Final Reflection

     Overall 20 time this year for me, was very surprising and educational. Before venturing to discover the world behind people who go on vacation for a job, I had many preconceived assumptions about this line of work, one being that it was easy and carefree. Unfortunately, like any job, travel blogging requires a lot of work to be put into it, in order for it to function properly as a paying job. Through researching and talking to the bloggers themselves, I discovered that the traveling is fun and well worth it, but in order to maintain their statuses, they must constantly be online, updating, blogging, writing, responding to followers and keeping up with the latest. 

     As for what I could've done better, I believe I could've tried to contact a few more PLN. I'm happy with the people that did resond, but I had a lot of other, not as famous, bloggers follow me as well that I had a feeling wanted me to ask them questions as well. Unfortunately, specifically because they wanted me to contact them, I did not:) I see now I might have benefited from their input as well.

     Overall, because this was a self made project, I do not believe there is anything more you could've done to help us. The student, in this situation, is solely reliable for the outcome of his work. 

     I'm not entirely sure what you mean by self directed, but in relation to twenty time I do enjoy being my own boss of the project and having the freedom to include any and all information I deem important and reasonable. 

     I could've tweaked my PLN plan by reaching out to more people. There weren't too many travel bloggers that I found, that I actually liked. Therefore the ones I did like were limited to 5-6 and only half of those got back to me and answered the questions. I could been a little less selective in the people I chose to contact.

     I would change my approach by working more during class than out of class. I tend to get my best work done outside of the classroom, and that results in me wasting class time. I would also change my approach by starting earlier and contacting more people.

     I would have to say that school in general prevented me from making this project better. With so much else to do what with thesis, finals, and all the end of year projects as well it has been hard to find the time to wrap this up. Not to mention senioritus is making me lazier than usual...

     I utilized my technology skills by reaching out to people on Twitter and connecting with them through email. I gained skills by learning new things about travel bloggers and how their line of work, although initially appearing rather laid back, requires an engaged, tech savy, adventurous person. I strengthened those skills by creating a better presentation than previous ones and by gathering more PLN.

     Overall I feel like the 20 time project is fine the way it is, Although I would recommend several of them in a school year rather than just one. 

The Final Blog

     Well its been a long past 13 years but the time has finally come. My senior thesis is next Monday, graduation is 2 weeks away and my grad party is 2 weeks after that! I honestly thought this time would never come.

     Overall this year has been average. I was expecting a bit more, being senior year and all, but it wasn't all bad. I've met a few new people, have been a few more places and experienced a few more things. My highlight of it all was Costa Rica. I wish we had been able to stay there as long as last year's class did. I definitely feel like we could've done even more had we stayed longer. But I did enjoy the time we were there. Being able to help the kids and witness to them was incredible. I loved being there and serving them. I also liked spending time with my classmates in a different setting. Up until Costa Rica I literally only saw some of them while at school. Another thing I enjoyed was praise team this year. Last year I only played for about two chapels but this year I did almost all of them. I really liked playing guitar for chapel, youth group and youth Sunday's. One of the cons of this year would include the complete lack of senior lunches. I was expecting to have a lot more of those but we ended up only doing one and it wasn't even on a day we had school. Another one, (and believe me I'm not surprised since our class is pretty lazy), is that we never did a senior prank...but there's still time...

     Overall I would say you could have explained the coding and how to navigate the websites better. I know a lot of that stuff we can find if we look it up online but even reading it online it didn't make sense. I would suggest showing rather than telling.

     I feel like I could have started my 20 time project earlier I waited a little later and I know if I had started earlier I could've gotten a few more PLNs than I now have. I also could've taken greater ownership of my learning by working more in class. I tend to only get the most work done outside of class since I hate working at school. 

     One of the biggest highlights of my year was, as I said before, Costa Rica. I really loved being there with my class and going to the schools. I liked the fact that we really were able to make a difference. There aren't too many days in the school year where I really feel like I've made a difference. We're kind of sequestered away here, when I was in Costa Rica we were meeting new people everyday and actually making a difference in their lives. Another highlight of this year was being able to drive myself to school everyday. Up until this year I had to wake up early with my mom everyday to go to school. Driving to school this year meant I got to sleep a half hour more and go home right after school instead of waiting for my mom to finish working or catching a ride with someone. The last highlight of my year was being able to play guitar on the worship team for a full year. 

     My summer plans are working at Goddard preschool. I also have a graduation party planned for June 29. After that I'm going to Rome, Italy with my mom for a month! We're going to visit some of her cousins while we're down there, tour a bit. My aunt and cousin might be coming with us too but the plan is to hang out with distant family members and see the Colleseum and stuff. After that I'm going to Assateague island for a week with my whole family and then I'm just going to work for the rest of the summer.

     Overall my years at MACA have been educational and very supportive of my relationship with Christ. Although it has sheltered me from a lot, I'm thankful for the setting I have been given and the wonderful examples I have had to follow.