NatashaEngineer

APLiteratureandComposition
Mrs.Schroder
February11,2015

FinalReflectionQuestions

1. Whatdidyoulearnabouttheresearchprocess?
a. ThroughouttheresearchprocessIlearnedmoreindepthaboutLawandthedifferentkindsof
practicesthatarestudied.Specificallyinmypaper,IfocusedonCriminalLawtheCriminal
JusticeSystem.IlearnedwhatCriminalLawentailsandtheresponsibilitiesthesekindsof
lawyershave.Theresearchprocesshelpedguidemealongthepathofwantingtofurtherpursue
acareerinLaw.Althoughtheresearchprocesswaslongandtreacherous,allthehardworkwas
worthit.IlearnedthatfocusingonacareerinthefieldofLawisnoeasytask.Thereareyearsof
schooltocompleteinordertobequalifiedandtomeetallrequirementsofbecomingalawyer.
TheLSATisthetestaspiringlawyersmustpasstogetintoLawSchool.Then,toreceive
licensuretopracticelawinastate,lawyersmustpasstheBarExamination.Therearemanysteps
thatmustbeconsideredbeforewantingtoreachthesuccessofalawyer.Alongwithlong
workinghours,dealingwithclients,andpreparingdocumentsandcaseslawyersarealwayson
thego.Workistheirtoppriorityandthereisnotimeforprocrastination.Theresearchprocess
taughtmeeverythingaboutLawitshistoryandoriginsandtheopportunitiesandexpectationsif
onechoosesacareerinthisfield.
2. Howdidwhatyouresearchedforthepaperhelpyouwithyourhours?
a. AllthecredentialinformationthatIresearchedforthepaperhelpedmegreatlywithmymentor
hours.Understandingtheroleofalawyerthroughmyinterviewerenabledmetofindalawyer
whocouldmaketimeformeandhelpguidemethroughthePrideProject.TheresearchthatI
spenthoursfindingmyjunioryearprovedtobeneficialthroughoutmysenioryeareachtimeI
wenttocompletemymentorhours.Knowingthetypeofworklawyersdoandhowtheydeal
withclientsgavememoreinsightandexperiencewhenIwenttoshadowmymentoratherlaw
firm.TheresearchformypapermadecompletingmymentorhourseasierbecauseIknewwhatI
wasdoingandtalkingaboutsinceIhadalreadyunderstoodtheconceptoftheworkmylawyer
introducedtome.
3. Howwastheresearchrelatedtoyourprojecthours?
a. Myresearchrelatedtomymentorhoursinsomeway,shape,andformeventhoughmymentor
doesnotspecializesinCriminalLaw.Eventhough,unfortunatelyIwasnotabletoshadowa
criminallawyer,Istillwasabletoobserveandexperiencethelifeofaregulardaytoday
lawyer.Inreality,lawyersandcriminallawyershaveafewofthesameresponsibilities,
includingthewaytheymanagetheirtimeandpreparedocumentsfortheircases.Mymentor,Ms.
Burdiworksasabankruptcylawyeratalawfirmindowntown,MooresvilleandIspent
countlesshourstherewithherinhernaturalhabitatheroffice,watchingherworkandemail
clientsbackandforthwhileshepreparedfortheircases.Myresearchwasonaspecificfieldof
law,CriminalLawnotBankruptcyLaw.EventhoughIdidnotgettowitnessarealcriminal
lawyeratworkIstillwasabletospendhoursinthecourtroomaroundthejudge,clerk,andother

lawyers.Thisexposedmetoawhatlifeislikewithacareerinthefieldoflaw.Insomewaysmy
researchrelatedtomyprojecthoursbecauseIshadowedmymentorinherworkenvironment
andunderstoodherroleasnotonlyahardworkinglawyerbutalsoherroleasanadvocateand
adviserinoursociety.
4. Summarizetheprojecthoursthatyoucompleted.
a. AbigpartofmyprojecthoursIcompletedwasincludingandunderstandingtheworkthatany
kindoflawyercompletesinthecourtroominfrontofthejudgeanditsclientsitisrepresenting
ordefending.Duringmymentor/projecthoursIwasabletospendmostofmytimeinthe
courtroomobservingandlisteningtocases.Igainedinsightonthedifferentkindsofcasesthat
arepresentedtothejudgeandwasabletowitnessthewaythejudgecametoadecisionor
discussedthematterwiththeclientsandthelawyer.DuringmymentorhoursIalsospentalotof
mytimeinalawfirm,asettingmostlawyersarefamiliarwithastheyspendmostoftheir
workinghourstherewhentheyarenotpresentinginthecourtroom.Ispentagreatordealofmy
projecthoursinthecourtroomandthelawfirmbecausethesearethemostfamiliarsettingsa
lawyerisacquaintedwithwhileworking.Myprojecthourswerelongyetveryinteresting.Each
courtcaseIgottheopportunitytolisteninonwasdifferentthanthepreviousone.Thejudgewas
understandingandworkedwiththeclientstomeettheirneedswhilestillfollowingthelaw.My
projecthoursreallygavemeagreatinsighttothelifeofalawyerandtheworktheyputintotheir
clientsandcaseseverysingleday.
5. Whatlifeskillsdidyouacquirefromyourlearningduringtheprojecthours?
a. LifeskillsIacquiredfrommylearningduringtheprojecthourswerecommunicationskillsand
nonverbalskills.WhilecompletingmyprojecthoursIhadtoassumetheroleoftheclientele
andusegoodjudgmentandinvestigativeanalysisskills.Ihadtocreateareviewformit
consistedofimportantissuestheclientsthoughtthelawfirmwashelpfulornothelpfulwith.I
hadtoacquireverbalandcommunicationskillsasIputtogetherapresentationregardingstudent
loanstopresenttomyhighschoolpeers,educatingthemabouttherealityoftheoutsideworldas
wepreparetoopenanewchapterofourlivesinjustafewmonths,otherwiseknownascollege.
Ilearnedthatlawyersmustbeunderstandingandactasadvisers,nomatterwhatkindoflawis
practiced.Iappliedthisknowledgewhileworkingonmyprojectandcompletingmymentor
hoursatthelawfirmandcourtroom.Iobservedclientsandtheirbehaviorsandusedgood
communicationskillswhileengaginginconversationswithotherlawyersthatIwasintroduced
to.Thishelpedmeworkonmyinteractionskillswithothersandhelpedbettermyworkethicand
personality/attitudewithotherswhoneededhelp.
6. Howdidcreatingaproductandcompletingthehourschallengeyouprofessionallyandpersonally?
a. CreatingaproductwasextremelychallengingforthetopicIchoosetodothePrideProjecton.
Firstofall,CriminalLawisaveryintensetypeoflawandthisfieldisenforcedwithmuch
security.Findingacriminallawyerwhowaswillingtobecomemymentorwasextremely
difficult,almostimpossible.TheclosestIfoundtoacriminallawyerwasmymentorMs.
DanielleBurdi,whospecializesinBankruptcyLaw.AlthoughmanythinkthatBankruptcyLaw
isunusualoroutdated,itplaysaveryhugeroleinoursocietyandoursocietyseconomy.Ms.
Burdisjobandtheworkshedoesforoursocietyisveryimportantshehelpsthoseindebt
figureoutasolutiontotheirproblems.Afterhoursofdiscussionandthinking,Ms.Burdihelped
mecomeupwithagreatproductidea.EventhoughitdidnotrelatetoCriminalLawspecifically

itrelatedtolawingeneral.ThroughouttheentirePrideProjectprocesscreatingaproductand
completingmyhourschallengedmepersonallybecauseIhadtomissschoolinordertoattend
courtandlisteninonsessionswithmymentorsincethecourtroomisonlyheldinthemornings.
Waysthecreationofmyproductchallengedmeprofessionallywasfindingwaystobreakit
downtostudents.BankruptcyLawisalottounderstandandthetopicofstudentloansisaneven
harderconcepttograsp.Completingmyhourswaschallengingbecausetherulesofthe
courtroomareverystrictandIwasneverallowedtotakeaphoneorcamerainsideandIwent
throughsecurityeachtimeIenteredthecourtroom.Also,Ihadtodressprofessionallyaswoulda
lawyeroranyotherpersonattendingcourt.Creatingaproductandfindingwaystocompletemy
mentorhourswithoutbreakinganyrulesofthecourtroomwereadifficultchallengeforme
throughoutthelastfewmonthsdealingwithethicalconductandtakingresponsibilityforthe
daysandworkImissedatschool.
7. Howdidworkingwithyourmentoraffectyourunderstandingofthetopicandyourdevelopmentofa
product?
a. WorkingwithmymentoraffectedmyunderstandingofthetopicIchoseandthedevelopmentof
aproductbecausemymentor,Ms.Burdiisnotacriminallawyer.Becauseshespecializesin
BankruptcyLawmyproductdealswiththevariouscasesandscenariosthatareregardedinthis
fieldofLaw.However,mymentorwasveryhelpfulinadvisingmeonanycareerintheLaw
field.Shehelpedmeunderstandthatalllawyersfollowthesamebasicprinciplesandconduct,
theonlydifferenceiswhatfieldoflawtheychoosetostudy.Differentfieldsoflaw,inlaw
schoolrequirespecificclassesthatcovertheknowledgeandmaterialofeachlawfield.My
mentoraffectedmyunderstandingofmytopic,CriminalLawinapositiveway.Eventhoughmy
productdoesnotrelatedirectlytomytopicithashelpedmedevelopabetterunderstandingof
lawingeneralandspecificallyBankruptcyLawanditsimportance.Myproductalsoshowedme
thatlawisbindedintooursocietyinmanyways,whetherwerealizeitornot.Besidespoliticsit
isalsoincorporatedintooureducation,specificallystudentloanswhichispartofthemainfocus
ofmyproduct.
8. Whatareyoufeelingabouttheimpendingpresentationthatyouareplanning?
a. AsthedeadlinetoourPrideProjectapproachesIamfilledwithmixedemotions.Regardingthe
impendingpresentationthatIamcurrentlyplanningandeditingforfinalchangesIamextremely
nervousabouttalkinginfrontofthejudges.IamscaredImightmixupmywordsortalktoo
fast.However,IknowIshouldnotworrytoomuchandjustpreparelikeIdidinPublicSpeaking
forallmyotherspeeches.Thatclasshelpedmeovercomemyfearofpresentingandtalkingin
frontofanaudience.AlthoughIamnervousIamalsohappybecauseafterstartingthePride
Projectjunioryear,thejourneyisfinallycomingtoanend.Iamhappytopresentandshowmy
judgesalltheinformationIhavelearnedaboutafuturecareerIplanonpursuing.OncePride
Projectsareoutoftheway,wearejustafewmonthsawayfromgraduation,adayIamvery
excitedfor.Evenwithstress,Iamkeepingapositiveoutlookonthisimpendingpresentation
becauseIknowIwillhaveeverythingcompletedandperfectedbeforetheduedate.Iamexcited
tobefinishedwiththistreacherousprojectIhavebeendevotedtosincelastyear,yetstillhave
butterfliesinmystomach.
9. Whatexperiencedoyouhavewithpresentationsorspeakinginfrontofothers?
a. IhavealotofexperiencewithpresentationsandspeakinginfrontofothersthankstoMr.Piatak.

AsmuchfunandgoofingoffwealldidinPublicSpeaking,Mr.Piataktaughtusvaluablepublic
speakingskills.Hepointedoutourflawswhilewepresentedandhelpedusimprovewitheach
speechandpresentationweprepared.Iamthankfultohavetakenhisclassbecausehehelpedme
overcomemyfearoftalkinginfrontofanaudience.Hetaughtusallhowtomakeeyecontact
withouraudienceandbeconfident.Thisadvicereallyhelpedmegainexperienceandinsighton
speakinginfrontofothersandwithpresentations,especiallymakingspeechesonanytopic,
whetheritbeonthespotorprepared,
10. Whatareyoudoingtoprepareforthepresentationtoensureyoursuccessfulcompletion?
a. ToprepareforthepresentationtoensuresuccessfulcompletiononthePrideProjectIam
rehearsingmyslideshowandcreatingflashcardstohelpimprovemyfluencywhileIwillbe
speakingtothejudges.Ibelievethatpreparingandpracticingmylinesandbeingmore
comfortablewithmypresentationwillgivemeabetterideaofwhatIamspeakingaboutwhen
thedayofpresentationscome.IalsoknowthatbypreparingIwillbeboundtosuccessbecauseI
willbeputtingin110%ofmyeffortandimprovingmyworkbyeditingitcountlesstimesbefore
theactualdayofpresentations.
11. Ifyouhadtogobackanddopartsoftheprojectagain,whatwouldyoudodifferently?
a. IfIhadtogobackanddopartsoftheprojectagain,Iwouldhavestartedworkingonmymentor
hoursearlierintheyear.Iwouldplannedoutmyhoursbetterbecauserulesofthecourthouseare
complicatedandhardtoworkaround.Iwouldalsohavefoundamentorsooner.Eventhough,
findingalawyerwhohastime,itselfisdifficultbutifIhadhadanearlierstartthantheprocess
ofmyPrideProjectwouldhavebeenalotlessstressful.AnotherthingIwoulddodifferentlyin
theprojectprocessagainifIcouldwouldbemyproduct.Iwouldspendmoretimewithmy
mentordoingitandgainingfeedbackthanworkingaloneandhavingtorelyonothersources
suchaspeersorteachersforadviceandhelp.ThebiggestthingIwoulddodifferentlyifIcould
gobackwouldbetoworkonmanagingmytimebetterbecauseifIhadfocusedmoreontime
managementthenoverallIwouldhavedealtwithlessstressandproblemsregardingthewhole
PrideProject.
12. Howdidtheentireprocessstretchyouasalearner,aprofessional,andasanindividual?
a. TheentireprocessofthePrideProjecthelpedstretchmeasalearnerwhenIspentthelasthalf
ofmyjunioryearresearching,planning,andwritingmypridepaper.Thepaperforcedmeto
comeoutofmycomfortzoneandIspentalotoftimeinthelibrarysearchingforinformation
thatwouldprovebeneficialtomywritingandwouldprovidesupport.Alongtheresearchingpath
allthetimeIspentfindinginformation,withoutrealizationthisinformationbecausepartofmy
knowledgeIlearnednewfactsaboutlawandCriminalLawthatIwouldnothaveever
discoveredbefore.AsaprofessionalIlearnedhowtomanagemytimeanddealwith
procrastination.Ilearnedhowvalueresponsibilityandworkethicasaprofessionalafter
spendingtimeshadowingmymentor.AsanindividualIlearnedthatasimportantasBankruptcy
Lawis,itisnotthefieldoflawformeandasinterestingasCriminalLawis,Imayconsider
anothermajorincollege.IlearnedthatIamstillhopingtopursueacareerinlaw,althoughImay
notknowspecificallywhatIwanttodothiswholeexperiencehashelpedmegrowasan
individualandbetterstudent.
13. Howdidyousurpriseyourselfwhenyouencounteredobstacles?
a. WhenencounteringobstaclesIsurprisedmyselfbythewayIreactedtothembutmore

importantlytohowIdealtwiththem.InsteadofrunningawayfromtheproblemorignoringitI
owneduptomymistakesanddideverythinginmypowertocorrectandbettermyself.Each
obstacleIencounteredwasneverbigenoughtostopmefromcompletingthisproject.Through
hardworkanddedicationIworkedaroundalloddstodefeatthoseobstacles.Ifacedtheissueof
procrastinationandtimemanagement,deadlines,stress,work,anddance.Ifoundawaytopush
everythingasideandspentcountlesshoursperfectingmyprojectdespitetheobstaclesIfaced
suchasabrokenprinterorrunningoutofink.Nomatterwhat,IpushedthroughitbecauseI
knewIcoulddoanythingIputmymindto.
14. Howwilltheskillsyoulearnedandmasteredduringtheprojecthelpyouinlife?
a. TheskillsIhavelearnedandmasteredduringmytimewiththePrideProjectwillcontinueto
improveandbettermethroughoutmylife.AsIbeginanewchapterofmylifethisfall,college,I
willhavebettercommunicationskillsfromthetimeIspentinthecourtroomtothetimeIspent
atthelawfirmwithmymentor.Ialsowillhavegainedbetternonverbalskillswhichmeans
observingpeopleandpickinguptheirbehaviorsorcharacteristics,seeingastohowtheyreactto
certainthings.ThiswillhelpmedowntheroadinlifeasIwillmeetnewpeopleandbe
introducedtonewthings.Ibelievethatmylearningsduringthecourseoftheprojectwillnot
onlyhelpmeinlifebutwillhavealsohelpedmeunderstandourlegalsystemandhowcrucial
theskillofbeinganadvisercanbetonotonlylawingeneral,butalsotooursociety.