1. Culminating Project: Self-Evaluation
   1. Date: ________________________     Draft: 1 2 3
      1.      
2. Evaluation

·   Projecting out a year in my current salary full time

·   Finding scholarship options that would be available a year out

·   Able to job shadow not just interview at Impact Therapy

·   Sign up to volunteer hours on Saturday

·   Estimate the income I would need to earn to match the budget I came up with in a typical entry job

·   I had to quit my current job based on a time conflict between school, activities and work so I didn’t want to use that as my basis for budgeting any more. Instead I chose to determine what I could live on and see if an entry level job would match or if I would need to find something better.

·   My interview at Impact was really successful and my student loan research helped me understand I could afford school so I decided to go next fall so I did not need to research scholarships a year out.  

·   I really was excited after spending time working with the Physical Therapist to go after this kind of work. I decided it was better to actually enroll to become a therapist. In looking at salary and schooling costs – as well as the work I want to really be doing- this was a more exciting choice. I am already lined up to continue volunteering. The connection I made with the PTWA Western WA Director is proving to be a great resources. The director helped me really see that people who love what they do will reach out to students who are interested just to share that enjoyment…

·   I have never really thought ahead of what I would do to learn. Creating the big plan for this course was the first time I thought through for myself what steps I need to take to get somewhere. I have been used to those ideas being laid out before me by a teacher or my parents.

·   Creating the project proposal was even more of challenge since I had to think about not only what but when and how long it would take. What I found was that takes a lot of time to get you going –but once you start – it helped keep me focused.

·   Looking back at my plan I realize that I way underestimated how long it would take me to write my applications or create a budget – but then I had too much time planned to “Research”. There are so many sources – it really was just a matter of comparing a few – finding out who created the site and if they were credible. Once I did that – I used the information that was consistent across different sites.

·   I really see how much things will cost. I never thought about the insurance, the car, the cable, the phone …. I think I get it more that I have to think ahead rather than just buy. Of all I have learned so far in planning – that is the most important.

·   That even though I had to make revisions, I was able to accomplish working towards my long-term goal. I also learned that it is important to find a way to accomplish what I want, no matter how hard it is because in the end my goal is important to me.  

·   After completing the project, I have gone back and rewritten the segment about “deciding” whether I want to be a physical therapist or an assistant. I know that I want to be a therapist. What I need to do now is invest more time in finding a school that fits me and apply for next fall entry. I also need to get more serious about volunteering. I want to build my resume. I am also adding short term a goal related to finding work in a health field area – even entry level so that I can observe more on the job since learning about the anatomy is going to be more of a challenge for me.

·   I am way more aware of the need to make connections with people in the field. I am going to see if there is more I can do – even volunteering with PTWA…