Culminating Blog Reflection

As I was completing all aspects of the Capstone project, I used critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. Firstly, I had to use critical thinking to analyze my research paper in discovering the success of the Golden State Warriors management. Also, I used it while I was completing my hours because I had to work each player individually and try to improve their mistakes. Secondly, I improved on my communication skills while being a tennis manager because I was encouraged to ask as many questions and ideas from my mentor. It was difficult at first because I hardly communicate with people. In the end I learned to step out of my comfort zone and communicate with my mentor and the team in order to complete my assignments. Thirdly, I collaborated with my mentor. We discussed what assignments I would get as a tennis manager, how I will accomplish these tasks, and why these tasks were beneficial to my topic. Lastly, I used creativity in my research paper and in my physical project. I chose the Golden State Warriors management because they are a unique team. I was able to incorporate my knowledge of the team into the research paper. It gave me motivation to complete the paper because I was really interested in the topic. In addition, I used creativity being a tennis manager because I used certain methods to help the players on the team improve. This project as a whole strengthened my preparedness for college.

I gained responsibilty, communication skills, and knowledge from this Capstone experience. Being a tennis manager requires responsibility to a certain extent due to the assigned tasks that is given. I learned to complete my tasks on time and in an efficient way. I gained communication skills by having the opportunity to talk to my mentor and the boys tennis team. It was necessary to communicate with them because I was in charge of managing the team. Nonetheless, I gained more knowledge of the role of a sports manager through the research paper and the physical project. It taught me the duties and responsibilities they have. I wouldn't of understood what a sports manager really does until I became one myself.

The Capstone project opened new challenges for me. I had trouble completing my research paper while finishing all my school work. It was difficult to maintain this busy schedule as I was trying to complete my hours. I did not have time to go to the boys tennis practice because I either had a capstone deadline that was due or an outline for ap government the following day. I was limited to two hours each week. I overcame these challenges by figuring out when I should complete each assignment. I would finish my outline in the beginning of the week. I completed my homework right when I get home. This would enable me to have time to finish my research paper and attend practice and tennis matches.

Mentor Blog 10 (5hrs), Total=30hrs

On April 9th, I met with my mentor and the rest of the team in the parking lot to travel to Oceana High School for their tennis match. I helped carry the equipment from the van to the tennis courts. Then I recorded the names of the players from both teams. After, I introduced the players on the team before they began to play. I led the cheer in our team huddle and rooted for the boys as they met their opponents. I watched them play. After each match was done, I recorded the scores. My mentor and I gathered the equipment and put it in the van. The team and I ate out at Taco Bell before we all left.

My meeting with my mentor was pretty fun. It was fun because we ate out after the boys' tennis match. Other than that, I felt like the work I was handed was repetitive. I was given the same tasks once again. I understand that there isn't much to do when you are a high school sports manager. Being a manager for a professional sports team comes with different tasks that are extremely important to the team's success. I learned that from my research paper. I am questioning whether I want to do this in the future as I am finishing up my capstone project.

Mentor Blog 9 (0hrs), Total=25hrs

I completed my hours, but I am still going to meet up with my mentor. I did not meet with my mentor during spring break (3/29-4/7). I have not done any work involving the capstone project during spring break.

I feel pretty good about my capstone project. I have progressed since the beginning of this project. I learned a lot from my mentor about responsibility and attentiveness. These traits are some of the key characteristics of a sports manager. I know this because of my research paper I wrote about the Golden State Warriors Management. My paper expanded my knowledge about the tasks a sports manager must perform. I took in this information and will use it as I meet with my mentor sometime soon.

Mentor Blog 8 (3hrs), Total=25hrs

On March 28th, I met with my mentor at the tennis courts and attended the boys' tennis match against Hillsdale High School. My mentor gave me instructions to warm up with some of the boys. Then, I helped gather all the tennis balls before the matches began. My mentor handed me a clipboard to write down the names of the players from both teams and record their scores. Before the tennis matches start, it is required that both teams meet up in two lines to hear the coaches explain the rules. After, both teams introduced their players. I was the one that introduced our team. When the matches begun, I observed each opponent and provided beneficial information about the opponents' weaknesses and strategies to my team. I wrote down the scores after each match finished. Lastly, I helped collect all the scorecards that were hanging on each net. 

Attending their game gave me more experience as a tennis manager. I was given all the tasks that a high school tennis manager can perform. It felt really relaxing and exciting to watch their match against Hillsdale. I know that being a professional sports manager can be stressful, like what I said in my last post. Yet, being a tennis manager for high school is still a fun job. I enjoy working with my team. My communication skills are improving. I have to interact with my mentor and the players, which is always a simple task.

Mentor Blog 7 (4hrs), Total=22hrs

On Tuesday (3/12/13), I met with my mentor and the boys tennis team at the school parking lot. We traveled in one van to Hillsdale High School for the boys' tennis match against Hillsdale. I helped my mentor gather the equipment from the car and bring it to the tennis courts, such as the tennis balls and tennis raquets. When we arrived to the tennis courts, I warmed up with some of the boys to prepare for their matches. As the tennis matches were going to begin, both teams meet up and introduce the players. I was the one that introduced our players. After introductions, I watched the boys play their games. After each game was finished I recorded who each boy played and what the final score was. Lastly, I helped bring the tennis equipment back to the car. We went back to school.

It was my first time going to the boys' tennis match. It was a pretty good experience. I thought the work I've done at practice paid off because I seen how much the boys improved from Day 1. It felt great to watch them play. I really felt included in the team and their progress. I know that I am part of the team since I am the boys' tennis manager, but it feels like I don't contribute as much. I help the boys run their drills and gain skills. I am not the one playing though. That was what I felt before I attended their match. Now I believe I am contributing something to the team.

Mentor Blog 6 (3hrs), Total=18hrs

Today I met with my mentor at the tennis courts. I helped him conduct practice as usual. I prepared the tennis equipment that is used for the drills. I worked with some of the boys on the team in performing certain drills. I answered any questions that some of the boys were concerned with about how to do a particular drill. Lastly, I played "mini tennis games" with them. When I lost, I ran suicides with the boys.

I feel pretty content with what I am doing with my mentor. Being a sports manager can either be easy or difficult. The fact that I am the manager of a high school team makes my job easier. Yet, I know if I do become a manager of a major sports team in the future, the job will be complicated and stressful. I am not sure if I can handle the pressure. When I finished writing my teacher draft about the Golden State Warriors management, I learned that its extremely tough to be a manager in the big leagues. You have to be prepared for the toughest situations and knowledgeable enough to make good decisions concerning the team's assets. As for now I feel like being a sports manager for a high school team is a really fun and relaxing job.

I am probably going to meet with my mentor next week. I will mostly attend one of the boys' tennis matches since the season has already begun. 

Mentor Blog 5 (3hrs), Total=15hrs

I met with my mentor at the tennis courts for the boys' practice after school. Since the weather was hot, my mentor did not have many tasks for me to perform. I helped him run drills with the boys. I placed cones and ladders in specific places on the court. Lastly, I monitored two boys playing against each other to ensure they were not fooling around. These tasks were simple to execute. My mentor wanted to take it easy on me since it was Friday and the sun was blazing on the tennis courts.

I feel like I am performing the same tasks each time I meet with my mentor. This is probably because my mentor wants me to have a consistent routine when I meet with him, which will allow me to perfect those tasks in which he asks me to perform. I think he will start to introduce new objectives for me as the season begins. It will probably reflect the progress of the boys during games and how my mentor and I can improve their mistakes on the court while competing. I believe being a the boys' tennis manager is a simple job. I know if I desire to be a sports manager of a professional team, the job I must perform will be completely different and extremely complicated compared to the job I have now. This project will allow me to have an idea of how the job will be like.

I am not sure when I am going to meet with my mentor again. I can go any day of the week, but my work load takes quite awhile to finish. Therefore, I am probably going to meet with my mentor next Friday if I am lucky.

Mentor Blog 4 (6hrs), Total=12hrs

I went to the boys' tennis practice on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Since the boys are competing for positions on varsity, I am helping my mentor record the scores on a tournament bracket. I play tennis games with the team at the end of practice as well.

Recording scores is a very easy task. I usually watch the boys play while I am waiting to get their scores. So far, I feel like I can accomplish anything my mentor asks of me. I don't really have to coach, but I must know the game of the sport if I am going to manage the team. I am still building relationships with the team by trying to get to know each player. I think it is important to have a strong relationship with each player because I can discover their main goals and needs they want to accomplish this season. That is how I think a sports manager should do while on the daily basis.

I am planning to meet with my mentor next week.

Mentor Blog 3 (2hrs), Total=6Hrs

Yesterday, I met with my mentor on the tennis courts to practice with the boys tennis team. My mentor introduced new tennis drills to me. These drills were simple and easy to perform. Since I was comfortable with these drills, I helped my mentor run them with the players on the team. This helped my mentor work with each player individually. I was able to build relationships with the players on the team. They aren't strangers to me anymore. Having a good relationship with each player allowed me to understand their strengths and weaknesses. I discussed these strengths and weaknesses with my mentor. This enabled him to conduct drills specifically relating to a weakness each player had. That is what I did yesterday.

I feel like I am understanding how to be an influence on the team, which is what I am suppose to be. I think I am beginning to get the "hang" of my role on the team. I am still improving on my speech skills. Improving my speech skills is the main goal I want to achieve. The next time I am meeting with my mentor, I want to continue running drills and practice my speech skills.

Mentor Blog 2 (2hrs), Total=4hrs

Yesterday, I met with my mentor at the tennis courts. It is still boys conditioning so I am currently running drills that don't involve using a raquet and tennis balls. There are not a lot of boys trying out for the team. This makes my job even easier because it allows me to give my complete attention to each boy on the team. Being attentive gives me a perspective of each boy's work ethic. This helps my mentor figure out the ranking system when season starts.

I am starting to get the hang of running drills. Also, I am feeling quite comfortable around the team. Therefore, I believe I am gaining public speaking skills while I am interacting with the team. Yes that is all I have done during my 2 hours.

Mentor Blog 1 (2hrs), Total=2hrs

On Tuesday, I met with my mentor at the tennis courts at school. My mentor and I conducted the boys' tennis conditioning in preparation for the boys' tennis season this year. He gave me instructions as to where to place tennis equipment on the court and guided my understanding of how to run certain tennis drills. In addition, we had an important discussion of what he expects for this upcoming season, such as rankings, future prospects to look out for, and other schools' progression.

The first two hours I have spent with my mentor has given me a perspective of what I am going to be dealing with. Initially, I didn't know what to expect coming to the boys' tennis conditioning. My mentor was quick to explain his procedures when coaching his team. It seemed very complicated, yet simple at the same time. I know once I keep working with my mentor I can get a hang of managing the team. This was just my first day. 

Fiscal Cliff Response

With the issue of the Fiscal Cliff deal passage, Republicans and Democrats have been taking opposite positions on the topic. Republicans are against the passage of the deal. They believe raising tax revenues and taxing the wealthy are unfair. Instead, they desire to limit government spending to decrease U.S. deficits. Democrats, however, believe otherwise in this matter. Democrats want to increase taxes on the wealthy and limit government spending. They believe this will balance out the budget.

During my research, I used google to search for useful websites on the Republican and Democratic positions concerning the Fiscal Cliff deal. I typed in specific terms in the search bar, such as "Fiscal Cliff Republican position" and "What is the Fiscal Cliff?". It was helpful to use specific words in the search bar because I was able to find relevant information about the topic. In addition, the small information given with each website was useful because it showed me what type of information the website displayed. This tool definitely accelerated my research and helped me find the information I needed.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-01-06/news/sns-rt-us-usa-fiscalbre8a80wv-20121109_1_fiscal-cliff-fiscal-fight-van-hollen

http://nationalpriorities.org/en/analysis/2013/fiscal-cliff-deal/?gclid=CI_OqPzK3rQCFad_Qgod-0AAug

http://themonkeycage.org/blog/2013/01/03/the-house-gop-and-the-fiscal-cliff-position-taking-vs-policy-making/

New Topic

Since I wasn't able to retrieve a mentor at Seton Medical Center because of liability issues, I am switching to my second option, sports management. I think this topic suits me because I am interested in being a part of the sports world. Gaining experience in managing a team will show me the basic skills I need in order to pursue a career in management in the future (it is an option).