WHAT MAKES FOR A MEANINGFUL SENIOR PROJECT?

THINK – PAIR - SHARE

One Example• Day in the Life of a Physician Assistant • Kendall Baab• Goals of my project: To explore and experience a career as a Physician Assistant in an

Emergency Room. Be able to ask him and other medical professionals about their careers and learn what to expect in college when majoring in the medical field and continuing onto medical school.

• Community Mentor: Luke Beecher• Summary of the project: I will go to Maple Grove Hospital during the two week period,

May 26th to June 6th, of field work for a total of 48 hours and observe Dr. Beecher in the Emergency Room at Maple Grove Hospital. If allowed I will be able to sit in on appointments and maybe get to meet or talk to different patients. I will journal about the events that happen, take notes on things that draw me into this particular medical career, and things that I learned that day. I hope to learn about a typical doctor’s schedule and standard hospital protocol. But also new innovative procedures and techniques that are being introduced into the hospitals and emergency rooms. Ultimately, I will present a day in the life of a Physician Assistant and what I have learned from this experience in my exhibit presented on June 4th.

Another example…• What’s the verdict?• • Hunter Panning • Community Mentors: Judge M. Wentzell – First Judicial District• • Goal: I have three main goals for my project. One: I would like to further my knowledge on the

background of the criminal justice and court system in Minnesota. Two: Formally be present during multiple court hearings and understand the full sentencing process. Three: Gain a more broad perspective of the justice chain from the point of admission to the point of expiration or conditional release.

• • Summary: During the seven day field experience, the first two days I am going to spend on

researching the criminal justice system and create a display board on my findings. Next, I am going to shadow Judge Wentzell for approximately five hours for three days. The next two days, I am going to do a ride along with a Chaska Police Officer. Those ride alongs are 10 hours each. The last day of field experience, I am going to do final preparations for the exhibition day. I going to be put all my journals together from all days and create a display board on the last seven days.

One more example• Planting our feet in the community…• • Group Members: Bailey Holasek, Cari Roberts, & Jemina Jarvilehto• Community Mentors: JoAnn Meyer• Goals of our project: Our main goal of this project is to help the residents at

Auburn Manor. Having visited nursing homes before to see loved ones and friends, we understand that the environment you are living in can make a huge difference on how you feel and your outlook on life. We will be able to make the area they see almost every day one to remember and a beautiful and serene escape. We will also be able to spend time with the residents and get to know them better. They don’t have very many visitors to begin with so to be able to sit down with them and really listen to what they say it makes them feel loved and makes them feel important. The mentoring aspect of our project will be to learn more about the plants we are working with and how to properly place them around an area so they grow and will look put together.

SENIOR PROJECT STUDENTS LAST YEAR SAID:

• The hardest thing about the project was:• 59 “time – related” responses; such as:– Organizing– Finding time outside of school– Coordinate plans and schedules– Getting paper done on time/deadlines– Getting in the 48 hours

The Seniors Said….

• The best thing about doing my project was:• (58) “Making a difference”/ serving the community; such

as:– Spending time in the community – Making relationships– Knowing we helped a great cause– Having a positive impact…– Working with kids– Having opportunities to public speak– Being able to establish a legacy at CHS– Finishing an knowing it made a difference

The Seniors Said….• I learned the most/the most meaningful…• Hard work pays off• Being able to study and get experience in a field that isn’t covered in school• Help me choose my career (real-world experience)1111• E-mailing a lot of people at once and keeping organized• A good outcome takes dedication and patience• Passing something down to the youth and teaching them/giving back 111• It was harder than I thought it would be• Time management / having a deadline 1111111111• It means a lot to know our project will be at the school to inspire future students• Actually getting to do something rather than just studying it• Getting to spend time on something I’M passionate about• The proper materials • The time I spent doing the things for the community• I learned how to work with a group/people skills/teamwork 111111111• I learned I’m never having children of my own

The Seniors Said…..• Making a difference / I learned to be beneficial 111 11111• Getting tips for the future• People don’t respect the earth• Organization is the key to success• Learned from my difficulties and challenges 111• Having satisfaction from seeing happy clients from their progress• Healthy lifestyle/living• To achieve my career there is a lot of time and work• Getting to know the students/kids I worked with 111• Talking to people about our project• That Chaska is a great place to live and I hope I come back to see it!• That it’s all about helping people• The most meaningful thing about the project was the feeling of self worth I gained.• The feeling of contribution and accomplishment 1111111• I learned to give everything a try with an open mind.• Small donations can make a big difference.