Blog 11: Lesson 1 Reflection

1. What are you most proud of in your lesson, and why?
I am most proud of my ability to maintain eye contact and professionalism throughout the presentation. I also was able to keep my voice loud and clear.
2. What assessment would you give yourself on your lesson? Explain why you earned that grade using evidence from the component contract.
I believe I deserve a P. I met all the contract requirements on the contract. I would make it a low P however, as my conclusion was not well done.
3. If you could go back, what would you change about your lesson?  How can you use that knowledge to give a better Lesson 2?
I would find a way to make the fingerprints from my hook show up on the doc cam. I would like to also expand on my lecture topic and have a stronger conclusion. I would say to improve Lesson 2 would just to have better planning.

Blog 10 - Interview 2 Reflection

1. Please explain how you are spending your mentorship time (Is it at a workplace or somewhere else?  Are you shadowing?  Are you able to do tasks that are meaningfully related to the topic?  If so, what?  Are there other people who are experts in the location?  Etc...)

I am mentoring at the police station and evidence lab where my mentor works. I will be going to some crime scenes later on with my mentor. I do a combination of shadowing my mentor as well as packing evidence and learning CSI skills. Currently I am learning how to brush, collect, and analyze fingerprints from a variety of surfaces. There is another CSI Sheri Orellana, who is also there during my mentorship.
2.  How did you find your mentor?  How did you convince this person to help you? 

 I found my mentor through calling West Covina Police Department. I was then transferred to Detective Ted Stephen, who was able to get me an interview with CSI Sheri Orellana. Sheri Orellana offered me a mentorship after the interview, but I was not able to meet with the days provided. Sheri later called me and told me her partner CSI Tony Nyguen would be able to mentor me.

3. How would you rate your comfort level with your mentor at this point in your relationship?  How does this relate to the time you've spent so far at mentorship/with this person

I would rate the comfort level with my mentor a 6 out of 10, I would consider this relatively good because I have only known my mentor for approximately 2 weeks now.

4. What went well in this interview?  Why do you think so?  What do you still need to improve?  How do you know?  How will you go about it?

I appreciate that my mentor was very straight to the point, it went well because he was able to give me in depth answers without rambling. I feel I need to improve my communication skills, well the times with my mentor are great we run into our awkward silences occasionally. I believe I can improve this by expanding my knowledge in blood spatter and chemisty of forensics so I can ask more questions.

Click HERE to listen to the interview!

Blog 9 - Advisory Prep 3

1. State whether or not you currently have a mentor, and what the status of your interview is with that person (I have completed the interview, I have scheduled the interview, I have not scheduled the interview, etc).
I have a mentor at Pomona P.D's Forensic Department. My mentor's name is Tony Nyguen. I have completed the interview.

2. At this point, your research is probably guiding your studies toward more specific areas within your topic.  Name the area or two you find most promising and explain your reasons.
Blood Spatter has always interested me and I am looking to focus on that more. I am also looking at CSI, such as focusing on the methods of gathering evidence. 
   
3. What kinds of sources do you think will help you in the next month to gain more research depth?  Where will you go to get them?
I would say going to my mentorship will help me obtain more depth in forensics as I was previously self educating myself. I will be at the forensics department of Pomona police station.

4. Write down a possible EQ.  Please don't worry about wording other than ensuring that it provides the option for multiple correct answers.  At this point, the senior team is most interested in understanding your thought process.
What are the best sources of evidence that can be used to identify a suspect?

Blog 8: Independent Component 1 Proposal

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

I plan to watch the entire first season of The New Detectives: Case Studies in Forensic Science. Each episode is approximately an hour long; there are 40 episodes. This will equal to 40 hours of watch time.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

 I will write an analysis on each episode and a reflection on what I have learned.

3.  Explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

I will be able to learn about how forensic science is used to solve cases. This will also give insight to how I will complete my second independent component nt semester.

4.  Update your Senior Project Hours log.

Blog 7 - Second Interview Preparation

1.  Who is your mentor and where do they work?  If their workplace does not reflect their expertise, what makes them an expert? 

I do not have a mentor. I am however supposed to receive a call from an analyst in the Pomona Crime Lab. If this does not work out I will look into the offer of Sheri Orellana which was a mentorship. I have recently contacted Sheri Orellana and have yet to hear back, I will keep the senior team updated. Sheri Orellana is a 17 year veteran of the CSI department in Pomona police department. I have interviewed Sheri Orellana for the 1st interview as well.

2.  What five questions will you ask them about their background?

What classes did you have to take to become a CSI?

How long does it take to be certified?

Would you say there is high demand for someone in the forensics feild?

What majors would you recommend for someone to go into?

Is there any college you would recommend for someone interested in forensics? 

Blog 6 - Advisory

1. What has worked well for you concerning senior project this year?  What has made it a positive experience for you?

  It has been relatively easy to find research on my topic for research checks. Another positive aspect of my topic is that there is seemingly no shortage of scientists who would like to be interviewed. The thing I enjoy most about senior project is that it am able to explore who I am as an individual. Even though this project has barely begun I have learned what interests me and what doesn't. I can 100% say that I am satisfied with my topic; forensic science.

2. What are you finding difficult concerning senior project?  How can you adapt to make that portion work better for you?  How might the senior team help?

It has been hard finding a mentor. I have a possible mentorship at the Pomona Crime Lab, that I should hear back from soon. If that doesn't work out I was told a CSI investigator would be willing to mentor me even if I can't get into blood spatter as I wanted. I joined an explores program for a police department to learn about basic criminal justice as I looked for a mentor but I will most likely have to discontinue attending due to scheduling issues and other inconveniences. I am also currently looking to enroll in a forensics class.

Blog 5 - Interview 1 Reflections

1. What is the most important thing I learned from the interview?  Is there anything I would do differently for other interviews?

The most important thing I leaned from this interview is the importance of photography in forensics. I feel for my first interview, things went exceedingly well. However, if I was to do something different I would probably  want to plan interview dates at least 2 weeks in advance; it becomes very difficult when your interviewee has to cancel.

2. Did I get additional resources and contacts?  What is the most useful?  Why?

I may have gotten a  potential mentor as the CSI Sheri said, she was impressed by  enthusiasm and  will see if she can get me a mentorship in the crimelab. I was also given the contact info of a CSI named Adam Mcdonald. The most useful  resource  though is the possibility of being in a crime lab. 

3. What makes my interviewee qualified to help me?

The interviewee (Sheri Orellana) has been a CSI for the past 17 years. Sheri also volunteersee as a forensics teacher.

Audio Recording of Interview: click here 

Blog 4- House Advisory Prep 1

I hope to gain knowledge of myself  and what I'm capable of by the end of this project. By the end of this project I also would like to be proficient in the general basics of crime scene investigation and forensic science.  For my senior project topic I will be focusing on; What is the best source of evidence that will identify a suspect? I will be exploring  numerous ways to gather information on how to answer such a vital question, through this journey that is my senior project.

Blog 3- First Interview Preparation

1. Who do you plan to interview? Why?
I plan to interview Head Detective of West Covina Crime lab; Mr. Ted Stephen. Another person I might interview is Head Analyst of Orange County Crime Lab; Mr. Kenny Wong. Both of these men are experienced professionals in forensic science and in crime scene analysis. 




 2. Five questions will be assigned to all seniors to ask.  What additional questions do you plan to ask?  Ask open-ended questions.  What are open-ended questions? Click here!

A) Why did you choose to get into this career? 
B) What would you tell someone  in pursuing the same career as you?
C) If and how has this job changed your life? 

Blog 2 - Summer Mentorship

 SALES






Mentorship Hours Log




1. List the contact name, phone number, and organization of the person with whom you volunteered.
Nawid Rahimi,(925) 822-6088 , East and West Afghan Gourmet Food.


2. What qualified this person as an expert in your topic choice? 
Nawid Rahimi, is the Head Supervisor of the Southern California section of the million dollar company known as East and West Afghan Gourmet Food.

3. List three questions for further exploration now that you've completed your summer hours.    

)What Is the most effective way to sell a product to someone?

)How does marketing play an effective role in raising your sales?

)How to run and maintain a successful business?  

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

The most important thing I have personally gained from this summer mentorship is to always be aggressive. Without having a drive to succeed and a lack of aggression, you will never be able to accomplish your goals.

5. What is your senior project topic going to be?  How did mentorship help you make your decision?  Please explain.

I do not believe, I will be sticking with this mentorship. However if I were to continue a mentorship in sales and marketing; my senior project topic would be on what makes a successful business man. During the course of my summer mentorship I had learned what it takes to sell a product, along with learning how structure is key to keeping a business on track and running like clockwork. While this mentorship has been enlightening and enjoyable, I do not see myself pursuing my senior topic in sales and marketing.

(Beverly Hills Farmer’s Market where I had my first experience by myself in sales.)








(Me and my mentor Nawid)

Blog 1 – Senior Final Lesson/Interview Reflection

1.  What three lessons were most helpful for you to see, and why?
A lesson I learned while in Domestic abuse was that an activity can make or break your presentation. For Domestic abuse, the activity was well executed. While spectating the presentation, U.S. Military Intelligence I had leaned that it does not matter how exciting the topic is, if you have poor delivery then you will have a poor presentation. In Teaching Kindergarten, I learned it is important to engage your audience.

2. List one thing that you learned about the senior project in interviews that will help you get off to a good start?

 I was absent during the interviews. I would have like to ask about what are the hardest factors of the project.

 3. What topic(s) are you considering, and why?
Law enforcement or military because I am interested in developing a career in either of these fields.

4. What EQ do you think might be interesting to consider in guiding a project like this? (Please don't worry about any sort of formula...we want this question to come from your genuine interest).
What is the most important factor in solving a crime?.

5. What are some ideas you have about finding summer mentorship?
Join the police explores or find people through family.