Blog 26: Senior Project Reflection

(1) Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your 2-Hour Presentation and/or your senior project? Why?

I am most proud of being able to complete a senior project topic about medicine, specifically about cancer. I have been interested in studying medicine for a very long time now, so by doing this project it let me explore the different medical options that are out there. It also helped reinforce my determination of being in the medical field as a physician. I am also most proud of being able to present in front of my peers about skin cancer, and how important it is to take care of your skin. I believe that through my presentation, my peers will hopefully engage in protective measures, such as wearing sunscreen, or UV protective sunglasses, to lower their risk of developing skin cancer, especially at such a young age. 

(2) Questions to Consider

a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your 2-Hour Presentation (self-assessment)?

AE. I believe that I deserve this grade for my 2-hour presentation because I presented a plethora of information to my peers that is really reliable and accurate, but I also felt that each activity was engaging and related to each of my answers. I also felt that after my presentation, my peers left with a deep understanding of what skin cancer was, and prevention methods they should take to avoid this disease. 

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

AE. I would give myself an AE for my overall senior project because of the fact that I have strived to do the best that I can with each of the components in the senior project. I feel that the research I have attained is extensive and AE worthy. I have worked hard to educate myself about skin cancer and really stepped out of my comfort zone to get the information I needed to have a successful senior project. I have dedicated many hours to mentorship and the senior project which showcases the work that I have done throughout these 9 months.

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?

What worked for me during the course of the senior project was mentorship, research, and independent components. I have dedicated countless hours to Kasier Permanente Baldwin Park, not only to get my hours done, but because I truly love going to the hospital to interact with the patients, physicians, medical assistants, and other staff. They have really made my experience an enjoyable one, where I was able to learn so much! Research is another component where I felt that I did an excellent job. Having a topic that concerns something about medicine, there are multiple sources where you can get information. However, some of these sources aren't as reliable as others. I continually strived to get research articles that were from reliable sources such as medical journals, the National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. The research that I was able to attain from these sources gave me reliable, accurate information which I felt confident to present to my peers. Finally, both of my independent components really helped me solidify my senior project because of the experience I was able to attain in my first independent component, and the knowledge I was able to receive in my second independent component. 

(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?

If I was able to go back in time, I would have wanted to manage my time more effectively. As the end of the senior project draws to a close, so does my college class, which would sometimes  conflict with the senior project deadlines. I felt that this inhibited me from working on my senior project as I would have liked, and have time to go to mentorship as often as I would have liked. Reflecting back, I would have liked not to take a college class this quarter, but if I didn't have that opportunity I would be missing out on the pertinent knowledge I have gained from my class. 

(5) Finding Value

How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?  Be specific and use examples. 

The senior project has been really helpful for my future endeavors. As previously stated, I want to go into the medical field, specifically as a doctor. There are so many specialities that a physician can go into, but being introduced to cancer during the course of the senior project has really highlighted this speciality for me. I especially enjoy learning about the mechanisms that certain genes undergo when inhibited by the right carcinogens, and learning the process of metastasis (growth/spread of cancer to other parts in the body). At the beginning of the senior project, I didn't believe that my research skills were adequate enough, but throughout the senior project I have improved my research skills and feel confident about the sources I get. This skill is extremely important to have because of the fact that physicians and other medical professionals constantly have to research about new treatments for cancer or health condition, guidelines to treat a certain cancers, among other things. Through the senior project, I have also gained experience of what it's like to be in a hospital setting very frequently, but also what goes on in a speciality department. I feel like this experience has opened the doors for me in regards as to what to except in medical school/ hospital, which is a feeling that I enjoy very much. 

Senior Project Update!

Today, I had the amazing opportunity to talk with Dawn Holman, a behavioral scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, located in Georgia. During this conversation, she really highlighted  the importance of educating youth about cancer prevention, and the preventative measures one should take! Dawn received her undergraduate degree in science from the University of Georgia and went on to receive her Masters degree in public health at Emory University. She became interested in skin cancer prevention due to the experiences she had as a research assistant at Emory University. Dawn has been working at the CDC since 2009.

Dawn works in the CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control's Epidemiology and Applied Research Branch.

Blog 25: Mentorship

Content:

    Literal

·     Mentorship Log

·     Odette Van Der Eb, (626) 815-6063

Interpretive

 What is the most important thing you gained from this experience? Why? 

• The most important thing that I have gained from this experience is gaining  an insight into the medical field, especially from the perspective of a specialty department.Commencing the senior project, I knew I wanted to do something that pertained to the medical field, and the experience garnered only wants me to pursue my passion of actually being in the medical field. From this experience, I been associated with the materials commonly found in a hospital, such as gauzes, CHUX, various needles, and bacitracin ointment. I have also seen the interactions among the various staff members that have shown me that you are only as good as your team, which is an important skill to have for future references. I have learned how to communicate with doctors, nurses, and other pertinent staff members, and know that a professional and friendly demeanor is essential.  I dedicated the amount of hours I did for service learning not because I wanted to get so many hours, but because I truly enjoy being in the hospital setting and interacting with patients, doctors, nurses, and other staff members. 

Applied 
How has what you’ve done helped you to answer your EQ?  Please explain.

•  This experience has helped me answer my essential question , "What is the best way to treat skin cancer in adults?" because I had the opportunity to observe skin cancer very candidly, and the treatment process that is most commonly used for basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma.Through this experience, I was able to attain my first answer, which is proper diagnosis for best treatment. When practicing the Mohs procedure, the physician would extract some of the cancerous tissue and present it to the pathologist, who would then see if the doctor removed all of the cancerous tissue, or if he/she needed to get more. This process is vital because it ensures that the physician remove all the cancer. while leaving healthy tissue intact. I was also able to get my second answer, excellent follow-up care, through this experience because when the doctor schedules the a follow-up visit for the patient, the primary reason is to check for the recurrence of cancer. 

Melanoma Awareness Month!

May is officially deemed as Melanoma Awareness Month! According to the National Cancer Institute, it is estimated that 82,770 men and women (48,660 men and 34,110 women) will be diagnosed with and 12,650 men and women will die of cancer of the skin (excl. basal and squamous) in 2013!  Below you will find a picture that depicts the necessary precautions one should take in order to avoid skin cancer.

Blog 24: Exit Interview Questions

Content:  

(1) What is your essential question?  What is the best answer to your question and why?
My essential question is " What is the best way to treat skin cancer in adults?". The answers to my essential question are proper diagnosis for treatment, excellent follow-up care, and preventative education via high school curriculum. The best answer to my essential question is preventative education through high school curriculum because if we can educate our youth to be mindful of the sun's damage, they will practice precautionary measures to avoid skin cancer. Thus, the number of people that acquire skin cancer will eventually be lowered. A study done by the University of California, Irvine medical students reinforces this answer because of the survey results they achieved.  A total of 3 surveys were given to students in grades 6-12; one before a presentation given about skin cancer, one immediately after the presentation, and the final survey given 3 months after. The results showed that the presentation left lasting effects on the students about skin cancer and how critical it is to protect yourself. 

(2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?
To arrive at my best answer,  I did an analysis of each of my answers. To get to my first answer, I first read research articles that taught me about skin cancer and the treatment options that are available to treat this disease, such as 'What are Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinomas?" by the American Cancer Society and a lecture given by Dr. Trisal. Next, with every medical procedure that it done, it is important for the physician to follow-up with the patient to make sure there are no recurrences of cancer and for the overall health of the patient. Finally, it is important to practice sun-safety by putting sunscreen with an SPF of 50 with protection for both UVA/UVB, wearing a hat, seeking shade, etc. Considering the fact that most skin cancers occur within the later stages of life due to a prolonged period of time of being out in the sun or having the exposure to UVA/UVB, it is important for youth to be aware of methods that protect them from the sun. After analyzing each of my answers, I selected preventative education via high school curriculum because even though proper diagnosis and excellent follow-up care are good ways to treat skin cancer, some of the characteristics of each could result in the patient having a poor quality of life, so by practicing sun-safety methods, you will avoid skin cancer and end up having a good quality of life.

(3) What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?
The first problem that I faced was trying to find mentorship during the summer, especially considering that I wanted to do something in the medical field. Since hospitals begin accepting volunteers in early April until early June, I felt that I was late in the ballgame, so to say. Nevertheless, I went to countless hospitals, such as Pomona Valley Hospital, San Dimas Community Hospital, Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, and  East Valley Hospital/Medical Center, until Kaiser Permanente in Baldwin Park accepted me as a volunteer. The second issue that arose during the course of the senior project was a sudden topic change in the middle of second semester. When talking to Dr. Lee for my fourth interview, she told me that my topic was too general. Dr. Lee advised to me change  to change my topic to either skin cancer or thyroid cancer. Since I felt most comfortable with skin cancer, I decided to stick with this topic for the remainder of the senior project. Thus, I had to attain more research about my topic to fully educate myself about skin cancer and prevention methods.

(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?
My first significant source was my first independent component, where I had the opportunity to observe the physician practice the Mohs procedure to remove either basal or squamous cell carcinoma, two of the most common types of skin cancer. This was my very first experience with skin cancer, even if my topic wasn't centered around that in the first place, which led me to experience the treatment that is used and the follow-up that the patient receives. My second significant source is the National Cancer Institute's webpage about skin cancer. This webpage has helped me tremendously by educating me about the different types of skin cancer, how cancer is staged, the treatment options, as well as the follow-up care that the patient should be receiving. 

(5) What is your product and why?
My product is learning how to work in a team, especially if I plan to work in the hospital setting later in the future. For my mentorship and my first independent component, I was able to observe how close the relationship is between the physicians and the nurses, as well as with the other staff working in the HNS department.  It is very important to have a professional, friendly demeanor with your fellow co-workers because they are the ones who are going to help you, especially during the procedures! Being a student at I-poly has really emphasized this skill for me, where for 3 years, you have to learn how to work in a team in order to fulfill the goal, and learn how to communicate with people to meet the goal.

Blog 23: 2014 Interview

Content:

1.  Who did you interview and what house are they in?
Jazmin Castro, East

2.  What ideas do you have for your senior project and why?
Jazmin has an interest in focusing her senior project on cosmetology. She has an aunt that works in the field, and she has always had a special interest to learn what encompasses cosmetology. I told her that there were a couple of people in the senior class that were focusing their senior project on cosmetology, so I would give her their contact information so she could know where they did their mentorship, or any other pertinent information.

3.  What do you plan to do for your summer 10 hour mentorship experience?
To complete the 10 hours of mentorship, Jazmin plans on mentoring with a person she meet on Career Day. On Career Day, Jazmin was able to meet a person who works in the cosmetology field, who was willing to be her mentor her the senior project. She's a bit unsure as to what she will be doing to complete the 10 hours, but I advised her that once she has a secure mentorship site and/or mentor then, she will most likely be with her mentor learning the tools of the trade.

4.  What do you hope to see or expect to see in watching the 2013 2-hour presentations?
Jazmin expects to see examples or deep explanations of what the senior's subject is and what specifically they did.

5.  What questions do you have that I can answer about senior year or senior project (or what additional information did you tell them about senior year or senior project)?

• For your mentorship, what do you have to do?

It depends on what you want to do for your topic. For example, my topic is skin cancer and at the hospital I just follow the nurses around and help out whenever I can. But in your case, since you want to do cosmetology and your aunt works in that field, then maybe she could let you practice on someone or something along those lines. If you can get first-hand experience in your topic, then that's better than following someone around because you are getting first-hand knowledge about your subject

• In your 2-hour what will you go over?

Basically the foundation of the essential question, the answers that answer your E.Q, and the product, which is what you hope to accomplish at the end of the senior project. For example, depending on the topic, you can say that you are going to attend college and specifically focus on your topic, or go attain a job in this field. Some of the time consists of the senior explaining what they did for their mentorship or their independent component. If your explaining your Answer 1 and you have a really cool story/experience that relates to it, then you have the opportunity to do so. 

Blog 22: Final 3-Column Chart

Final 3-Column Chart