Journals

Title: Looking Towards the Future (3-3)

Date: 11-16-18

The article “Five things your high school student should know about careers” by Allison Cheston had striking similarities to my path in archaeology and reinforced my plans for the future. It also helped me realize how helpful my family has been in making me as successful as I am today.

Cheston suggests looking for a career that aligns with your interests. Before deciding on archaeology as a career, I had a long-standing passion for history. I also knew that I wanted my job to be outside and hands-on because I do not do well sitting still and working with nothing but paper all day. Thus, archaeology provides a balance of all of the characteristics I was looking for in a profession.

Experimenting with possible careers was the point in this article that really resonated with me because that is how I found my career path. I decided to participate in the Montpelier Archaeology Summer Institute the summer before my junior year because it sounded interesting and my involvement in the field ballooned from there. I was also able to connect with the staff there, who all have given me helpful advice on how to pursue a career in archaeology.

The importance of finding a mentor is also mentioned in the article. I often consult with Matt Reeves, the Director of Archaeology at James Madison’s Montpelier, about the steps he took in the field. Not only has he helped me develop my archaeology skills, but has also pointed me to possible networking and educational steps I can take to advance my career. I will also continue to network within my profession and will likely find more mentors in my time at college.

Cheston also highlights an area I need to expand upon: networking. Though

I have done some networking at Montpelier, I need to expand my reach to other archaeology sites. I would also like to start getting some experience in managing archaeology sites, as that is what I hope to do one day, which will take some networking. Reading this also made me thankful that my family, especially my mother, has fostered my respectful attitude, as that will help me with networking .

Overall, this article was very helpful in highlights habits that I need to continue, as well as showing me areas I can improve in. I practice most of the skills presented in this article, but I still need to refine those areas and improve upon several others.

Title: Developing Time Management Skills (Reflective Journal 3-2)

Date: 11-12-18

As I the semester has progressed, the intensity of my classes has picked up dramatically, requiring a higher level of time management. Though I had a fairly hectic schedule last year, the addition of college classes and several additional extracurriculars has forced me to further develop my time management skills this year. Coordinating my paper, internship, and fairly time-intensive community service project has been a major factor that necessitated more effective time management on my part.

I have begun to use my phone calendar in place of my paper planner because my phone is something I check every day and it reminds me about events, both of which make me more likely to remember. I also like that my phone will allow me to easily share events with my mother, as I mainly handle my schedule, but still need to keep her in the loop about certain events. Every day when I get home, I check my calendar to see what I have to accomplish that day and then check items off as I complete them. Additionally, I sit down and plan with my family on a weekly basis, so that we all know what is going on in each other’s lives and can help each other out with tasks if needed.

These time management skills will greatly help me in college, as all of my top choices are known for their rigorous academics. Furthermore, I plan to be involved in several clubs and an intramural sport in college, which will create a fairly full schedule outside of the classroom as well. While I already possessed strong time-management skills, this semester’s schedule, and particularly this project, has sharpened those skills to a level more similar to what college will require.

Title: Advice for Incoming Students (3-2)

Date: 11-2-18

My main piece of advice rising juniors is to start thinking about the project and a rough idea of how they want their project to play out as early as possible. Starting early helped me get a good portion of my internship out of the way before the school year started, which freed up time I could devote to adding quality to my community service project and research paper. Deadlines are also important to keep in mind because many of them overlap and are largely your responsibility to keep track of.

Another thing to keep in mind is that senior year is stressful and has a lot going on, so put your project in that context. Some people tend to shoot for the stars with their project thinking it is completely manageable, only to find out that it is not as manageable as they thought while in two clubs, one sport, and applying to three or four colleges. Therefore, consider reducing the scope of your Senior Project, so that you have time for a balanced Senior Year.

Lastly, students should not be afraid to put themselves out there and try new things, even changing plans if they have to. This class is unlike any other you have encountered, as your teacher doesn’t tell you to do A, B, and C by next week, but tells you to come up with your own A, B, and C that you need to get done in several months. Stretching your boundaries is and effectively operating outside your comfort zone are the cornerstones of your project and it is the only way to grow. I completely changed the community service portion of my project several weeks into school and that has been the most enjoyable part of my project.

Title: Promoting Our Project (Reflective Journal 3-1)

Date: 10-29-18

Two weeks ago, Robbie and I were able to work with the Louisa County Historical Society at the Louisa Harvest Festival in order to promote our cookbook project. We were able to talk to a lot of interesting people about the recipes and history of Louisa County. We also had the opportunity to talk with several members of the Louisa County Historical Society, which has helped us put our cookbook in perspective with the county’s history. Talking with the historical society members helped me realize how little I really know about our county, reinforcing the importance of Robbie’s and my cookbook.

One of the best contacts we were able to make was with Deb Fields, the head of the Louisa Herb and Hearth Cooking Guild, who gave us several interesting recipes, but also invited us to come try a cooking class with the guild. In the next month, Robbie and I will likely attend a hearth cooking class with the Louisa Hearth Cooking Guild. During this activity, we will learn hearth cooking techniques, which have been used for centuries and are mostly associated with 18th century cooking; however, this method was used in Louisa until the 1950’s due to lack of money and technology. I am looking forward to being able to gain insight into the culinary techniques used in Louisa and hopefully being able to meet more people who have recipes or histories of the county.

Though we did not get a large number of recipes from the public, attending the Louisa Harvest Festival gave us quality contacts that have deepened and will continue to deepen our understanding of Louisa’s culinary and overall history.

Title: Writing Strategies and Resources (3-1)

Date: 10-19-18

Though I have not yet began writing my paper, the prewriting I have done will make constructing my paper much quicker and easier. The outline that I have done is incredibly detailed, containing almost all of my main points so that I only have to connect those main ideas. This is the first time I have done such an extensive outline, especially for such a long paper and although the outlining process was time consuming, it will make my paper more smooth and alot more time for editing of the paper. Doing this outline has made me more likely to use such a technique for college papers, especially theses or dissertations.

Another helpful technique that I am more familiar with is peer and teacher review. Our 12th grade English teacher, Mrs. Weddle, gave me feedback on my outline and gave the entire Blue Ridge Virtual Governor’s School senior class a mini-lesson on thesis development. The lesson helped me adapt my thesis to be more clear, but also allowed me to gear it to a larger, scientific paper. Additionally, multiple students analyzed both my thesis and my outline in order to make sure they were clear and effective. The feedback that I received during these review sessions allowed me to write for my audience and not for myself, which will make my paper more clear and, thus, stronger. These techniques have combined to make the prewriting phase of my paper much more effective, which will make the writing and editing process more quick and straightforward, ultimately leading to a cleaner, more effective final paper.

Title: Adjusting to College (2-3)

Date: 10-16-18

The article “4 Ways Your College Classes Will Be Different From Your High School Classes” brought up several habits that I am thankful I have formed and will continue, as well as several points I need to develop.

I will do well finding and using a study group because my friend Zach and I study together a lot and many of my college classes, such as Pre-Calculus, rely heavily on working as a group. I will need to get comfortable sharing my ideas with the whole class, as it takes me a while to get comfortable doing so in a classroom environment, especially larger ones.

Once I get in class, I typically focus in on the task at hand very quickly, so getting distracted should not be an issue, even with a computer. I will have to make sure that I have a place to type tasks I need to complete later so I do not forget them or try to do them right then because my personality is such that I like to check things off the list right then and there.

My resourcefulness will allow me to save money on textbooks by shopping for bargains and asking people who have taken the class for textbooks. Something else I will definitely do, is talk to other students about the course load and style because I am very much a person that likes to know what to expect. I frequently ask people who have taken classes what to expect or how a certain project is structured and do my best to pass on such knowledge to students in lower grades.

Forming relationships with professors is one of the aspects of college I am most looking forward to. Professors who have had success in my intended field are an invaluable resource of insight and advice. I carry myself very professionally and act very respectfully towards others, so getting to know my professors should be fairly easy.

Overall, I feel that my high school teachers have prepared me for college and helped me develop the habits I will need for success in college, though there are still several habits I need to further develop.

Title: Engaging with a Professional (2-2)

Date: 9-30-18

The best experience I have had in my senior project thus far is being able to interview my mentor, Ms. Karleen Kovalcik. Though we had been working together on the oral history transcription project for a little over a month, this was the first time we were able to sit down and talk about our mutual interest: history. The interview had a relaxed, but professional feel that made me feel comfortable probing deeper when she brought up a point that interested me. Most of the experiences she shared with me underlined points I had found in my research, but were more personable and allowed me to better connect with those ideas.

The interview allowed me to gain valuable insight into her daily duties and the operation of a small historical institutions while giving me a greater appreciation for the responsibilities she has to tend to on a daily basis. Most of the historical sites I have visited, such as Montpelier and the Holocaust Museum, are either federally subsidized and staffed or have an army of donors and staff to assure they run smoothly.The Louisa Historical Society relies much more on grants and day-to-day operations are the responsibility of Ms.Kovalcik and a group of volunteers. I learned about the projects they are able to put together and she walked me through the process of creating interactive digital tours and archives. It was interesting to consult with someone who has been a part of presenting history to the public, especially considering that will be a significant part of my job as an archaeologist.

Title: Working as a Team (Reflective Journal 2-1)

Date: 9-23-18

When Robbie first came to me and pitched the idea of a historical cookbook, I was excited because it explored history from a unique aspect and tied in with my internship at the Louisa Historical Society. However, once I began thinking about the different working styles Robbie and I have, I became concerned we would clash. I was worried he would wait until the last minute to compete his parts of the project and I would frustrate him by pushing him to get things done on my timeline, not his. Thankfully, we have managed our working styles to work together as a team. I help him keep long-term deadlines in mind and work more studiously than he might otherwise and he helps me let go of trivial details and adapt to change more effectively.

Our topics are melding together well, as both of us enjoy history and culinary, just to different extents. This interdisciplinary interest allows us to both have valuable input on the project and work cohesively on the project in its entirety, instead of Robbie only doing the cooking and recording of recipes and me only addressing the history of the dish. When interviewing community members for recipes, we both go, with Robbie recording recipe information and me collecting the background of the dish and community member. We are able to divvy up tasks as needed if certain tasks pertain to our area of specialty, but we generally work as a unit. Once Robbie begins his internship on October 1st, it will become imperative that we are able to operate independently, while still collaborating, which will likely be facilitated in part by setting aside part of a period working together in Mrs.King’s classroom.

Title: Personal Communication (2-1)

Date: 9-17-18

In one of my Module 1 journals, I addressed my communication issues with the Historical Society at the beginning of my summer internship. I sent emails regarding meetings and then did not hear anything for several days, which frustrated me. As I have continued communicating with professionals and watching my peers do the same, I have realized the majority of my frustration was the result of my unfamiliarity with professional life.

My Senior Project has exposed me to the unpredictability of the business world, allowing me to appreciate the position the Historical Society was in. I realize now that schedules are often tentative and can change in the blink of an eye based on multiple factors, one of which was the change in directorship the Historical Society was experiencing at that time. I was looking at the situation from my perspective of getting things done quickly and not grasping all of the factors the Historical Society staff had to take in to consideration.

I have also gained considerable experience and understanding in the art of effectively anticipating the timing of an email. Before this project, I would email a teacher a question about a project and likely get a response within twenty four hours. When emailing contacts throughout the project, I have learned to build in several days to allow the recipient to check their schedule and confer with managers or employees before responding to me. If I had done this during my summer internship, I could have saved myself a lot of frustration.

Ironing out the wrinkles of professional communication was annoying at first, but it has better equipped me to effectively communicate in college and my professional life. I will more carefully consider how long it will take to receive a response to avoid badgering a contact or worry about my email being received.

Title: Managing A Project (1- 3)

Date: 9-10-18

The article “How to Successfully Manage Your First Project” addresses the 13 steps that are key for planning and executing a project. The author, F. John Reh, outlines the five overarching themes of project management before breaking them down into 13 steps. While all of these principles apply to my BRVGS Senior Project, several of them will be especially important to my joint community service with Robbie.

The article suggests developing a plan and several objectives to keep in mind, which I will have to do in order to assure every part of my Senior Project is completed to the best of my ability. I must tend to short-term tasks like journaling, while ensuring long-term tasks like the completion of my internship do not fall to the wayside. The step I will have to be mindful of is to make my plan adaptable because I operate in a linear fashion on projects, an approach this project definitely does not cater to. Of utmost importance is documenting my actions and keeping my advisor informed, since a large portion of my success in this project hinges on service hours and advisor evaluations.

Several steps mentioned in this article will be helpful in coordinating my community service with Robbie. It is crucial that Robbie and I communicate to each other where we are in our Senior Projects, as we have individual papers and internships, but a shared community service project. Awareness of the timeline will be a major point of focus for Robbie and I because we have different attitudes towards it. Robbie is a recovering procrastinator, while I am extremely deadline conscious. I am hoping to help him be more effective at time management, while learning adaptability in scheduling from him. We will also need to monitor our progress in the project to stay on pace, which we plan to achieve by meeting 10 minutes every day to discuss the individual and joint portions of our projects.

This article helped focus me on several planning and management techniques I will use throughout this project, but it was most helpful in stimulating thoughts of collaborative techniques Robbie and I will use.

Works Cited

Project Management Institute. (2008). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge [Infographic]. Retrieved from http://www.search.org/solutions/public-safety-emergency-communications/project-management/

Reh, F. John. (2018, July 15). How to Successfully Manage Your First Project. Retrieved from https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-to-successfully-manage-your-first-project-2276127

Strengths and Weaknesses (1-2)

Date: 8-27-18

This project will make good use of my strengths, while developing my weaknesses. My most valuable asset will be my time management, as this project is extremely nonlinear with overlapping timelines, some of which are close together. I have a good attention to detail, which will help me discern between relevant and irrelevant information when transcribing interviews and assure the pictures for my virtual tour are top quality. Communication of ideas is one of my strong suits that will be integral in creating the supplementary audio to the virtual tour. I also excel in communicating professionally with adults, which I will do extensively during this project. My desire to do my best will allow me to make my project the best it can be, but I will have to make sure I know when to perfect something and when to let something go.

My biggest weakness is my lack of familiarity with the pace of the business world. I am a very driven person that likes to check an item off my to do list as soon as possible; however, in business, ideas must be considered thoroughly before being approved. I have already had to adjust my attitude to be more like that of the business community by sending emails earlier and allocating more time for certain tasks. Also, I have very little experience in photography and no experience in the digital arts, which will require self education on my part to acquire the knowledge my community service will need. Thankfully, I have several friends who have offered basic help; however, I may need to consult with the photographers at Montpelier or a local professional to bring my photography and digital arts skills up to par. Having never transcribed before, I am going to have to improve my slow typing speed and hone my accuracy. The transcriptions are typed on Excel, which I have had to reacquaint myself with after using Google Sheets for almost all of my school career. I am well equipped for this project, but I will grow the breadth and depth of my skills considerably throughout the semester.

Impact on My Future (Reflective Journal 1-1)

8-20-18 (Written 8-7-18)

My senior internship at the Louisa Historical Society has greatly helped me develop the business communication skills that will help me excel in my future college and professional life. I have learned how to communicate professionally with those outside my age group and work through the unpredictability of life, especially in a business setting. This is the first time I have had to correspond with professionals in such an independent manner. Also, transcribing historical accounts has helped me learn how to differentiate between important and unimportant information, which will help with taking notes in my future undertakings. That attention to detail is a skill that I will use every day in my career as an archaeologist, although in a more physical sense. The patience required to fully capture the essence of what a person is saying has helped me realize how important it is to fully understand what an object or account truly means, rather than just taking it at face value. I have also realized the subtleties of communication; how important tone and body language are in deciphering meaning.

This experience has given me a taste of working and conducting myself professionally, as I have never held a job before. I have gained experience in recording my hours and reinforced my sense of punctuality. The skills that I have gained and honed throughout this internship will aid in the development of my productivity in college and my professional life because I will already have a basic knowledge of working efficiently and effectively in a professional environment, especially in a historical setting.