Final Reflection Questions

1. While writing your paper, what did you learn about the research process?
I learned how to cite things properly and accurately. I also was able to see the difference
between creditable and non-creditable sources. While I wrote my paper, I realized that
time management is essential in the research process. As I spent countless hours
working on my paper, whether it was research or outlining, I tried my best not to
procrastinate. However, I realized that it was easier said than done. When the deadline
was close, I had to rush to turn my materials in on time, which led to me earning a grade
lower than I had hoped for.
2. How was the research related to your mentor hours?
a. In my research, I learned many things about the field of corporate law. However,
when I went to shadow my mentor, he showed me that it is so much more than
what I discovered. While I previously thought that corporate law consisted of
writing up contracts and defending in court. My mentor showed me that there are
many more steps behind all of that. One must spend countless hours of research
to find the correct way to write a contract or code and to represent someone in
court. The preparation process is the hardest part of being a corporate lawyer,
because once you are prepared, the rest comes easy.
3. Summarize the mentor hours that you completed.
a. On the first day, Mr. Sharawy discussed with me the steps required to become a
lawyer. We discussed the various steps required to succeed in the field of law,
from the grades I would need in college to the cities that provide the most
opportunity. Upon arriving on the second day, Mr. Sharawy showed me what I
thought were all of his books from law school. However, he told me these were
simple those from his first year. We discussed the hard work that is required in
law school and how if I want to succeed as a lawyer, I have to be prepared to
work extremely hard. Mr. Sharawy then helped me with the presentation aspect
of my product for a few hours. He showed me how I had to go from very broad
terms in the beginning of the presentation, discussing law as a whole for
example, to fine point and detailed, talking about specific cases. At the
conclusion of our time together, I presented the first part of my presentation to
Mr. Sharawy. Afterwards, he sat down with me and showed me how he would
change some things and keep some the way they were. He then gave me some
key presentation points which he has used throughout his career.
4. How did working with your mentor affect your understanding of the topic area and
/or the professional world?
a. Working with my mentor showed me that the field of corporate law is very taxing.
After working for several years in the high stress legal field, my mentor chose to
move down south and move from actively practicing to consulting. This made me
realize that the career of corporate law is very stressful and difficult. It takes a
tole on the mind and body and if you do not balance it with a normal, healthy life,
it can be very bad for you.
5. If your mentor contributed to the development of the product, how were they
involved?
a. My mentor helped me create the presentation for my product. He showed me
what I needed to do to make my presentation relatable and easy to understand,
while at the same time getting all of my information across. He helped me select
 cases from my paper, as well as which case to focus on more specifically. After I
was able to complete a rough draft, my mentor acted as an audience for me to
present to. Overall, he helped me from top to bottom, giving me the information
that I needed to complete my product in the most efficient and professional way.
6. How did creating a product and completing the hours challenge you personally?
a. I have never been very good at sitting down and listening to someone for an
extended period of time. I often found myself trying to finish my mentors
sentences for him, yet realized that more often than not, I was wrong. He showed
me that I should slow down and pay attention to what is being taught. If I succeed
at doing this, he said it will dramatically help me down the road.
7. Do you feel prepared academically and emotionally for the presentation? If not,
why? What challenges do you still face to feel prepared?
a. Yes I do. I feel as if in the weeks leading up to my Pride Presentation that I
worked very hard to make sure my Product, Presentation, and mindset were all
perfect. I am still nervous to present to the board, as it feels like my entire high
school career and that the future of my life all rests on one day, on one
presentation. However, that nervousness has allowed me to focus and
concentrate on my Pride Project, to make it the best that I can.
8. How did the entire process stretch you as a learner and as an individual?
a. I believe that this project stretched me in many ways. It showed me that
procrastination is something that must be avoided if I want to succeed. In writing
my paper, it brought me from having previously written nothing more than five
pages to now writing a developed twelve page research paper. In my product, I
was forced to come out of my comfort zone and engage, not only with a board of
teachers, as I will during my presentation, but with an entire class of 5th graders,
putting myself out there and learning how to interact well with a large group of
people.
9. Other than time management, describe an obstacle you encountered and how you
overcame it.
a. I have always had a fear of disappointing others. Whether in my schooling, my
athletic career, or my daily life, I have always hated seeing that look in
someones eyes. That is why I have, for the most part, not placed myself out
there in front of people to judge. For my Product, I had to teach an entire class of
5th graders about corporate law, something I was not sure they would be
interested in. However, I believe that they had fun, and I know for a fact that I did.
I now feel confident in speaking in front of people, no matter the size.
10. What life skills did you acquire and how will they help you in the future?
a. As a result of this project, I have found that I am better at speaking in front of
people, as well as being more confident in myself. I have learned how to work in
an efficient time span. My mentor showed me several keys to success in life,
such as listening and absorbing information, as well as how to be a consummate
professional in both the workplace and in life in general. When I taught to the
class for my product, I used these skills to assist me in delivering a clean cut
and professional presentation. In doing so, I believe that my presentation went
well and that I can use these same skills to make my presentation to the board a
success.
11. If you had to go back and do parts of the project again, what would you do
differently?
 a. If I could go back I would make sure to put forward more of an effort from start to
finish. I would take my paper more seriously and spend more time on it. The
grade I received on the paper was not what I was hoping for and I would make
sure that I worked harder to get rid of simple mistakes. My works cited was not
done properly and I lost points from it that I should not have allowed myself to
lose. Overall for my paper, I would make sure that I stayed focused on my career,
as I lost points for drifting off focus and not staying true to the topic. For the
product, I would make sure that I worked on it earlier, allowing myself more time
to critique it.
12. Based on the entire Pride Project experience, do you plan to pursue this field as a
career or college area of study? If so, why? If not, why? Please be specific.
a. I do not. After learning about the field of corporate law, I have decided that it does
not seem like the field for me. I would rather go into the field of medicine. One
thing which has helped me decide this is that I enjoy helping people. While being
a lawyer does allow you to help in some respect, I have found that the majority of
a lawyers life is spent pushing papers and writing litigation. As a doctor, I would
be able to help people dramatically. Even though both careers would require me
to work for many hours a week, it would be better to work 80 hours a week
helping someone.