It Has Only Just Begun

 "You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do." -Eleanor Roosevelt

On the Monday of this week, the senior class finally had a taste of what the end of senior year has in store for us, and boy was that taste sour. Once I entered the classroom you could feel the nerves everyone shared. "Are you ready?" "Did you practice?" Question floated everywhere and almost immediately after the clock struck 8 a.m., presentations began. First, Mr. Piggott took volunteers and the brave few rose their hands. Then, our order was to be chosen randomly out of a bag. I had chosen the number 6, I would be going after our first break. 

The night before, I began feeling sick and very unsure of myself. I kept practicing and attempting to reach time, but always ended up making it just under the required time. I wasn't sure of what order we would be going, so I decided it would be best to bring my props just in case, and I'm glad I did. As my turn came closer, I began feeling sick again and wasn't sure of how capable I was going to be to properly complete my presentation. 

I sat through the presentations that went before me and mentally realized everything I could have put in my PowerPoint, everything that could have been included to help me reach time. I had been very confident in my topic, Psychopathy, but I wasn't sure if I would be able to give it justice. The inevitable had arrived and I stumbled to the front to set up my posters and computer. The presentation flew by and I just spewed out as much information that I could. When it was over, I let out a deep breath. Then I thought to myself, this is only the beginning. The 30 minute and 2 hour presentation are still to come. If I had panicked so much over 10 minutes, I am going to need some major preparation time for the two other senior project presentations. 

Blog 8: Research & Working EQ

"When a rogue kisses you, count your teeth" -Hebrew Proverb

1.  What classifies a psychopath as dangerous or benefiting towards society?

2. Psychologist have used the DSM-IV, also known as The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual: Mental Disorders and The Psychopathy Checklist, to classify whether a psychopath can be considered dangerous or benefiting towards society

3.  My first interview with Andrew Williams helped me find part of the answer to my working EQ. Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of Psychopaths Among Us by Robert D. Hare went into more detail on both the DSM-IV and the checklist mentioned in number 2.

4.  Since I determined that I wanted my topic to be Psychopathy, I have been on a desperate search for a mentor or somewhere to volunteer that is even vaguely related to my topic, but it has been very difficult. I have been able to find a class to cover my Independent Component #1. I also found two separate people to interview to fulfill the interview requirements and both recommended me to other people, but once again none of them specialized in my topic. I am still emailing and calling for my references. 

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

The healthy man does not torture others.  Generally, it is the tortured who turn into torturers.” -Carl Jung

1. For the 30 hours required for our first independent component, I will be take a Young Scholars class at Cal Poly. The class is called Mind, Brain, Behavior: An Integrated View. It is a 10-week Psychology course that meets once a week for 3 hours and 50 minutes. The topics that are covered in the class vary from nerve cells to the bio psychology of ethics. The class was recommended to me by Mrs. Hunzeker during my Senior Meeting.

2. Meeting for about 4 hours a week, the 30 hour hour requirement is sure to be met. I plan to collect my notes that I will be taking during each class and all handouts or worksheets we are given. Of necessary, I can also bring in the 3 mid term exams taken throughout the course. We are also expected to write a 3-6 page book review(as listed in the class syllabus attached on the left), which I can use as additional evidence to show the completion of the 30 hours.

3. My topic is psychopathology. In the recent sources I have used, there are mainly examples and interviews based on research from professionals in psychology. In this class, I will gain a more scientific perspective on my topic. Also, there are othe related disorders that will mainly be covered in the seventh and eighth week of the class. I noticed that each week covers a component that I have found to be a branch from the symptoms of psychopathy based on my previous research. For example, Drugs and the Brain in week 3 and Hormones and Behavior in week 6. I recall a direct relation between substance abuse and the development of psychopaths described in Without Conscience, a vital piece of research I have been using. One of the main characteristics of a psychopath is having strong and emotionless sexual desires, explained more in week 3 of the class. I will become more well rounded on my topic, not only knowing about one aspect of it.