5-3-12

This 62nd post may very well be my last. Tomorrow is the due date for final submissions, and I am just about ready to give my things to Correa. In fact, I had everything ready to print, but the school district's recent changes in their firewall have messed the entire system up, so I can't download anything to print it out at school.
I still want to paste labels on my graphs, denoting which regions are phase I, Phase II, and so on. I will print and do this at home and have my final submission tomorrow. I still need to get the recording of my presentation from Correa to send to my third judge tomorrow.

Unrelated, I have been really struggling between UT and USC. I feel more connected to UT, but I think that is because it is more familiar. USC is very far, unknown, and scary to think about, but I like its academic programs better. UT is giving me a little bit better financial aid, so I still will probably end up in Austin, though this process of struggle has made me feel like I will be even less happy there because I have discovered just how rigid their majors are. Sure, you'll learn depth, but UT is not very interested in breadth. I hear thet this is the kind of school that just wants your parent's check and wants you out in 4 years. It's very depressing. Oh well...:/

5-1-12

My presentation was yesterday. and I think it went reasonably well.
As I was practicing over and over Sunday night, I couldn't seem to get the timing just right. I kept taking about 40-45 minutes to get through the power-point. I knew this would be shorter when I actually presented, but I was very surprised (and happy) with what happened: 19 minutes, 48 seconds (+15 mins. of Q&A)! My judges asked really good questions. Most of the things they asked were things that I had put in my presentation initially, but then took out to try and keep the time down. My judges were Dr. Olaf Stuve  (Professor of neurology/neurotherapeutics) and Carol Montgomery (psychologist). I plan to send it to Janice Jones (massage therapist) for a final judging.
I just have to write the conclusion of my final paper now. I know what to write, but I still have to take about an hour to sit down and type it out. Today, I wrote most of it in class. Mr. Correa extended the paper deadline to Friday, May 4th, so I have a few days to get this done. He says that he prefers electronic submission, but since I have hard-copies of my data, he says that he will accept a paper submission in a folder, so I will do this and get it to him by Friday.
Next week are APs! I am very close to being done with this project. It will be a huge relief to finally be through. After testing, senioritis will really begin to set in as senior-week begins. At its end is the finish line: graduation. Then I can start the 4-year cycle all over again at the bottom, in a new town with new people. It's a little frightening that everything I know will no longer be the way it has always been, but I am trying to stay positive and look forward to the adventure.

4-25-12

I am about halfway done with my paper, so I worked on that today. I present MONDAY

4-23-12

I collected data today from Nohemi, Taylor, Sheridan, and Jamilla. This means that I am DONE with data collection! Hershey says she'll do it tomorrow, but I will go ahead and compile the data I have tonight.

4-19-12

I began the day calling USC and UT to clear some things up regarding financial aid.

I Collected data from Vanessa Webb today. Nohemi went MIA for pretty much the whole period, so I didn't collect data from her.
On the bright side, Hershey, Taylor, Nohemi, and Caroline all will be able to give me data on Monday (they say).

4-17-12

Collected data from Anna, Jordan, Jon, and Daniel today.
Daniel's data was bad, because he was uncooperative during testing, so what I collected from him will need to be thrown out.
This brings me to a total (thus far) of 7 successful, usable data pieces. With 3 more, I will be at my very bare minimum. Nohemi has volunteered to help on Thursday, so I will need to find at least 2 more victims by the end of that day. The more results I can get, the better, especially since there are so many subjective variables that I need to equalize.

4-12-12

Yesterday, I collected data from Luis afterschool and today I collected from Kristen and Jeniz during class. It looks like I'll be able to just get about 2 people in, back-to-back per thesis period. At this rate, I should be done by no later than April 20th. I'm 40% done with data collection. :)
Dr. J and I are meeting on Tuesday next week to discuss the statistically correct way to manipulate and display the results.