Blog 10: Self Reflection

How do you think you are doing so far in your senior project?

So far, I think that the work I am doing relating to my senior project is solid P material. I have successfully completed each research check, interview, and component complete and on-time. I also have completed somewhere around 85 service learning hours thus far, and I plan on continuing with this. 

What is one thing you think you have done well on and why?

I think one thing I have done especially well is the research checks. Since the very first time, I have brought more articles than required, and used my time effectively to completely margin note and understand what I am reading. In doing this, my understanding of my overall topic has greatly improved. 

What is one think you would like to improve and why?

I wish that I could improve on the interviews, as the answers I have received in my first two interviews haven't helped me much to better understand my topic. 

Blog 9: Science Fair Proposal

What is your hypothesis?
If a patient enters a drug rehab program more than once,   they are more likely to enter the program again.


Identify the dependent, independent, and control variable in your hypothesis.
My dependent variable is the number of times patients enter rehab. My independent variable is the amount of times they were already in rehab. My control is the rehab centers as a whole. 


What is the connection between science fair project and senior project EQ?
My EQ asks how to better treat an HIV+ patient in drug rehab, so that them coming back again due to relapse is rare. The data that I am looking at shows just how successful Straight Talk's drug rehab houses are. If I notice a particular trend in patients returning, I may even be able to help the center treat the patients in a more effective manner.


How will you perform the experiment?
I plan on obtaining the data from Straight Talk, my service learning center, that tells me: who a patient is, where the stayed, how long they stayed, and if they have come back. Going over this data will enable me to configure statistics that describe which trend of patients appear to return the most (if there is a trend). By doing this, I hope to aid Straight Talk in identifying possible issues with an area  of their treatment program. 


Which category will your project be listed under?
Behavioral/Social Science

Blog 8: Research Reflection

What I've Learned So Far


Since I've started working on this project, something I've learned to do is better understand people that are different than me. In other words, I have been able to overcome the obvious fears that arise when volunteering at an HIV+ drug rehab center so that I am able to better observe the patients and program to answer my essential question. Being able to put all emotions aside and talking to the patients like they're just like everyone else may seem easy until you're actually put into the situation. This is something that I have overcome that I believe is crucial to answering my essential question.


I am not sure how to post evidence of this accomplishment.. but here are pictures of some of the houses I am volunteering at: 

"Gerry House" houses the HIV/AID+ drug addicts

Sober Living Home 1 is the equivalent of a "Halfway House"

Sober Living Home 2 is the continuation of the original home

What helped me the most in this situation was, obviously, my service learning. That is how I originally came into contact with the patients. The actual source that helped me the most was TheBody.com. It remains my best source for finding any and all answers I have needed throughout the course of this project. TheBody not only focuses on the medical aspect of my topic, but it contains many articles that deal with the social/cultural aspect of HIV+ Drug Rehab as well. 

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Plan Approval

For Independent Component One, I plan on completing an extra 30 hours of service learning. I am currently completing my service learning at Straight Talk under Administrator, Shelly Lummus. 


I am confident that there will be no problem for me to complete the thirty hours required for the independent component. I have been volunteering a few days a week since the beginning of September, and I have already completed a large portion of my required hours. 


Since Straight Talk is a counseling and rehab center that primarily focuses on drug addicts, I get an up-close look at what goes into treating an HIV+ drug addict in rehab. Straight Talk has two rehab "houses" dedicated to HIV+ patients, and the individuals that run these houses are more than happy to give me any information I may need if I ask. Unfortunately because I am not 18 years old, I am not able to volunteer directly at these houses. However, I still feel as though I am answering my EQ thoroughly through my Independent Component.  

Blog 6: EQ Draft One

Defining the Essential Question


1. My Essential Question is: "What is the most effective way to treat an HIV+ patient in drug rehab?"
2. Defined
    Effective: Beneficial, brings about the most change, best, useful
    Treat: Recover, counsel, help, cure (not literally, as we know HIV is incurable)
    HIV+: Person that has tested positive for the HIV virus
    Drug Rehab: Facility for addicts to be treated (OH! vocab word!) for their addictions 
3. So far, an important answer I have come across is to stress the importance that the patient openly discusses their HIV status with counselors, close friends, family, etc. to be sure they're not bottling up their emotions, which could easily lead to drug relapse. Another possible answer to my essential question would be closely monitored antiretroviral treatments. Addicts have been known to not take antiretrovirals since a combination of these and recreational drugs can be deadly. Also, it is necessary for the HIV+ patient to receive attention more suitable to their needs. These patients need different counseling than that of non-HIV+ patients, so it is important that this is received.  There are many more possible answers to my essential question, most of which I still need to further research so I have a basis for my facts. 
4. The most important source I have come across is TheBody.com. The website is focused around giving people information on HIV/AIDS, from how to avoid it to how to deal with it. Not only does the site itself supply tons of information, but they have many databases filled with different websites and organizations that deal with HIV, HIV and drug abuse, and many more. Most of my articles are directly from, or have been recommended by The Body. 

Blog 5: Second Interview Questions Approval

Service Learning Location: Straight Talk, Cypress.
Interviewee: Shelly Lummus, Administrator 


Proposed Questions:

1. What exactly is the purpose of your organization?
2. Do you think that my volunteering at your facility will help me with my research?
3. What types of tasks will you want me involved in during my volunteering?
4. Will you allow me to get a more personal look into the world of HIV+ drug rehab?
5. What are some limitations I may encounter while volunteering due to privacy laws?
6. Will you be available/willing to answer any questions I may have when it comes to the work I will be doing in the facility?
7. Is there anything else you think I should know while volunteering?
8. Is there anything that I am not allowed to do while volunteering at your facility (any rules I must follow)?

Revision: October 8, 2011

1. How did you get your interest in drug rehab/counseling?
2. What is your education background regarding rehab?
3. What made you want to pursue this a career?
4. How does your job affect you as a person?
5. Did you expect to make it as far as you have in the field? Why or why not?
6. If you didn't pursue this career, where do you think you would've ended up?
7. Do you believe that drug rehab/counseling was put in your life for a reason?
8. What are some positive and negative aspects you see your job as?
9. Any regrets on your career choice?
10. What would you consider your biggest accomplishment in the business?

Blog 4: Presentation Reflection

In what way did the first interview affect your presentation? 
Due to the completion of my first interview, I felt more comfortable in explaining my topic to my class. My interviewee told me that she felt I was ready to share the information I had showed her to my peers, and they would understand it. Even though I didn't use anything that I exclusively got in my interview for my presentation, the knowledge that a professional believed I could do well made for a more comfortable experience overall. 


What do you say stood out about your presentation performance and why?
For my visual, I created a pamphlet with some of the research that I collected so far during research checks. Personally, I benefit best when I have a copy of the information I just learned to refer back to, so I assumed that this handout would benefit everyone in some way. Also, I was comfortable with the information I presented, for the most part, which was "why it is important to share your HIV status with those around you". During the presentation, I didn't have to refer to any notes and I would like to believe I had a smooth delivery, despite being nervous. 


What was the most challenging to do and why?
There were two things I found particularly challenging when approaching this presentation. First, I couldn't decide what to present on. I didn't just want to present on what my topic was, because I believe that "HIV+ Drug Rehabilitation" is fairly self explanatory to the average high school senior. I was afraid to teach a "mini-lesson" due to time constraints, but that is what I eventually decided would be best for my peers to better understand that my topic has many different aspects to explore. 
Another thing I found challenging occurred during the presentation itself, nerves. As I previously stated, I was more than comfortable and confident in my presentation topic, with every part of the requirements covered, and then some. Unfortunately, once I got to the front of the class, my thought-provoking questions and hard-to-forget presentation wrap up were the last things on my mind. 

Blog 3: Presentation 1

Objective 
The purpose of my five-minute presentation is to teach students a basic reason why HIV+ patients in drug rehab need to expose that they are HIV+ to the people around them. 


Introduction
I will begin by asking students what they know about HIV. 


Procedure

1. Ask students preceding question.
2. Ask students what they know about drug rehab itself.
3. Explanation of objective (teach basic reason).
4. Show statistics and/or handout on HIV+ drug rehab
5. Check for student understanding.

LIA
Literal: I will be explaining why it is important to share HIV status with others.
Interpretive: How not knowing that someone is HIV+ could affect the life of someone that is not HIV+.
Applied: To show how much HIV can affect drug users, whether they contracted the virus themselves or not. 

Check for Understanding
Once I have successfully presented my objective, I will again ask the students why they think HIV+ patients need to expose that they are HIV+, especially to those that are not.
If time permits, I may ask students ways that they would tell someone close to them that they are HIV+, since that can be a very difficult thing to share. 


Resources & Materials
As of now, I plan on displaying some facts and/or statistics about HIV+ drug rehab on a poster or pamphlet etc.

Blog 2: Interview 1 Preparation

Interview Check
Who are you interviewing and why?
I am interviewing Shelly Lummus, the director of an organization called Straight Talk, which specializes in counseling and rehab services to drug addicts and alcoholics. I have been helping out at the organization's Cypress offices a couple days a week, allowing me to see how knowledgable Mrs. Lummus is on not only rehab, but the specific needs of patients who are HIV/AIDS+. I am positive that she will be able to give me valuable information that i could use to further narrow down my topic, and how I can get as much out of this topic as possible. 


What additional questions will you ask them?
In addition to the required questions, I will ask Mrs. Lummus:

• Do think it is a good idea to focus primarily on the HIV+ members of the rehab community?
• Will you be willing to help me throughout the course of my studies on this topic if I should have any questions?
• Do you have any more information you think I should know as I begin to study this topic?

Blog 1: Senior Project Topic

What is your topic? Why? 
My senior project topic is HIV+ (positive) Drug Rehabilitation. Many people do not realize the amount of HIV+ drug and alcohol abusers that are placed in the same treatment programs as those without HIV. When an HIV+ person enters rehab, they cannot hide their disease. Living with this disease is something that has to be "treated" when a patient enters the rehabilitation process. I think that it is very important to educate others on what it takes for an HIV+ addict to recover, versus what it takes others. Not only do they need help for their addiction, but they need medical and emotional treatment for their HIV as well. I have recently started my service learning at an organization called Straight Talk, which offers counseling and many in-house rehab centers. Here, I have seen firsthand how much this disease affects the patients in rehab, and just how few people even care. 


What do you hope to accomplish? 
Rehab has been a "hushed" topic for years, as it is often looked down on by our society. Because of this, the programs are rarely called into question as to whether or not they should be changed or updated. I hope to change the negative connotations that many people associate with rehab, especially with it's HIV+ patients. Hopefully, some people will soon see that rehab is a place where people go to help themselves, instead of a place for the "disposable" member of society.