Initiative and Entrepreneurialism
Semester 1: Rwandan Genocide Writing Assignment
Reflection: Before beginning work on this project, I had learned about the Rwandan Genocide and the tragic, horrific events that took place there. After obtaining this information, we were required to write a paper as if we were government officials explaining how to help rebuild Rwanda through this tragic event. Throughout this project I was able to effectively come up with some solutions that would enable our country to help rebuild Rwanda, as well as determine some possible courses of action that would prevent such violence or any genocide from occurring there again. By working on this project, I was able to take initiative, step up, and create a unique, efficient, and plausible plan that would allow the United States to help repair the damage and prevent another genocide from occurring in Rwanda. Though I was able to clearly come up with a plan, like always, there were some areas that I would like to improve upon. One such area would be to become more creative in my ideas about rebuilding and preventing violence in Rwanda. I would also like to further improve determining who would be carrying out these courses of action and what specific help organizations would be involved in my plan. In order to improve upon these skills and my ability to take charge and create a plan in general, I plan to think deeply about the possible solutions that would come with solving any sort of difficult and tedious problem, as well as possibly running my ideas off of other people. After all, feedback and other ideas can be very helpful in solving any sort of problem. I also plan to research the people and organizations that could help me in this particular situation, so my ideas are much more factual, believable, and achievable.
Artifact 1: Rwandan Genocide Writing Assignment
Semester 2: INdustrial Revolution Shark Tank Invention Presentation
Reflection: Before beginning this project, our class had learned all about the Industrial Revolution and the incredible inventions that had come out of it. For this project, my group and I picked one of these inventions created during the Industrial Revolution and acted as though we were the inventors. Our invention was the phonograph, which was created by Thomas Edison. We then had to present our invention to a panel of "Sharks", as if we were on the show Shark Tank. As a group, we had to create a business plan, executive summary, invention and business description, and sales and marketing pitch for the phonograph, as if we were a real business. By researching the phonograph and acting as one of the inventors, I had to improve upon my entrepreneurialism and think of ways to make the product fit to the needs of the public, as well as discover the many tasks it can complete to make peoples' lives more efficient. I also took the initiative in my group to create business cards, an advertisement, and logo, as well as think up some potential questions and answers for the Shark Tank. I also wrote every portion of our advertising and product pitch that a buyer would need to know and placed it in a script for my group to read from. I hoped that this would ascertain that every part of our presentation was buyer-friendly and would meet every necessity that an actual company would have to work out to be up and running. Throughout working on this project, I was able to effectively act as a co-inventor and saleswoman of the product and cover all aspects of the marketing, product description, demographics, and the overall purpose of what the phonograph would accomplish for society. I was able to take charge as an official "business woman" and make sure all of the aspects of our presentation, including the model, PowerPoint, script, business cards, and props, were in proper working order. By acting as an entrepreneur I was also able to purposefully carry out actions like a real business partner and get my ideas for a successful product included in the overall scheme of the business. When a project such as this one comes up again, I would like to be able to act as a better business partner with my group and make sure that everyone's ideas for the business and product are included since this was not only my business, but one that belonged to my entire group. I intend to accomplish this goal by letting my group members take charge when they feel a change is necessary and understanding that a real business has a whole team of support behind it, and this is true with any group.
Artifact 2: Industrial Revolution Shark Tank Invention Presentation