1. While writing your paper, what did you learn about the research process?

While writing my research paper on chemical engineering, I learned that credible,

numerous sources are important. Writing the paper was much easier with the requirement
of many sources as well as source notes. These notes helped me find what reference to write
about for each paragraph, which significantly sped up the process. I also learned that an
annotated bibliography can directly help with the paper. If the annotations are done well,
they can be put directly into the paper and significantly save time on the writing stage of
the paper. An interview is also a good way to obtain direct information from a real worker
in the desired field. With an interview, the paper helped me provide first-hand experience
in the field. Overall, credible sources, time management, and pre-summaries are what I
mostly learned from the research process, and I believe that these skills will help me in the
real world.

2. How was the research related to your mentor hours?

In my research paper, I discussed the ways in which chemical engineers design
processes to form everyday products. My mentor and I talked about the system of reverse
osmosis, a water filtration technique, and how it works. This helped us form the product
and gave us a general idea for a cost-efficient design. I also wrote about how some chemical
engineers solve environmental problems around the world, which is what my final product
was based on. The product was inspired by the lack of clean water in areas like the Middle
East. Finally, the paper included many details regarding the stress that comes with the job.
Throughout the construction of the model, the absence of a critical part forced us to make
several trips to Lowes over the course of a weekend. The paper definitely helped me
understand the daily life of a chemical engineer and the benefits and drawbacks that come
with it.

3. Summarize the mentor hours that you completed.

The purpose of the first meeting with my mentor was to come up with an idea for
the product. We chose a reverse osmosis model and demonstration, and began our
research. A few weeks later, we met for about two and a half hours to research the process
of reverse osmosis and how it can be applied, noting advantages, company comparisons,
and each membranes function. For another two and a half hours, we browsed Lowes and
The Home Depot, noting the structures and prices of the typical reverse osmosis system. A
few days later, for another two hours, we decided to write the general script for the video.
The script included components like the overall process, advantages and disadvantages,
comparisons between large company models, and other uses of reverse osmosis. Finally, we
spent our last two hours purchasing materials to construct the model, trying to be
cost-efficient along the way. The time with my mentor helped significantly in the planning
of the product.
 4. How did working with your mentor affect your understanding of the topic area and /or
the professional world?
My mentor hours helped me understand the stresses that come with the job. The
numerous trips to the store for materials and lack of time showed some problems that can
occur in the daily life of the job. My mentor helped me learn that being cost efficient is
important, as we tried to spend as little as possible on the product while still making it look
finished. The mentor hours also helped me significantly in understanding how the
manufacturing stage of chemical engineering works. Lots of time and dedication is
required to create a design for a process. If lots of time is put in, benefits will be presented
and the end product is both rewarding and relieving. Overall, the mentor hours helped me
better understand chemical engineering and the professional world by challenging me in
cost efficiency and critical thinking.

5. If your mentor contributed to the development of the product, how were they involved?
My mentor mainly helped in the planning and preparation of the product, rather
than directly contributing to the construction of the design or the making of the video.
Before the product approval, my mentor offered ideas for the product, when we eventually
decided to focus on reverse osmosis. My mentor mainly provided insight and research on
the process of reverse osmosis. He helped me gather information on the system and how
each membrane contributes to the water filtration process. The hours also significantly
helped in the creation of the demonstration and explanation of the reverse osmosis process.
After the hours were completed and the materials were obtained, the finished model was
easy to complete. The creation of a script and time management techniques made the
product creation significantly easier.

6. How did creating a product and completing the hours challenge you personally?
The product challenged me personally in efficiency, regarding space and cost. The
size of the model was limited, so cutting corners and creating a smaller design proved to be
difficult. Chemical engineers also must be cost-efficient, which was difficult because of the
cost of the parts and equipment. The hours definitely challenged me, as time was limited
for both my mentor and me. I was not able to meet at my mentors convenient times, while
my mentor was unable to meet when I was free. The hours also challenged me in making
sure I had the correct number of parts, as the distance from my house to the store was
fairly large. Many trips were made and many obstacles were presented, but I finished the
product to the best of my ability.

7. Do you feel prepared academically and emotionally for the presentation?

 I believe that I am academically and emotionally prepared for the presentation.
Based on my studies on the career, I can come to the conclusion that I have ample
knowledge on the subject and have completed the requirements for the project. I also have
extended my knowledge on the product itself and how it works. Emotionally, I believe I
have come a long way, as I used to be very shy and afraid to present. After time and
practice, I have become less nervous and more outgoing in important situations, which I
believe will help me in the presentation. Hopefully on the day of the presentation, I can
remember to be easygoing and present to the best of my knowledge and capabilities.
Overall, I believe that I have matured and stretched throughout this project, and I will be
able to complete the presentation.

8. How did the entire process stretch you as a learner and as an individual?
The entire process definitely stretched me as a learner in many ways. One major
stretch that I encountered was using equipment for the first time, like a drill bit. This
helped me learn how to fix many problems and use tools like drills in the future for other
large projects, like installing cabinets and doors. I also was stretched on the paper, as the
ten page requirement was much larger than any paper I have ever written. The to be
verb limit also challenged me, as coming up with new verbs to replace the basic ones was
fairly difficult. As an individual, this project taught me to be more outgoing and serious
when it comes to work and school. These skills can help me in many aspects of life, like job
interviews or college professor meetings. This project definitely extended my learning
abilities and helped me become a better person in the long run.

9. Other than time management, describe an obstacle you encountered and how you
overcame it.
One obstacle I encountered during the completion of the product was the high cost
of the materials and equipment. We were hoping to spend as little as possible while still
creating a viable model for the system. Unfortunately, the PVC piping and tubing were
being sold at a much more expensive price than I had intended, so we had to compromise.
One way in which I overcame the cost difficulty was by creating angles with larger tubing,
rather than buying angled PVC parts, which were five dollars each. This drastically
reduced our cost, as the cost of the tubing was significantly less than the angles. To account
for the 90 degree angles in the system, we cut the piping at 45 degree angles twice and put
them together to form a right angle. The critical thinking and immunity to excessive prices
helped me spend as little as possible on the product.

10. What life skills did you acquire and how will they help you in the future?
Some of the life skills that I acquired during this process was confidence in
speaking, being able to use equipment, and use of better vocabulary. When practicing the
presentation, I have become more outgoing and confident in my abilities. This can help
when speaking to employees or future employees. During the creation of the product, I
used new equipment to attach the parts to the background of the model. The use of a drill
bit for the first time helped me understand how to place screws into objects. My larger use
of vocabulary and the to be verb limit can help in scholarship essays and letters to
companies. Because I was limited in the use of basic verbs, my vocabulary choices extended
to the point of using zero to be verbs. Overall, I believe this project has definitely helped
me with life skills and my future in working.

11. If you had to go back and do parts of the project again, what would you do differently?
One part of the project I would definitely change is the career focus. I was not very
fond of chemical engineering throughout the project, especially in my research for the
paper. A career involving math and probability, like Statistics or Actuary, would be my
next choice for a career. I feel like math is one of my strong subjects, but I am not a critical,
fast thinker, leading me to choose a career not relate to engineering. Another part I would
do differently is the product idea. My current product is a physical model and a video,
which I did not enjoy making. I feel as though a survey or a study would be a better choice,
as I enjoy collecting data and making inferences on probability. Other than the career
choice and the product, I believe I would complete the project in a similar fashion.

12. Based on the entire Pride Project experience, do you plan to pursue this field as a career
or college area of study? If so, why? If not, why? Please be specific.
Based on the entire experience, I feel like I do not want to pursue chemical
engineering as a career. I feel as though I am a more laid-back and visual learner rather
than a hands-on, fast-paced worker, which is what the typical chemical engineer must
endure. Designing means of production is definitely not my strongest subject, as I would
much rather enjoy calculating costs and probability. Although I want to work with math
and possibly other forms of science, I believe that engineering is not the job for me.
However, I feel relieved that I focused the entire experience on chemical engineering, as it
helped me learn what I wanted to study in college and pursue as a career. Although my
chosen topic did not completely appeal to me, I am happy that I know what to study in the
years to come.