SENIOR PROJECT SELF-EVALUATION

Directions: Utilize this worksheet to help evaluate yourself and your project. Be as complete
and descriptive as possible. This self-evaluation should give the scoring team and your teacher a
clear picture of what you accomplished in your project.

Name - Dawson Xiao ​Project Start Date​ – January 30, 2019

Title of Project​ - Ambiguity of Insider Trading Laws ​Project Completion Date​ - April 16, 2019

1. In ​40 words or more describe who your project benefited and how. In other words, what was the
impact of your project? Be specific.

I believe I benefit from this project aside from graduating LSA. As an inspiring entrepreneur who
wants to excel in the fields of international business and technology, I believe I would need to
demonstrate my knowledge and passion towards people such as the audience in my project:
college students who are part of the business technology and information department. Sooner or
later, I will have to perform these presentations and this project will serve as an learning
experience for myself. However, the leading issue of my project which discusses about flaws of
insider trading laws is still a concern for the current market system. Thus, I would like to
advocate this issue and teach it to a group of students who are interested in the ethics and business
information and technology aspects of insider trading. While my impact may be fairly minimal, I
believe it serves as an educational experience for myself and my audience as we learn something
new everyday.

2. In ​at least 40 words explain how the project challenged you. How was this a stretch for you? Be
honest. If it was not really a stretch for you, explain why you chose not to take the opportunity to
challenge yourself.

Although Insider Trading was an unique topic, it was fairly difficult to try and find a project suitable for
this subject. Secondly, I had to target an audience that would enjoy the project itself. Therefore I believed
the best choice was to teach it to college students majoring in Business Information and Technology.
However, as a mere 18 years old high school student, it’s pretty daunting to teach college students whose
knowledge and experience is levels above myself. Then I had to find ways to create a professional
interview with someone specialized in the field as a special guest. Additionally, this project challenged
me in terms of time management, video editing, and organize an event for a group of people.
Interviewing a professional and communicating with college experts will also provide difficulty.
However, the end result will allow myself for immense growth in terms of communication skills
and demonstrate a readiness to enter college and my goals of majoring in Business.

3. List and ​then describe ​5-8 fundamental ideas/concepts/skills of your project, which you
learned/enhanced during your project. If you cannot think of 5-8, just list and describe what you
can.

1. Learning to communicate effectively with multiple people: consultants, teachers, guest speakers,
professors, students, etc.
2. Creating a video of an interview and editing it
3. Teaching in a lecture hall
4. Creating an agenda plan, dialogue, and questionnaire sheet
5. Dressing up even better
6. Doing an interview with an expert
7. Learning to not give up no matter what obstacles
8. Stay calm during project accidents

4. List ​and describe ​4-8 problems/obstacles/issues you encountered in your project, and briefly
describe how you solved each. If you cannot think of 4-8, just list and describe what you can. If
you did not solve the problem, then tell why.

1. First professor from ODU ghosted me.

a. He called me to set up a date and then never contacted me again

2. Second professor from Virginia Wesleyan never answered my call until Week 3
b. I was almost going to have to change my project

3. Guest Speaker interview was almost going to be cancel

c. Guest speaker had to go on a business trip for a month

4. USB error during the middle of the project.

d. Stayed calm and carried on
 5. List ​all​ people who helped you on the project and ​briefly describe​ the help given.

Steve Crane
Professor Futyma
Professor Ewell
Mrs. V
Benjamin Tan

I would like to take the time to thank my consultant, Steve Crane, for helping me reaching this goal. I also
want to thank Professor Ewell for introducing me to Professor Futmya who greatly contributed to my
project in finding me a class, audience, advice on dress apparels, etc. Great thanks to Benjamin Tan for
his expertise on insider trading laws. Finally, I want to thank Mrs. V for helping me from day 1 to day
144 for this project. Everyone’s input: classmates, friends, family, and teachers really made it possible for
someone like me, a mere senior high student. It couldn't have possible without these special people. I
thank and appreciate them from the bottom of my heart.

6. How does your completed project compare to the picture you had in mind when you started the
project? ​Explain the reason behind any changes from your proposal.

There wasn’t any changes, I just wanted to teach a class.​the project itself relates to the Business IT
majors and gives them a general idea of the market system and what defines insider trading as well as
what's in stock for the future.
 
 7. If given the opportunity, explain what you would have done differently now that you speak from
experience?
I would do better in the interview and met with professor Futyma more often, as he could help criticize
me more so that I could be better. He gave great insights and was a wonderful mentor. Additionally, I
wished to practiced more so I can be more perfect. I wouldn't change anything else.

8. Beyond the project itself, what did you learn about yourself? What did you get out of the
experience in terms of personal growth?

The experience I’ve gain from this project was immense. I don’t know where to start. From
accomplishing a 25 page project through research, to creating an edited professional interview, to
computer skills, meeting with college professors, teaching students, etc. As stated above, as an inspiring
entrepreneur who wants to excel in the fields of international business and technology,this project
enhanced my knowledge and passion of Business and allowed me to grow as an individual.

9. Reflecting on the total amount of time and effort that you put into this opportunity, and reflecting
on the overall quality of the final product, what grade would you give yourself on the project? ​Be
honest with yourself! Justify ​the evaluation of your grade in ​at least 25 words​.

Grade: B

Justification:

As stated above, although my impact was fairly minimal but I was satisfied with what I
accomplished. I never knew that editing videos could take 4-5 hours and teaching a class of college
students can be daunting. However, I put in a great deal of efforts and hard work in
communication, networking, and creating multiple documents such as dialogue, agenda, and
questionnaires, spending hours and hours traveling between places to practice and gather
materials. My project may not be the best but I was happy and satisfied at the end.