to pay for a designer to make them. I can be on hand at events where normally they are short staffed.

Internship: Day 2

Ben Wasserman

Recreational Music Center

Look back on your first two days at your internship.

What have you actively done to start off on the right note?

What have you actively done to create interesting opportunities for yourself?

What have you actively done to advance the interests of your mentor and/or site?

What can you do in the immediate future to improve yourself and your experience in the above areas?

It got off to a bad start. My mentor and I were not on the same page whatsoever about my internship there, so for the first couple days it was awful. On Friday we talked about everything that was bothering us, and it all boiled down to a series of misunderstandings. I am now starting on the right note with cleared air and a positive outlook on what is to come.

I have began working on a series of small projects, from which I will filter out the one I want to concentrate most on. On Friday, I worked at their Friday Night Liberty/Fun Friday event, and was suprised at the number of people that showed up. It was good to see that there will be a lot of people that I can display my work to outside of the High Tech High Community.

With a brand new start at a great internship site, I am looking forward to showing them my hard work and self motivation that will lead to a great project. To prevent any other misunderstandings, I will need to be more descriptive, personal and honest with my mentor. I feel like this is what got us to the bad start before. Not anymore!

Internship: Day 1

Ben Wasserman

Recreational Music Center

Pretty sweet Roland electric drum kits. The coolest part about their studio, is that all the instruments can be streamed together for lessons enabling several kids to play together on the same song at the same time. I get to test them out to make sure they work in the morning!

The walls of the office are decorated with album covers of several bands including U2, Michael Jackson, The Doors, The Beatles etc. This inspires students to ask about these classic and influential bands as a way of appealing musical education.

Just Jammin, you know. They have groups of 4 Pianos located all around the room. The studio must have anywhere from 10-12 pianos, 10-15 Guitars, 8-10 Drum Sets, and massive amounts of Percussion such as steel drums, shakers, harmonicas, hand drums, bongos etc.

The day started at 10:15 when I woke up. It was quite the amazing change from waking up at 7:30 every morning. My hours will typically be anywhere from 10-4 or 11-5. I was able to get up, make breakfast, shower, get ready casually, and arrive 15 minutes early. I am interning at the Recreational Music Center in the Karate building here in NTC right by Vons. When I got there, we got straight to business jumping off what we had discussed in our previous visits. Overall I am pretty stoked, but also very nervous. I want my project to reflect me. I have to work on finding that middleground where I will be helping them, but working on something that reflects my best skills, dedication and professionalism. I love my mentors, love the studio and location. Being so close allows me to walk back and forth from there to school if I need anything. The day ended well, and I see Friday going well.

Their business has actually stayed pretty neutral through the recession. With the arts being pulled out of the schools, parents have been enrolling their kids through music classes outside of school, but at the same time, parents have been less willing to spend money on recreational activities such as music classes for their kids.