So... I need help/suggestions

[Waddley]

I don't like talking about this. At all. It's like Waddley's Big Shameful Secret, it makes me feel about three inches tall and dumber than a pile of bricks. Hell, the fact that I'm going to post this is getting me a little worked up all ready... but I want advice or suggestions, or something... and you're all cool/nice/smarter-than-me people, so here it goes:

I never graduated high school. I finished my four years and did all my classes, but I never did the senior project, or "Culminating Exhibition" that was a requirement for graduation. I had a bunch of reasons for not doing it, and I even had the support of my guidance counselor. The plan was always to not do it, and then go to community college and get my high school diploma there.

Well, 5 years later, that still hasn't happened. Well I'm fed up with feeling like a failure. This Spring I'm going to get the damn diploma. I have two options, and this is where I need my help:

Option one: I take two English classes that make up for the project I didn't do. I don't know how difficult they'd be, but English was never that hard for me. This is the direction I'm leaning. (Fortunately, when you're getting your diploma, classes are cheaper. Instead of like 300 bucks per class, I'd only pay about 90.)

Option two: Do the damn project. I'd have a mentor... I'd spend a required amount of hours doing... something. Anything, pretty much. This option is good because it's 90 more bucks in my pocket. It may or may not require more time than two English classes. The option is bad for two reasons. First, I really hate projects. I'm not so much a project person. I don't enjoy them, and I'm not efficient at them, they usually involve some sort of creativity which I lack in spades, and I feel like they're a waste of my time. Second, I have no idea what this project would be. I'm supposed to learn something new. There's not a whole lot which interests me enough to spend hours per week working on it, except my car, and that would take far more money than I have. I've had 5 years to come up with a project... and nothing has come to me. At least, nothing that has stuck out in my mind.

So... option one or two? If you're going to say two, you have to back it up with a project idea... because I'm tricky and want do mooch off of your creativity.

Thanks in advance. I love you guys!

[Lorelei]

Can you give us more detail on what kind of project it has to be?

[danlo]

What exactly was the criteria for the project?-as a liscensed teacher I'm supposed to know how to suggest and assign projects...

[Cameraman Jenn]

Well, it really depends on what the project can be. Could it be a film project? Like a series of interviews or a documentary of some sort? Also, what is the learning requirement? Does it mean the project has to be about something new or can it just be learning framing techniques of filmmaking and editing process and programs, that sort of thing? Could it be something like going around Seattle and interviewing tourists about what motivated them to visit Seattle?

[Waddley]

That's one of the problems for the project- It's really vague. You basically just have to learn something. In HS, people were doing everything from learning how to put together a photography portfolio, or a scrapbook, to learning how to freaking knit... that was one of my problems with it... it was basically a bullsh*t hoop that you had to jump through that you could easily fake (and most kids did_... anyway, here is a website explaining the HS version of the project... I don't know how similar mine would be: www.everett.k12.wa.us/ce/

Jenn- it could probably be any of those things that you mentioned, except perhaps the tourist thing.

Edit for mini-story time: As an example of how broken the project was (our was only the second year it was implemented): One of the girls in my grade's project was learning yoga. She went to a yoga class, had a friend take some pictures of her and faked the rest of the project, which requires a minimum amount of hours of hands-on activity. I hated that.

/end rant.

[Menolly]

Wadds, could the project be a volunteer project where you volunteer your time to an organization while learning about the organization and the service it provides?

You say you enjoy spedning our working on your car. Is that only on your car or would you enjoy working on cars in general?

We have a program here in Gator Town called The Dignity Project which teaches underprivileged and drop out risk students to rebuild donated cars. A lot of their graduates continue on to make a living as professional mechanics.

If you have a similar program in your community, woud getting involved with it interest you? Would it qualify as becoming your senior project?

[Menolly]

Sorry for the double post. Y'all were posting while I was composing my reply...

OK, so anything pretty much qualifies? How about a film project on Elohimfest? What it is about the site that attracts Watchers, why we get together, dinner with SRD, etc...?

[A Gunslinger]

Wadds... I think I spoke to you about this some time ago, but I can't recall if the specifics came up.

I hate to say this, but I would do option 2. Option 1 would be easier, and accomplish the surface goal (graduating). But, I getthe sense that this is more about acheivement and exorcising old ghosts (a theme today) than it is about simply finishing school.

By embracing option 2, you will be not only accomplishing the goal, but also you will be alerning something about yourself and growing accordingly. You by your own admission say you "don't like projects" and "creativty". What I think you mean is that you don't like the lame and super-imposed structure that a eduacational type project is characterized by. Knowing you as much as I do (which is admittedly limited in many ways), you seem plenty creative and witty. Certainly able to complete any "project".

You say that you'd have a mentor. Here is an idea. Talk to this mentor, and tell THEM what your percieved limitations are, what your goals are, and see if you can craft a porject that accomplishes all of the goals while tickling your fancy and while you LEARN whatever it is you must!

I would view this as a great opportunity for you to turn somethin mundane and lame into a watershed moment for yourself. Run to it Wadds! I, and the rest of the watch root for and believe in you. I owuld always do the more challenging thing, especially if there is something to learn about myself in doing it.

[wayfriend]

Spend the 90 extra dollars (?) and take the classes.

For that price, you get less anxiety, and you get to go to school again. Completely worth it.

I would kill to be able to go to school again. When I finally reached the point in my life where I enjoyed learning, I couldn't afford the time/money to do it.

You are probably not at that place ... but ... if you want to go on to a community college, it'd be good to get the hang of being in school again before you get there. And get the hang of being four years older than most of your classmates, too. It'll make walking into college far less anxious, as you'll have both of those issues already behind you.

Last bit of advice: your grade on a project is much more subjective than a grade in a class. You want to avoid people who think you need to work harder to make up for what you "did".

[I'm Murrin]

If I had to make the choice, I'd take the classes. But that's just a personal aversion to things like this project, so I'm probably not one that should be giving advice on it.
Stupid, stupid american education system.

[danlo]

OK I've seen something like that before, it's very similiar to the Self Determination and Goal Setting Pyramid we use in Special Ed. Is there something you were really good at in High School? Maybe you could expound on that. My senior project was working with students at another HS on a community theater production of a play, where I had a lead role, worked on lighting, sound, set building and even designed the poster and playbill.

Perhaps you could intern on a movie production or at a TV or radio station?

OK, so anything pretty much qualifies? How about a film project on Elohimfest? What it is about the site that attracts Watchers, why we get together, dinner with SRD, etc...?

...now that's a fantastic idea!!!

[dANdeLION]

Heh, Wadds could film the Elohimfest and make a documentary of it....that would be awesome.

[Menolly]

Heh, Wadds could film the Elohimfest and make a documentary of it....that would be awesome.

That's the idea.

But whether it would qualify as her project, or if Wadds would want to turn her trip into a working trip is a whole different matter.

But I bet Jenn could be a long distance mentor on any filming issues or topic ideas. This way Jenn would still be involved with Elohimest, besides helping to send me...

[Cameraman Jenn]

Yeah, like when Wadds drives down for the FBH wrap up party we could do the editing together!

[dlbpharmd]

I agree with WF, take the classes, get it over with. It'll be worth the $90. Don't spend your time on a bullsh*t project that doesn't mean anything.

[Menolly]

OK, see, now Jenn is onboard. How about it Wadds?

Oh! Would Wadds need to seek permission from Elohimfest attendees to film them? Or could danlo just post that a caveat of attending Elohimfest is that permission to be filmed by Wadds for her documentary is assumed?

[Waddley]

Jenn/Menolly/everyone else - Media and the creation thereof has never really interested me. It sounds like a cool idea, but I know I'd get bored of it before I was finished. Plus, I'm doing the class this spring, and that would be a little late.

Guns- You have a point, you really do, but I think that for me the classes and the project are just a means to an end. (The end being the diploma.) I feel I deserve it just as much as anyone of my classmates, since I retained my integrity by not faking it. I want the damn thing! That's all

Wayfriend/Murrin/dlbpharmd- You're pretty much confirming what I'm feeling. I like classes, I like school, and I think I'd be more likely to work harder and do well in a class setting than a project setting. Gotta look at what option has the highest chance of success.

Thank you guys for your input. I think I just needed to be reaffirmed in what I know to be right for me.

Y'all rock!

[A Gunslinger]

just playin' DA, Wadds.

[Waddley]

That's why I love ya, baby

[Cameraman Jenn]

Congrats on making a decision Wadds! Yay! You rock!