Danaye Connor

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04-29-2019

Writing and research:

Now that my project is done, I feel as if I could have done more. I believe I could have dug

deeper into my project, if I had time to expand my research to a high school level. I had to use my

experiences and the examples I read to gather information on the STEM experiences for girls in

high school. I am however proud of the field work and research that I did complete for this project.

It has given me a new perspective on my topic that I didn’t have before I started.Writing helped

me think through complex ideas that were raised during my research mainly when I was

brainstorming and outlining my paper. It gave me a chance to think through everything before

actually putting it in my paper.

My process for this research project started in the Capstone classroom.First I had to think

of a topic, which happened through the free write in class. I chose women in STEM because this

topic is important to me. I then used the library’s database to find resources like books and peer-

reviewed articles. Then read through the literature to find ideas that supported my topic. I began

to write based on what I found and ended changing my topic to a more narrow one such as mentors

for women in STEM. I then continued to revise my ideas until I was satisfied with my work.I feel

like I am a better researcher than when I started. I have learned new resources and have gained

practice in fieldwork. I also gained experience present my research when I participated in the Expo.

Although, I don’t like speaking in front of other people I did enjoy being heard about something

that I was passionate about.

My writing process usually begins with just jumping write into the paper and hoping

something good comes from it, but this time we started together as a class by outlining and

brainstorming.This was when I noticed that I have many strengths and weaknesses as a writer. My
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weaknesses including rushing and not really putting thought into the structure of my paper. This

causes my work to be unorganized. My strengths include being able to capture the reader’s

attention. I write strong introductions and include plenty of background information for my

audience. I plan to outline my papers from now on, so that I can have a more organized approach

to my topic. Writing for my classes now will help me become a better writer for my future career.

I plan on writing my thesis and/or dissertation on this topic.

Your Final Website Project:

I decided to focus more on mentorship than just discrimination because that is what many

of the articles I read talked about. I decided to talk about a solution and research further into the

solution, rather than just going on and on about the problems with the STEM community biases.

Also I decided not to give too much information on the first page. I felt that people wouldn’t go

deeper into my website if everything was on the first page. Working with a website and placing

my ideas in it, has given another way to present my information to other people. The next time I

have research to present, I will make sure I have a website that I could also share with my audience

that also have my research on it.

The best part of doing the website was getting to personalize it. I love that it looks like me,

it holds my personally in every page.The most challenging part of the website was trying to get all

my documents in it. I want it to look as professional as possible but my documents wouldn’t

transfer correctly. However, if I had more time, I would definitely take more pictures. Also, my

photos would have more quality because the time frame didn’t allow me to set up a time to meet

with ladies in STEM.

Sustainability and Fieldwork:

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Sustainability is making something that will last.Fieldwork is when you go out into the

world to get research through the personal experiences of other people. Fieldwork can take

information from a certain time and be connected to the bigger picture. It helps create a more stable

project and the more stable and reliable the project is the more sustainable it is.

Through this project I was able to gather experiences from other people. Even where they

have gone off and moved on, their trials and testimony will live on. They will continue to change

people and I will continue to reflection of the fieldwork from the research, observations and the

interview.

I like observations more than interviews because it is more authentic to write what you see

rather than making others put it to words. Also I do not enjoy face to face interaction. I could have

done better with my interview though because I didn’t give much background of the interviewee

which cause some of my information to lose its meaning. If education where to stay the way it is,

I would continue to learn more about my topic being that it is about education.

Strong College:

The friends I made in Strong were the most important part to me because I am not the

greatest at socializing but Strong made it easier with the activities we had. I would have been way

more involved my first year. I feel like I missed a lot when I wasn’t participating in things. In the

RH, I was able the same things just in small class sizes in Strong than outside of Strong.

I joined the UCM’s at the beginning of my sophomore year and assisted with many of

freshmen’s transition to college. Also, I have heard the cries of ou students and am currently
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working on getting us a tree outside the building. I help students from Strong and many other

students navigate their way through the library for books for their research as well.

I work in the Residential office helping do task that must be done to keep the RC running

smoothly. I try to help the best I can. I am also the co-chair for Membership Committee along with

Grace. I help with Tea Time weekly and also am working to establish a black student union in

Strong College. Any other committee also knows I am available to help anytime. I work with the

Beautification Committee with we have events around the dorm. I am also a part of Holiday

Committee. If there is anything I can do, I try to do it to the best of my ability.

I tend to shy away from people, but I met a lot of extraverted that took me in as a friend.

Also when I see other shy new students I can’t help but try to help them because I understand what

they are going through. I am much more accepting to those I may not agree with, so I now have a

range of friends, associates, confidants, and future business partners.

Education and studenthood:

I started off doing quite well but as the semester went on I began to slack off because I

began to lose focus of my goals. I feel now that everything is almost over I am returning to my

normal self. I follow the directions given as well, when I finally got around to the assignment. I

want to teach high school Biology, so I need to graduate. I also want to get my masters. And I feel

like I am headed in the right direction because I didn’t give up. I would definitely start over and

major in education and theatre if I could change anything about my education though. I couldn’t

have done any of this alone, the help given to me but my professors, Dr.Littlejohn and Mr. Piper,

my friends, and classmates, is surely appreciated.

Danaye Connor
390-03
04-29-2019