What did you find the most challenging when selecting a topic? If you did not find topic selection challenging, why were you confident that the topic you selected was the right choice for the year-long project? -The aspect I found most challenging about selecting a topic was discovering a topic I would be interested in all year. At first I was debating among doing a project revolving around nutrition, photography, or just something involving fitness, and then I decided to do a project on veganism because I could incorporate nutrition and a bit of photography into the project. I knew veganism would be a project that I could expand on all year by doing the vegan diet as well as making a cookbook, so my project fulfills the challenge of selecting a topic which I can work on year-round.
What steps did you take to secure a mentor? Why do you feel your mentor is the best fit to help you throughout the project? -In order to secure a mentor, I had to think of someone I knew who has a unique diet. Unsure of who to contact, my mom mentioned my Uncle's girlfriend, Wendy, who is a vegetarian. Knowing Wendy is the perfect person for my mentor because she is very reliable, I texted her to see if she would be interested and she was on board with it. She is the best fit because she is knowledgeable about having an adjusted diet as well as she would be willing to work with me whenever I need help.
What action steps will you take to work on your project during the 2nd quarter? -During quarter 2, I will begin researching as well as cooking vegan desserts. My goal is to make two desserts a month during quarter two (as well as quarter 3) and these desserts will make up my vegan dessert cookbook.
Quarter 2 Reflection
As you researched for your paper, what connections did you make between your paper topic and your project? Articulate that connection as best as possible. -My paper topic is the media’s effect on eating disorders. Simply put, the connection between veganism and eating disorders is both incorporate an aspect of food. Also, diets such as vegan can possibly resort to eating disorders since females begin diets in order to lose weight when they do not need to.
In what way have you been communicating with your mentor? How are you staying on track with your mentor as you move towards completing the project? -My mentor and I communicate through email and over text. Since all I am currently doing is making desserts, I do not need to meet up with my mentor and communicating through technology is perfect. I am staying on track with my mentor because I email her at least twice a month with the desserts I made, because each time I make a dessert I send Wendy (my mentor) pictures of the dessert as well as its taste and any difficulties. I will continue to communicate with Wendy in the same way over the next couple months to finalize my project.
What action steps do you need to take during 3rd quarter to finalize your project (knowing that all projects must be completed by April 30)? If your project is complete, assess the final outcome. -For the months of January, February and possibly March I will be making two desserts a month and uploading pictures of them, ingredients, and a step-by-step process to by website to display all of the desserts I have made. After I finish making the desserts, my project will be complete.
Quarter 3 Reflection
Over the course of the year, did your project change and grow into something unexpected? Describe. -Over the year, my project changed slightly. Since I was vegan for four weeks over the summer, I thought that would be my entire project. However, once school started, teachers put emphasis on having a year long project. Therefore, I decided for three months to create two desserts each month, and this was not in my original project plan.
How will you incorporate the final project/product into your presentation? What will be your visual representation(s) of the work you did throughout this year? -I took many pictures throughout my project which I will put on display on my website and in my presentation. Also, I may make a dessert the night before my presentation to bring in for the judges to try.
What are some of the roadblocks you’ve encountered in completing your project and how did you overcome those roadblocks? -One roadblock I had was eating out and eating at a friend's house. This was always a challenge for me, because if I was eating dinner at a friend's house, I had to inform them about what I could and could not eat. Typically, another meal had to be made in order to accommodate for what I could eat. Another slight roadblock was paying for all the food. It was not particularly expensive to buy all the food, but buying all the ingredients for the desserts was a bit expensive because I could not use butter and eggs which I already had at my house. It was not a major roadblock but it was something which caused me to make six desserts as opposed to more.