Blog : Senior Project, The Holiday

Content:

1.  It is important to consistently work on your senior project, whether it is break or we are in school.  What did you over the break with your senior project?
I went to my mentorship and helped out with many things, like decorating cupcakes and seeing different cake decorating skills.

2.  What was the most important thing you learned from what you did and why?  What was the source of what you learned? 
The most important thing that I learned was that in order to sell a lot of baked goods, is to be creative.
I helped decorate some Christmas themed cupcakes and they were selling way more than the regular cupcakes, with little to no effort.
 3.  If you were going to do a 10 question interview on questions related to answers of your EQ, who would you talk to and why?
I would talk to one of the cake decorators in the second bakery I mentor at , but I don't remember his name. I would ask him 10 questions about my EQ because he has been a cake decorator for a while and I'd like to learn about his style of decorating.

EQ

Content

1.   Review this.  Confirm by stating "I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ."
Essential Question 

2.  Review the following EQs and

• Tell us if it meets the rule of 3 criteria.
• Tell why it does or why it doesn't

 a.  What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss? 
no, because it does not take a stance and the word choice does not make it specific.

 b.  What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?
yes, because it takes a stance and it is specific.

 c.  What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?
no, because this answer includes an opinion answer, rather than a researched answer.


 d.  How can an Anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?
yes, because it is specific and it takes a stance.

3.  Based on your review of the rule of 3 and your experience with assessing four EQs, please write another draft EQ for your senior project.
What is most important into being a successful cake decorator in today's economy?

Research and Working EQ

Content:

1.  What is your working EQ?
What does it take to be a successful Cake Decorator?

2.  What is a possible answer to your working EQ?

EQ: What does it take to be a successful Cake Decorator?

• you need to first master the basic skills into decorating a cake such as assembling, crumb coating, icing, and piping: this improves professionalism and aesthetics to the cake.
• you need to develop your own style and have originality: this will improve the view of prospective clients in your buisness
• master working with gum paste and fondant: "learning the techniques can dramatically improve your business and add significant professionalism and style to your iced cakes. It will give you and your prospective clients a wide range of choices in both design and price." as stated by Toba Garrett

3.  What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ? 

The most important source has been Professional Cake Decorating by Toba Garrett because it has not only taught me the importance of different skills and techniques , but how they are used in different environments as well.

4.  Who is your mentor, or where are you volunteering, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?

My mentor is Jorge Renteria  and my mentorship allows me to have a feel for the environment that a cake decorator experiences everyday. It also allows me to learn some skills that research may not be able to tell me. It also helps me add what is most important to be a successful cake decorator.

Blog 5 Project Reflection and Working EQ

Content:  
The Pentagon: 
(1) Positive Statement: What positive thing happen as a result of what you have completed so far?
So far a positive thing that has happened is that during my mentorship I have met a lot of new people that I may interview in the future.

(2) EQ Content:  Pick a piece of research or your interview.  How has it helped you improve your understanding of your topic?
The book "Cake Boss" has helped me improve my understanding on the business aspects of cake decorating.

(3) What has worked for you so far in the senior project?
The things that have worked so far in my senior project is writing reminders in my agenda for deadlines. Another thing that was worked so far is that I have been able to checkout books for my research checks.

(4) What hasn't worked so far?  
I think that the only thing that hasn't worked so far is asking for certain information on the senior project from people in other houses. For example, about the extra blog some people said different information than what was expected.

(5) Finding Value:  
 What is a potential question you would like to study this year? 
What does it take to be a successful cake decorator?

What do you plan to do for mentorship?
I plan on doing some more hands on work and ask more questions on how to be more successful in this business.

2013 2-Hour Presentation Reflections

1. I saw Marathon Running with Bobbie Rodriguez on the first day.

2. Bobbie covered so many things on her topic, but my only question is how did she come up with the activities that we did because she did a really good job.

3. The most important part of the senior presentations based on what I saw was the oral presentations and making time, which was 30 minutes minimum.

4. I am considering on doing my senior project on cake decorating because I already have my mentor. I also have a lot f experience on cake decorating as well. I find this topic very interesting.