Blog 23: Senior Project Reflection

(1) Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your block presentation and/or your senior project? Why?
A: I am very proud of the fact of how I kind of interacted with the students a bit during my presentation. I have a pretty broad and straightforward topic and I can lose the audience anyways and thus, by having them interact and communicate with each other at some point during my presentation is really nice. 


(2) Questions to Consider

a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your block presentation (self-assessment)?

AE       P /AP       CR       NC

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

AE       P  /AP       CR       NC

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?
A: I really like how I was able to work with others during my entire mentorship experience. I also like how I was able to restart my topic as well. Going from a sport to something completely different like animal shelters wasn't easy but I had managed to pull through.

(4) (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your senior project if you could go back in time?
A: I think I would've loved to find a mentor just in time because it was complicated for me to go back and restart my project all over again mid-end first semester. It was hard trying to catch up on some work sometimes, so I think I would've liked to have taken more advantage of my time when it came to finishing those assignments.

(5) Finding Value

How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples.
A: I believe that it has helped me open my mind to an entirely different world of making a difference. It will definitely make me want to try and go and make a difference in the No-Kill community. Now that I am also 18, it can also make me think about joining the Pittie Crew (Pitbull Rescue Group) and rescue the breed that is the most discriminated against.

Blog 22: Mentorship

LIA Response to blog:

    Literal

·     Log of specific hours with a total and a description of your duties updated on the right hand side of your blog

·     Contact Name and Mentorship Place

    Interpretive

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

• The most important thing I gained from this experience is learning how to cooperate with others, as well as help them. I also learned that giving back can mean so much, even if it may seem small. Everyone who helps out makes a difference each day, and despite what happens something positive comes out of it. Especially when it's those who cannot fend for themselves.

   Applied

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

• I realized that doing the little things can really make a difference. Whether it'd be small things like washing bowls or folding towels. It makes doing bigger things a lot easier like rescues and fosters. It also shows that help is everywhere and if everyone pulls a lending hand then it'll make the hard job easier. Help is all around, and those willing to lend a hand make a bigger difference than it may seem.

Exit Interview

Please be advised.  The senior team will not conduct any exit interview in which the student has not turned in a passing research count and completing this blog.  In addition, you are expected to dress as you would for a job interview.

Content:

(1) What is your essential question, and what are your answers?  What is your best answer and why?

•  What is the most important factor to make a new animal at ease in a shelter? I chose my 3rd answer as my best answer because I feel like having a leader can keep the person or animal in balance.

(2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?

• I discovered my question through constant volunteering at shelters. (Observations.)

(3) What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?

• I faced problems with research. Sometimes it's hard to find research  based on specific things such as finding room for an animal to stay in. But then again you have to be open to many more sources.

(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?

• PDF'S and either articles or blogs written by Nathan Winograd who is an animal rights activist.

Be prepared with evidence and specific examples to support any response.  It is also significant to cite sources as you explain.

Independent Component 2

LITERAL
(a) Include this statement: “I, Sara Pachamango, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours and 45 mins of work.”
(b) Cite your source regarding who or what article or book helped you complete the independent component.
(c) Update your Independent Component 2 Log (which should be under your Senior Project Hours link)
(d) Explain what you completed. 

INTERPRETIVE 
Defend your work and explain the component's significance and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work.   Provide evidence (photos, transcript, art work, videos, etc) of the 30 hours of work.  

• I have completed the 30 hours. I continued to keep volunteering at the bunny shelter, (Bunny Bunch) as I did in the 1st Independent Component. The shelter actually included a new event they were going to have every first Sunday of the month called "Hoppy Hour." Hoppy Hour is an event when people bring in their rabbits and the rabbits are set in a big area and use that space to basically socialize with other rabbits. The rabbits must be spayed/neutered for about a couple months. Overall, the turnout was really good, and the shelter raised money that way c: Down below there is a photo of a typical Hoppy Hour. Placed are litterboxes, water, and bunny obstacles.

• After the Hoppy Hour event, I just kept volunteering at the shelter. I helped around by cleaning up after the animals by basically sweeping and mopping out their kennels, replacing towels, and changing their water. 

APPLIEDHow did the component help you answer your EQ? Please include specific examples to illustrate how it helped.

• This component helps me answer my EQ because I try to make sure that the rabbits are cleaned out and comfortable in their own space since they aren't able to care for themselves. It's all about caring for the animals and making sure their comfortable in their

March Blog Post

This month. . . I have not attended mentorship as much this month, simply because I have completed my hours. However, I still have been going. I've been doing what I have done before, which is walking the dogs, cleaning their kennels, folding/washing laundry and also giving them food and water. Just recently, I was given a new task, and that was washing dogs. At first, I was a bit nervous, but there was someone who was willing to wash a dog with me. (We ended up washing 3 actually.) I realized that you have to wash the entire body except the ears and top part of the head because water can get in the dogs ears and could cause infection. We were able to wash the dogs chest and chin. So, after shampooing and conditioning the dogs, we had to check off saying that they were washed and such. I realized that these dogs had not been in the shelter for very long seeing as they were placed in the back kennels of the shelter. They were fairly new, haha. Overall, mentorship has been going well, my hours are completed, so at this time around I will most likely be working on my senior project.

Fourth Interview Questions

1. How can rescuers best take caution when rescuing animals?
2. Are animals with more severe cases more harder to adopt when it comes to adoptions?
3. Do certain breeds/types matter when it comes to adoptions?
4. What changes a rescued animals personality?
5. What makes animal adoptions challenging?
6. Does owning/volunteering at a No-Kill shelter a challenge?
7. Why is it important to spay/neuter pets?
8. Does an animals behavior in a shelter affect it's adopting chances?
9. Can an animals mood/behavior change while in a No-Kill shelter? (Calm to tired, aggressive to playful, etc.)
10. Why do it take so much time to change an animals behavior?
11. What makes rescuing animals complicated?
12. What actions make a better volunteer?
13. Why is it important to seek medical attention when a new animal comes in?
14. Were there/Have there been very severe cases where an animal couldn't be saved?
15. How do donations & help from the community benefit the shelter/animal?
16. How does an hoarding case happen? Why does it happen?
17. What must a potential adopter think about before adopting an animal?
18. What is something to keep in mind about shelter animals?
19. What are some myths about shelter animals and about No-Kill shelters in general?
20. What is a No-Kill shelters goal?

Blog 17: Third Answer

• EQ: What s the most important factor to make a new animal at ease in a shelter
• Answer #3 in thesis statement: 
• A good leader can be defined in many ways, but when it comes to training a animal with a hard past, a good leader must be there through every step of the animals mistakes to make sure that the animal can change it's old ways into something better.
• 3 details to support the answer: 
• Training 
• Support
• Time & Effort

• Research source to support details and answers: Online articles.
• Concluding sentence
• Through much training and persistency of not giving up, an animal can change their own lives for the better; not only for themselves, but for their future potential owner. 

February Blog Post

For this month, I basically volunteered at both places. I volunteered at the Bunny Bunch and The Orphanage. I normally do what I always do I basically clean up and help around. Although I talked to my manager at the Bunny Bunch, Caroline, and she was interested in training me to be an adoption manager. Not only that, but this also gives me a chance to work around in the shop. Caroline said training could take a couple months, but I think it is worth the experience. Also, new volunteers are at the Orphanage and that is pretty exciting seeing as it's always fun looking at fresh new faces. Oh, and another thing, I've been having lunch with one of the Pitbull Rescuers/Supporters (Crystal) from the Pitty Crew the Orphanage has, and it's nice getting to hear what she has to say about her experiences with meeting and rescuing the dogs c:

Answer 2

1.) What is your EQ?
       EQ: What is the most important factor to make a new animal at ease in a shelter?
2.) What is your first answer?
       A: My first answer was Vacancy and how sanitation and necessities are important when bringing in a new animal.
3.) What is your second answer?
       A: My second answer would most likely be consistency simply because shelter animal have to have a daily routine just like humans do. They have time where they can walk, eat, and take medication (if they are taking any.
4.) List 3 reasons your answer is true with a real world application for each.

• People take medication within a time period, animals have to do that too
• People go do their daily routine like go to work and school, animals take walks 
• People eat dinner around a certain time, animals have a certain time of the day to eat too

5.) What printed source best supports your answer?
       A: A printed source would be the animalsheltering.org magazine and a book called Exploding Ants: Amazing Facts About How Animals Adapt.
6.) What other source supports your answer?
       A: a website (animalsheltering.org) supports my answer because it provides a section that has articles relating to how much an animal should be fed and how the exercise routine is like in a shelter.
7.) Concluding thought.
       Animal consistency can range from about medication times, feeding time, exercise and socialization. This can affect an animals though

Blog 15: Independent Component 2 Approval

1.) Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.
       A: I plan to continue volunteering at the Bunny Bunny (Bunny Shelter.) I plan to continue my hours there because I enjoy it, and my mentor/manager Caroline has things planned for me. Since I have been a frequent volunteer for quite a while now she wants me to come in earlier before opening hours to help around in the shop. Also, it would be very possible of me to train other volunteers if I am in that position of a "higher" role. It will teach me to share my experience with others.

2.) Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.
       A: I will most likely take more photos and research more about what Bunny Shelters go through. Maybe ask my manager for books.

3.) Explain how this component will  help you explore your topic more in depth.
       A: It will help me explore my topic more in depth by comparing how it is different than the typical dog/cat shelter along with finding some similarities.

4.) Post a log in your Senior Project Hours link and label it "Independent Component 2" log.

Independent Component 1

(a) Write: "I, Sara Pachamango, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30+ hours of work."
(b) Cite your source regarding who or what article or book helped you complete the independent component.

• I got most of my research done at animalsheltering.org. That website provides very good articles about animal care ranging from various animals other than the typical dogs and cats. It provides health information and care about rabbits and others as well. It also provided research articles. 

(c) Update your hours in your Senior Project Hours link. Make sure it is clearly labeled with hours for individual sessions as well as total hours.(d) Explain what you completed

• I have completed 30+ hours of work and volunteer hours for my independent component.

INTERPRETIVE: Defend your work and explain its significance to your project and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work. Provide evidence (photo's, transcript, art work, videos, etc.) of the 30 hours of work.

 A bunny being bunny-sat.

We sometimes take bunnies out of the enclosed facility and take them outside to get some fresh air along with feeding them fresh greens :)

Sink (Far left corner) Along the wall shows the rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchilla's that we rescue. You can also see where the rabbits stay.

A volunteer (Alex) cleaning out a bunny kennel. The far back shows more bunnies.

• I volunteered at a no kill bunny shelter, called the Bunny Bunch in Montclair just a couple blocks away from my home. I believed that since bunny shelters are different than the usual cat/dog shelter and that was the reason why I volunteered. I wanted to observe and see of there was a difference in how these shelters run. Funding at the bunny shelter is a lot harder simply because that kind of shelter is not very common and the business is very small. But somehow, it manages to pull through with donations and rent. The bunny shelter also cares for the rabbits of owners who are going on vacation, or for other various reasons. The shelter does very much care for it's animals just as any other no kill shelter.

APPLIED : How did the component help you understand the foundation of your topic better? Please include specific examples to illustrate this.

• The component helped me understand my topic better because it shows that any no kill shelter relies on the importance of volunteers and their effort to make sure that the animal is properly clean and doesn't feel neglected. It also helped me understand that every deed that goes into cleaning, or putting something else where whether I'd be a simple drive somewhere, or setting up a new kennel for a new animal that has just been rescued. It also proved that no kill shelters really do care for their animals. My manager Caroline got emotional when she had to give up one of her bunnies for adoption. That emotion coming from a volunteer or employee proves that people really care about animals and have a passion for changing their lives.

January Update

This entire January month I booked my entire mentorship and independent component hours! So my only free days were Fridays, It's okay though because I got everything done! I even ended my independent component hours early! So it was really good that I got this all done within a month. It was stressful, but I managed :) I divided my schedule so my mentorship at the Orphanage was Mon, Tues, and Thursdays; while I volunteered at the bunny shelter on Weds, Sat, and Sun.
I've basically been cleaning up and caring after the animals at both shelters. However, I think my constant long hours of volunteer work is taking a notice at the Bunny Bunch because my manager/mentor Caroline asked me to come in earlier on Sundays to help her run the business. She may even give me and my partner in crime, Alex, a spare key(s). . . who knows? ;D

Cat playing with my shoe.

Green cat room.

We only keep a few cats in the rooms.

A rabbit the shelter cared for. (He looks like the abominable snowman if you ask me.) 

Lesson 2 Reflection

1.) What are you most proud of in your Lesson 2 Presentation and why?

       A: I think I am proud that I attempted to go up and tried to memorize what I had to say. I tried.

2a.) What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 2 Presentation?

       A: A low AP

       b.)  Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 2 component contract?

          A: I deserve that grade because I did not recite any of my sources I had listed and my hook activity was not very well put together.

3.) What worked for you in your Lesson 2?

       A: My activity was fun. My powerpoint had actual photos of animals from the place where I mentor at.

4.) What didn't work? If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 2?

       A: My research was not included! & my hook activity was not very well though out. I stuttered! If I could go back and improve my lesson 2 I would have prepared my presentation more better and make it flow. I would come up with a better hook activity and explain more of my research.

5.) What do you think your answer #2 is going to be? 

       A: Consistency. And a strong leader to make the dog change it's way.

Blog 12: Mentorship 10 hours check

1. Where are you doing your mentorship?

A: I am currently doing mentorship at 'The Orphanage' in Chino Hills, and the 'Bunny Bunch' located in Montclair.

2.) Who is your contact?

A: Sadly, I cannot put their contact numbers or info here. (I forgot.)

3.) How many total hours have you done? 

A: As of, by the end of the day I will have about 34 hrs 15 mins done for mentorship hours. And I have completed 8 hours in total for the independent component.

4.) Summarize the 10 hours of service you did.

A: The last 10 hours consisted of me cleaning up after the shelter/the animals sleeping areas and also providing them with necessities such as food, water, and towels/blankets. I have also walked, and bonded with the dogs along as some cats. 

Blog 5 (New Topic) - Mentorship and Research Reflection

1.) Mentorship question: Describe your experience in how you found your mentorship? If you haven't found one yet, describe your experience so far in the search of a mentor?
A: I found mentorship by looking online for volunteer opportunities. Originally my backup was to mentor with my dad since he is an underground musician, but thinking it over I realized it would've been too boring for me. So, I was thinking about mentoring with animals. I grew up with every pet you could imagine. I attended a presentation last year about animal shelters, so I thought about it and I realized how fun it would be. So, I emailed a shelter in Chino Hills and that is where my mentorship is currently being held. I also mentor at a bunny shelter that is close to my house. So, mentorship is going pretty well. Both shelters have lead managers who run the place, along with other experienced volunteers. Those managers and volunteers teach me the basics of shelter care.

2.) Research question: What has been your most important article you have read so far and why? 
A: The most important articles I have read come from the PAWS Chicago website. They are a pretty big shelter in the Chicago area, and have experience with the caring for animals as well as revealing the truth about kill shelters. Another source would be the works that Nathan Winograd has done. He's written books about animal shelters, as well as write articles and blogs.

Blog 6 (New Topic) - Second Interview Preparation

1.) Who is your mentor and where do they work?
A: I have many different mentors. Usually they are the managers who open the doors when I arrive, or they can be volunteers as well. There is also a separate group who does the dog rescuing, and they also volunteer at the shelter as well.

2.) What five questions will you ask them about their backround?
A:

1. Hello. What motivated you to rescue animals?
2. What did you have to take into precaution when doing this?
3. Did you take an classes about animals, such as vet tech or anything relating to animal studies?
4. Why do you feel it is important to rescue an animal from a kill shelter?
5. What is the best feeling you get when doing this profession?

Blog 11: Holiday Project Update

1.) It is important to consistently work on your senior project, whether it is break or we are in school. What did you do over the break with your senior project?
A: Before even the break came up I scehduled extra mentorship hours for that time. I made sure to go in the mornings because I feel like that time is when the shelter needs extra help. I also made a couple visits to the bunny shelter in Montclair to earn some independent component hours. Also, I've been trying to catch up on my assignments for my topic change. I also volunteered Christmas morning at the Orphanage, so it was nice to give back that morning.

The Instagram photo taken that Christmas morning. 

2.) What is the most important thing you learned from what you did, and why? What was the source of what you learned?
A: The most important thing I learned is just, from a personal perspective, is just caring and taking caution when being with an animal. You never really know how their behavior will be, especially when caring for an animal in who is not familiar being around you. My source. . animals. Hehe. .

3.) If you were going to do a 10 question interview on questions related to answers for your EQ, who would you talk to and why?
A: I would most likely interview one of the dog rescuers since, after all, they are they one's who are putting their lives in risk to save the life of the animal they want to help.

December Blog Post

Well, this last month I had to change my senior topic. It really was a bummer, but that's okay! My new project topic is no-kill animal shelters, and it's great! I started mentorship already, so it's great that I'm getting some hours done c:
I LOVE going to my mentorship! The facility is called "The Orphanage" and it's located in Chino Hills, so the drive isn't too bad from where I am. Also, I love walking in and seeing the animals faces light up when they see me. ESPECIALLY when I take them for a walk. When I walk them, it gives me a chance to get to know them a little more, and we can create a small bond.
This last month a majority of the dogs at the shelter were adopted, so when they go, new one's come in. Same thing goes for cats. I also take care of the cats over there and it's really chill. A couple of cats have jumped on me while I was cleaning! It's great knowing that an animal can trust you so much c:

Cat chilling in one of the cat rooms at the shelter.

Pazzy was a dog I used to walk whenever I was over there. He has recently been adopted.

Jasper was also another dog I used to walk. He had only one eye :'(  However, has now been adopted into a loving home c:

So overall, mentorship is going pretty well! I'm glad I get to be working so closely with the loving animals.♥