Build-a-Life link
Build-a-Life Final Reflection
Share one valuable takeaway you have from this experience.
One takeaway from this experience is that adult responsibilities are difficult, but can be managed with the right knowledge and research. The amount of rules to follow credit score and pay taxes is intimidating, but I can see that most adults manage, and new technologies will always be worked on to make life easier.
Did you find this overall project valuable, why or why not?
I found the project to be valuable because I learned how much I would need to pay attention to my budget based on my salary and living situation. I also learned how to deal with student debts and why I shouldn't rely on them too much.
Is there anything you didn’t learn that you would like to know more about? How can this project be improved?
I found the project very useful, but it would have been interesting to learn more about services available to us such as job benefits and financial aid.
What monthly expenses surprised you the most?
The expense that surprised me the most was the student loans. I did not realize how significant the interest could be. I also found it surprising how expensive health care could be, and made me wonder how much it would cost if I had to go to the doctor without health insurance.
If any, what bills do you pay for now?
I do not pay any bills, but will start paying for a car once I get my license.
Was your starting salary enough to cover your monthly expenses and allow you to save? If not, research how your chosen career path could allow you to make the kind of money you would like to be making and explain.
My starting salary was enough to cover both monthly expenses and savings, although I held back on some luxuries like gym and TV memberships.
Finally, reflect on how you applied your Financial, Economic, and Business Literacy Skills to completing this project.
I applied my financial, economic, and business literacy skills by working to match my budget and expenses. I also did extensive research on national or state averages involving costs and statistics. I made personal economic choices by holding back on some luxuries and making sacrifices, such as getting a roommate and a used car. I also made choices that fit my needs and wants, like choosing to live in Spokane despite it being an expensive place.
Build-a-Life Final Reflection
Share one valuable takeaway you have from this experience.
One takeaway from this experience is that adult responsibilities are difficult, but can be managed with the right knowledge and research. The amount of rules to follow credit score and pay taxes is intimidating, but I can see that most adults manage, and new technologies will always be worked on to make life easier.
Did you find this overall project valuable, why or why not?
I found the project to be valuable because I learned how much I would need to pay attention to my budget based on my salary and living situation. I also learned how to deal with student debts and why I shouldn't rely on them too much.
Is there anything you didn’t learn that you would like to know more about? How can this project be improved?
I found the project very useful, but it would have been interesting to learn more about services available to us such as job benefits and financial aid.
What monthly expenses surprised you the most?
The expense that surprised me the most was the student loans. I did not realize how significant the interest could be. I also found it surprising how expensive health care could be, and made me wonder how much it would cost if I had to go to the doctor without health insurance.
If any, what bills do you pay for now?
I do not pay any bills, but will start paying for a car once I get my license.
Was your starting salary enough to cover your monthly expenses and allow you to save? If not, research how your chosen career path could allow you to make the kind of money you would like to be making and explain.
My starting salary was enough to cover both monthly expenses and savings, although I held back on some luxuries like gym and TV memberships.
Finally, reflect on how you applied your Financial, Economic, and Business Literacy Skills to completing this project.
I applied my financial, economic, and business literacy skills by working to match my budget and expenses. I also did extensive research on national or state averages involving costs and statistics. I made personal economic choices by holding back on some luxuries and making sacrifices, such as getting a roommate and a used car. I also made choices that fit my needs and wants, like choosing to live in Spokane despite it being an expensive place.
Name of Assignment: Project Proposal/junior project
Subject: Junior Seminar
Facilitator/Teacher: Mrs. Lindsey
Description of Work/Assignment: This assignment required us to propose our Junior project with a 5-paragraph persuasive essay. For my project, I fix donated bikes and give them away or sell them for much less than the original price.
Which 21st Century Skill do you feel this assignment addresses, and why?
This assignment addressed my thinking and problem-solving skills the most. Writing persuasive essays requires finding holes in your point of view and patching them up. In my project, I constantly test and examine bikes looking for problems and solutions.
I think being familiar with this skill has made it easier to find problems on bikes and decide on how to fix them.
What are you most proud of from this assignment, and why?
In the essay, I was proud of how I emphasized a problem that a lot of people don't need to think about. When everyone has cars, bicycles become a luxury and are taken advantage of. If someone doesn't own a car, a cheap and functional bike becomes a strong necessity.
How did you develop and/or improve upon your 21st Century Skill with this assignment?
One 21st century skill that I developed was my Financial, Economic, and Business Literacy. As I wrote my project proposal, I didn't realize that I would use this skill, but it turned out to be vital in making financial decisions. I have to make decisions regarding how much to spend on each bike, and how much to sell some of the bikes for.
What was most difficult about completing this task?
The most difficult part of completing this task was connecting my thoughts in the essay. My first draft is always loose and made up of rambles, and is difficult to tighten to the point of comprehension. For my bike project, the most difficult task was learning how to actually fix the bikes. I got help from a bike shop called South Maui Bicycles and took notes on everything I saw.
How could you improve this work? If you could start over, what would you do different?
If I could start over, the project would go a lot quicker now that I know more about bikes. I would also collect all of my bikes as soon as I started my project, because my schedule is a lot busier than it was at the beginning of the year, and my biggest problem now is finding time to pick up bikes.
How does this relate to what you have learned in the past?
The closest I have come to learning about bikes is joining a robotics club in third grade. In the club, we made "bumper bots" out of toothbrushes and batteries and timed how long it lasted before falling over.
How can you apply this to future learning?
Fixing bicycles is a lifelong skill. I am more capable of taking care of myself and others when riding a bike if I know how it functions. It is also a useful skill in understanding other mechanics such as gears and pulley systems.
Subject: Junior Seminar
Facilitator/Teacher: Mrs. Lindsey
Description of Work/Assignment: This assignment required us to propose our Junior project with a 5-paragraph persuasive essay. For my project, I fix donated bikes and give them away or sell them for much less than the original price.
Which 21st Century Skill do you feel this assignment addresses, and why?
This assignment addressed my thinking and problem-solving skills the most. Writing persuasive essays requires finding holes in your point of view and patching them up. In my project, I constantly test and examine bikes looking for problems and solutions.
I think being familiar with this skill has made it easier to find problems on bikes and decide on how to fix them.
What are you most proud of from this assignment, and why?
In the essay, I was proud of how I emphasized a problem that a lot of people don't need to think about. When everyone has cars, bicycles become a luxury and are taken advantage of. If someone doesn't own a car, a cheap and functional bike becomes a strong necessity.
How did you develop and/or improve upon your 21st Century Skill with this assignment?
One 21st century skill that I developed was my Financial, Economic, and Business Literacy. As I wrote my project proposal, I didn't realize that I would use this skill, but it turned out to be vital in making financial decisions. I have to make decisions regarding how much to spend on each bike, and how much to sell some of the bikes for.
What was most difficult about completing this task?
The most difficult part of completing this task was connecting my thoughts in the essay. My first draft is always loose and made up of rambles, and is difficult to tighten to the point of comprehension. For my bike project, the most difficult task was learning how to actually fix the bikes. I got help from a bike shop called South Maui Bicycles and took notes on everything I saw.
How could you improve this work? If you could start over, what would you do different?
If I could start over, the project would go a lot quicker now that I know more about bikes. I would also collect all of my bikes as soon as I started my project, because my schedule is a lot busier than it was at the beginning of the year, and my biggest problem now is finding time to pick up bikes.
How does this relate to what you have learned in the past?
The closest I have come to learning about bikes is joining a robotics club in third grade. In the club, we made "bumper bots" out of toothbrushes and batteries and timed how long it lasted before falling over.
How can you apply this to future learning?
Fixing bicycles is a lifelong skill. I am more capable of taking care of myself and others when riding a bike if I know how it functions. It is also a useful skill in understanding other mechanics such as gears and pulley systems.