Blog 24: Last Presentation Reflection

(1) Positive Statement: What are you most proud of in your block presentation and/or your senior project? Why?

From this presentation, I am most proud of the fact that I was able to use more interactive games and was able to make it more of a competition. Even though they went a bit shorter than i had estimated, they worked out to keep a competitive spirit throughout my presentation. Since my topic was serious, the fact that i was able to work some competition into my project worked out. Essentially this the fact that my topic was so serious worried me the most, and i wasn’t sure if the competition would even go well. In my presentation what I believed worked the best for me was when I covered body language and was able to be more interactive with the audience. I had them move around and separated suicide from my presentation. I would have them move around and practice different movements and practice it individually.

(2) Questions to Consider

a. What assessment would you give yourself on your block presentation?  Use the component contract to defend that assessment.

P       - I was able to meet all of the P qualifications for my project. In reality I do not believe I did anything above and beyond to deserve an AE, or higher than a P. For my hook I did have a problem using the clicker so it didn't go as i had planned and unfortunately that backfired on me because my hook ran shorter than I had estimated which ran my presentation shorter than I had anticipated overall. Towards the end I was elaborating more on my third answer in order to meet time which was not very professional on my behalf and it hurt my time.

b. What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project? Use the component contract to defend that assessment.

P - For my overall senior project I would give myself a high P or low AE because I was able to keep a solid P for the semester work but received an AE on my first lesson and an E on my second presentation and an AE for my exit interview. Throughout this year I have put in a lot of effort into my work and done what is necessary for the major projects.

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?

For the overall senior project what worked the best was the fact that I had a personal connection to my topic. I had a personal connection to suicide prevention because of a friend who was having suicidal thoughts and had made an attempt and it was a very emotional scenario, but because of this I wanted to make a difference. There were so many things that I did not know, and I because of that I wanted to educate others, even if it was on 30 people.

(4) (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your senior project?

If I had a time machine I wish I had found out about the SAFEtalk program and Suicide Training earlier than December, because they had sign ups for the course in October at the Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center which would take around 30 hours to complete ad itself would’ve been a great Independent Component. My biggest regret was not being able to find out about it earlier, and I would have done more research on that earlier. It would have better provided me with a foundation and more of a base to work off of than what I had to find for myself.

(5) Finding Value: How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples.

My senior topic allowed me to find out what I would like to do for a career. I have had my eye in the mental health section, but after looking into suicide prevention for about a year I realized that this is not something I want to do career-wise, however it will be something I do for volunteering, and perhaps become a speaker for it in the future. I hope to be able to talk about suicide to different schools so that everyone has an opportunity to learn about suicide on a larger scale and more importantly allow everyone to understand what suicide prevention is, and that they shouldn’t be scared of talking about it to their loved ones, friends or even peers. It is not a joke, but they shouldn’t be afraid to talk about it in a serious perspective. It can save a life in the long run, and everyone can be a hero, just not everyone knows how to be.

Exit Interview

(1) What is your essential question, and what are your answers?  What is your best answer and why?(2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?(3) What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?

EQ: What are the primary factors to consider when approaching someone who may be experiencing suicidal ideation?

Answer 1: Before approaching an individual you think may be suicidal,  it is essential to first be able to identify the risk factors and warning sigs that the individual is experiencing in order to pick upon telltale signs.

Answer 2: After identifying the major risk factors, warning signs and risk level, it is necessary to learn the appropriate body and verbal language to appropriately convey our message of concern.

Answer 3: As one begin to help someone recover from suicidal ideation, it is crucial to identify appropriate social support for the person at risk, and the helper.

(2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?
I believe that my best answer is my third answer because it is the one that is forgotten the most when it comes to helping another person. People tend to forget that the situation is stressful to be involved in, and often times the “helper” is unaware that it is necessary for them to have their own support, just as much as it is for the person at risk to have them as well. In addition to this, support systems (i.e. online chats, hotlines, support groups, individual therapy, etc.) play a big part in the recover of the person at risk, because they create a social movement to help an individual, have it be familial or strangers.

This answer was first inspired when i did my third interview with Lizette Martinez from the Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center. When has entered the discussion on the importance of support systems when the topic of support group and therapy effectiveness for those who are suicidal and the steps to ensure the best results when approaching and individual. After this initial discussion, I continued and began to look into different issues and benefits from different forms of social support including: individual therapy, support groups, online chats, hotlines, and family relationships, all as different mediums for which people could use as social support.

(3) What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?
Throughout the course of the year, the biggest problem that I faced as in the beginning stage of the project because several groups that I has tried to interview or mentor with did not find it appropriate for me to take part in me mentoring because of my age, which also made interviews difficult initially. By being rejected during my initial attempts, I was able to see the stigma against suicide first hand, which demonstrated how even those involved with suicide prevention failed to set aside the idea that death can play a part of suicide prevention. For this, all that is took was more motivation to find people who were willing to help me grow on my knowledge so I could uphold the best result.  

(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?
My most significant sources would be my third interview and my course on The Suicide Prevention and Intervention course provided by Wild Iris Education meant to educate nurses in the work field to face suicidal patients. The Wild Iris course, provided me with a professional touch to suicide prevention by addressing how to identify suicide within those who are at risk within the medical community. My third interview played as a gateway throughout my entire project and motivated me to continue looking into social support as a potential answer to my topic.

Blog 22" Independent Component 2

(a) “I,  Jocelyn  Sanchez, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30  hours of work.”

(b) Sources

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D_25XELuHqZWXHeRHetaJpfUH2EYQxOv3wko3B5CvOo/edit?usp=sharing

(c) Throughout the course of these last several months, Katie Lopez and myself set off to create an online campaign in order to help create awareness among teenagers, in order to do so we created a suicide prevention website such as the one by the Trevor Project, Teen Line Online and the Suicide Prevention Association. However as I looked into these websites, I noticed that they did not provide enough information to create a motivational support system or even had a forum for recommended aid, such as therapy, chat lines, support groups or even the effectiveness of these forums for individuals. In order to ensure that there was one, we created a “super” website which included all of this information, which can also be found on the link below, as posting is pending on  a blog schedule as set by my partner, Katie. While i focused on the research and background of the website, Katie focused on the aesthetic and importance of different mediums to complete our IC.  

Link to Information: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PeatOL0uKPrOcoZlxGrxgXlPyoNxLw799L2spGtYRjs/edit?usp=sharing

(d) How did the component help you answer your EQ? Please include specific examples to illustrate how it helped.

While creating this website I began to see the flaws in the current suicide prevention campaigns where they focus on one aspect, such as online chats or in person contact and often do not provide enough information to help an individual. Although some websites do provide steps, there is yet to we a site aside from our own that encompasses the topics of each on of these aspects. With having all the information needed on one forum, helping another person will be a simpler task than as presented before. Since I was responsible for research, I was able to first hand see the time the is necessary to put all of these forums in one place. It takes a lot of time, but with motivation it is worth saving lives.  

Link to Website: http://keepaimingcampaign.wix.com/suicideprevention

Blog 21: Fourth Interview Reflection

1. What is the most important thing I learned from the interview?  

The most important aspect that I learned from this interview with Patricia Janice Overley has been the ever growing necessity of support through the process of suicide and the effort needed to come back, after a loved one passed by suicide. Now more than ever it is necessary to be able to understand how the suicide of a close relative or friend can take a toll on an individual, and seeking help in a support group is one way of getting the emotional and social support, especially when everyone has had similar experiences and can relate to one another. Without any stigma, people can share their experiences with complete strangers but create a bond and a support system that can help different individuals evolve and move forward if that is the case.

2.  How will what I learned affect my final lesson?

This interview has allowed me to focus on my third answer which is finding support for yourself and for the person who is at risk. Overall Ms. Overley was able to explain the importance of suicide prevention through support, a tool often forgotten in the time of help. Suicide prevention is more than taking someone to the proper psychologist, but about knowing the proper support and help that an individual may need. For some people, a support group works effectively, for others a one on one meeting will be sufficient, however for some both of these are necessary, and depending on the age group, even online chats can become appropriate.

Fourth Interview Questions

Even when life seems dark and nothing seems to be in order, hope will illuminate the way. 

1.  Who do you plan to interview?  What is this person's area of expertise?

For this interview I plan on interviewing Patricia Janice Overley, M.S. who is a support group leader for the Hope After Suicide Group in Chino Hills who meet bimonthly to provide support for families who have had relatives or friends through suicide.

2.  Post 20 open-ended questions you want to ask an expert in the field concerning your senior project. Your focus should be finding answers to your EQ.

1. What is a support group?
1. how does a support group work?
2. Why do people seek out assistance in this form?
3. What is the benefit of a support group over traditional individual therapy or other forms of help?
4. When a relative or friend of someone who went through with suicide, what is the first step they would have to take?
5. What is Hope After Suicide?
6. How did it come to be? How did you come to lead this group?
7. Why is it important to have support?
8. Most people who seek help in a support group have little to no prior relations before joining this group, what would you say is an essential part in creating the trust that each person needs?
9. In your years of experience, how would you explain the general process of recovery for each individual?
10. Why is it important to seek help after a close relative or friend dies through suicide?
11. Should an individual who is trying to help a suicidal individual seek personal help during the beginning of helping their friend or when?
12. Does seeking personal support make anyone less inclined to follow through with suicidal thoughts?
13. What are the risks of not seeking support after someone close completes suicide?
14. If someone did not go through with suicide, what would you recommend for steps to take?
15. Should there be a restriction to when an individual should be able to learn about the risk of suicide?
1. If so, how old should they be?
16. Do you recommend support groups to children?
17. What do you believe are the primary factors to consider when approaching someone considering suicide?
18. What has been the most rewarding experience for you when regarding HOPE after suicide?
19. What is your background in suicide prevention, or in psychology?
20. Would you recommend any resources for me to look more into support as a tool for suicide prevention?

Blog 19: Third Answer

1. EQ

What are the primary factors to consider when approaching someone who may be experiencing suicidal ideation?

2. Answer #3 (Write in a complete sentence like a thesis statement)*

Among the biggest factors in approaching someone, is having the proper support for yourself and the person who are helping.

3. 3 details to support the answer

Having the proper emotional support as the helper will ensure that the person who are trying to move away from suicidal tendencies. According to the American Psychological Association, social support is a crucial factor in how one will respond to social situations. That is without saying, how one will use the opinions and resources another provides to help them be a stronger individual.

During the period of approach and assistance, the individual at risk is very delicate and requires constant communication, this having their own support, as in a therapist, friend, relative, support group of even hotline to talk to will provide sufficient support until they see their main support next.

4. The research source(s) to support your details and answer

Source 17

Interview 3

Source 48f

5. Concluding Sentence

Support plays a major factor in the interpretation and development of how one progresses from suicidal ideation.

Blog 18: Answer 2

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Blog 17 - Interview 3 Reflection

Life, anyone’s life for that matter is worth fighting for, and even if the best outcome is not the biggest, it is not the most useful.

1. What is the most important thing I learned from the interview?  

The most important thing I learned from my mentor is the best outcome from approaching anyone who is suicidal, is not that they pledge to never commit suicide but in fact helping that person step down from their immediate urge and provide them with hope to continue wanting to make a difference in their own lives regardless. At the moment you talk to someone and address suicide, all of the attention is on that person, and that person only, it is their moment to be heard and have support and if anyone is able to listen and provide them with the time and proper encouragement they can at least provide a glimmer of hope. A small glimmer can grow and expand to completely modify the life path they are choosing for themselves. Instead of ending their life, they allow themselves to see past that to a world where their issues have solutions. It was being able to understand how the best outcome of approach does not have to be a complete elimination of the entire problem in one sitting, but in reality it is just pushing for one more day of life.

                                                                                                                                                          

2.  How has your approach to interviewing changed over the course of your senior project?

Overall my approach to my interviews has changed drastically from my first one to this one, particularly because I hid behind my mentor for the first two. Although I was able to get a constructive amount of information throughout my first two interviews, it was this third interview that provided me with a different perspective on helping those who need it. Lizette Martinez, the Volunteer Coordinator at the Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center in Culver City was very open to her experience in suicide prevention and on her background as a volunteer for over 4 years. I was able to get to know Ms. Martinez just by a conversation and was able to find her muse through wanting to help others by preventing suicide - the most preventable form of death. Her current passion has allowed me to have a deeper understanding of why people help each other, and most importantly, has allowed me to branch for ideas for my second independent component which has been to create a campaign to create suicide prevention awareness.  

Blog 16: Independent Component 2 Approval

KEEP AIMING! 

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

For my second independent, I plan working alongside Katie Lopez in order to create a campaign on suicide prevention/awareness which will be directed towards adolescents, teaching about the different aspects and factors that go into suicide prevention. The goal of the campaign is to promote and educate the public through the use of PSAs on digital and tangible platforms - including but not limited to: Posters, websites, blogs, and commercials. We also hope to be able to fundraise some money to be able to donate to non-profit organizations that are currently researching different approaches to suicide prevention - the details on how this fundraiser will take part are still in the works as we need to talk to our house teachers.

The name of our campaign will be called “keep aiming as it will focus on looking at the silver lining from each personal problem and individual can have. In order for an arrow to shoot forwards it needs to be held back, just like the issues presented by the USA

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

I intend on logging how often I work on this project, and  I will also be dedicating my time to speak to different classes on suicide prevention to educate our grade and potentially our whole school. During iFest we will try to find volunteers who would be willing to help promote our campaign or learn about the topic of suicide.

3.  Explain how this component will help you explore your topic in more depth.

This component will allow me to explore my topic more in depth because I will be focusing on the advertising and actual awareness of suicide prevention adding a layer of understanding to this complicated web. In educating the public, I hope to be able to provide the tools that one day could save lives.

4. Independent Component 2

Independent Component 1

LITERAL

• I, Jocelyn Sanchez, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 33 hours hours of work.
• (b) Works Cited
• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D_25XELuHqZWXHeRHetaJpfUH2EYQxOv3wko3B5CvOo/edit?usp=sharing .
• (d) Explain what you completed.    
• Throughout the course of my 30 hours I worked with Gennesis Romero to create an accessible online platform (WordPress) which the public can use to help identify different disorder and major contributors that can affect the mental health of an elderly once they reach the approximate age of 60 years. We also created a Pintrest platform to reach the ages of those 15-25 and created an Instagram account to target teenagers so that they will want to care for their grandparents or elder members of their family or life.

INTERPRETIVE

• Defend your work and explain its significance to your project and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work.   Provide evidence (photos, transcript, art work, videos, etc) of the 30 hours of work.  
• https://mentalelderhealth.wordpress.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/mentalelder/
• https://www.pinterest.com/mentalelderheal/

APPLIED

• How did the component help you understand the foundation of your topic better?  Please include specific examples to illustrate this.
• This component made it simple for me to learn about my topic because I was able to specifically research components that are also major contributors on suicide. Although we did cover suicide plenty, it was not the entire purpose of our blog. The purpose was to educate the public and in doing research both Gennesis and myself were given the opportunity to expand our horizons on our topics. Since I had prior knowledge to the elderly, and her topic was geriatrics, I was able to provide her with some tools that I had found prior to this project. As for myself, the research I put into this blog also allowed me to look deeper into aspects like abandonment and abuse that dragged me further into the science that leads to suicide, and I probably would not have gotten so intrigued if it were not for this.

Lesson 2 Reflection

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

Out of everything for my Lesson 2 Presentation, I am most proud of making time. I had practiced multiple times before but every time I practiced I always went over time. Right before my presentation I made the decision to get rid of several slides of content which brought me to around 21 minutes of speaking. It took a lot of moving around, and I felt like the basic, necessary information got across. In addition to that, I also felt like I was able to reach several people as I received several offers for IC#2 opportunities which I believe may serve me well in my future.

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

   AE

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

In all honesty, I believe I could have presented a lot more appropriately but I allowed my nerves get in the way of my ability to present. Although I did present the requirements, I felt that my overall communication could have been better. My voice was quite shaky and I spoke very quickly trying to get my points across, before running out of time. Even though I did make time, I spoke too fast which could have caused an issue with my clarity of thought.

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 2?

What went in my presentation, I suppose may have been my hook activity. I wanted to reach a happy, quick mood before I got into the very depressing content I would later present. I am thinking of different ways to bettering my presentation so that I can give off a lighter tone that the one I did in this one. I do not think I’ll try story-time the way I did during this presentation, because it was quite messy and in the end did not contribute as much as I thought it would when I practiced, So it served as a learning experience for my final presentation.

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

If I had a time machine I would completely take out the “story-time” segment because I do not feel it had a positive effect to my presentation. I just could have easily said the stories throughout my presentation instead of collecting it all at once. I would have also kept my slide on the 4 main stages of suicide, in order to give a better basis on suicide as a whole than just several definitions and types. I would minimize the amount of time I focused only on risk factors and warning signs so that I could talk more about approaching someone who is suicidal, and maintain a well rounded presentation.

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

My second answer, is going to be knowing the proper procedure and approach someone should use when they decide to talk to a person who is suicidal. For example, in this presentation I briefly touched upon the most important characteristic when approaching someone who is suicidal, being non judgmental. In my third interview, I focused upon this with Lizette Martinez and have collected sufficient information on this regard and I hope that teaching people how to approach someone will lighten the whole fact that people commit suicide. Now that the students know they signs to watch out for, I can provide them with more tools to be able to help their friends, family, peers and anyone else who they come across - even a stranger.