Final Journal Entry

This long WISE project has come to its ending!

Throughout five months, I have learned how to use the music producing software and produce actual music using the loops. Moreover, I also learned how important it is to pace and manage time properly. There will be plenty of times in the future that I have to get my assignments done within the time limit. This project enlightened me the importance of time management.




Originally, I proposed to make ten or more songs and a dance routine. I only have few songs and I didn’t have enough time to work on my dance routine. In the middle of my project, I had to readjust my goal more realistic. I got rid of the dance routine plan which I proposed as a connection between my WISE project and my interest, and decided to focus on the music producing part more instead. Now, I don’t have a specific number that I aim for the final product, but as many songs I can make by the presentation date.




I wasn’t able to spend as much time as I wished. There were other school and extracurricular activities that I also had to do. At the beginning of the project, college applications and Three AP midterms dragged me from working on my WISE project. I was on the Varsity Wrestling and Tennis team throughout the entire year and I often came back home from practices and match at night. Daily homework and study for three AP classes that I took and the part time job I had were also a big part that took away most of my time. At the end of the semester, AP exams, final projects and the online course that I took in Cornell University for college credits were also stressing me out. Pacing myself and managing time for all those various assignments were one of the hardest challenges I had to face.




I think this WISE project was a great opportunity to try something completely independently that I wouldn’t be able to otherwise in high school or even in college. This project really help the students transcend furthermore than their current level.

Katherine's Presentation

On May 22th, Katherine had a model presentation on her WISE project. Her presentation was a good example of how WISE presentation should look like. What I liked about her project was abundant resources. She had pictures, cloths, craft works, and books that indicated her work and effort to her project. She was also an amazing speaker. Her speech was very strong and effective. Katherine delivered her points clearly and she didn't seem nervous at all. Her entire presentation was full of confidence. Her presenting skills are what I want to adapt to my WISE presentation. However, I felt Katherine should have some more explanation about her topic. Her topic was steam-puck, a topic that most of the audience wasn't so familiar with. I was confused what exactly steam-puck was until the end of the presentation. For my project, I will make sure my audience knows clearly what my topic is and what I am trying to explain. That is what I will do differently.  

My little private studio!!!

As I mentioned before, I tried to use my car speakers to replace my headphones, and my car as a studio!! So far its working nice!! 

Either a very Cleaver or Stupid Idea

I have already posted about headphones previously, how I think I should have good headphones for my music project.  According to the research and web searching, headphones can go up to several hundreds of dollars. Due to the limited budget problem however, I still don't have a great pair of headphones to use. Good headphones are critical. As I have experienced, there is a big difference in the quality of music using normal earphones and professional headphones. There are some sounds that regular earphones cannot express. So far, I have borrowed my friends headphones and used my regular earphones. Although the project is close to its ending, I am still saving money to get headphones for my future convenience. However, that is a plan that takes time, and I need some immediate solution for this problem. The solution that I finally came up with is use my car speakers. 

I have a 2010 Jeep that have great quality speakers that are built in. I listen music whenever I drive in my car, and it is a great source of inspirations of new ideas. I thought about connecting my laptop into my car, and work on my music project inside my car, like a mini studio!!! It will be dark and quiet, quite comfortable as well. When I told this to Jon, my WISE classmate who is also doing a music WISE project, he gave me some advice and things to consider. First, he pointed out the battery issue. There is a possible chance of running out of battery, and as we all know, that will be very annoying to recharge. He also told me that I will have to adjust my speaker frequency ideal to music project. 

I think this is a very funny idea. I don't know if it would work, but it is definitely worth a try!!!!   

Student Evaluator For Jon and Danny

I will have to be a student evaluator for two of my classmates, Jon and Danny.

Jon will be presenting about his DJ-ing experience, which is very similar to mine. Unlike me, Jon already knows plenty about his project. He is very confident in his work and looking towards to have a little performance. I wanted to do evaluate his because I felt like I can connect a lot to his project since my project is very similar to his.

Danny has been making a solar panel. I could not image how he would accomplish that because it sounded so complicated. I am curious to evaluate his project and learn about how solar panel works. I have been interested in reusable energy sources but had no background information about them. I hope his presentation informs me about solar panel and solar energy.

Presentation Date Have Been Set

My WISE presentation have been scheduled for June 11th, 12:30pm!!
Soon, I will send invitations to my WISE teacher, my WISE mentor, community evaluator and student evaluators.  

What went wrong?

Where did everything when wrong? First of all, I think my TIME MANAGEMENT was off the track. I have manage my time poorly. WISE project isn't the only thing that i have to do. Throughout the second semester, I had more work than I expected, and not expecting that much of other works to do, I have set my initial proposal too much. The second reason is that I didn't take account that I am not an expert. Music production is one new field that I am investigating. I had to start the whole process from the beginning. Learning to use the programs took much more than I expected which dragged the producing process.

Realistically.....

One month left until the presentation date, it is time to wrap things up. Looking at my current pace however, I am not meeting the original goals that I have proposed.
Where I am now currently is not where I expected when I first proposed my WISE project. Instead of having an album worth of songs, I only have 3 to 4 songs. I think I will have to revise the original plans to create a realistic goal that I can meet in a month.

Happiness Revisited

1. When do you feel most happy?
• The article says persuading goals gives a thirst for even more and really happiness is getting control of life, but I personally feel happy when I achieve my dreams/goals. It is true that achieving one goal leads me to setting another goal and persuading the next one, but at the very moment when I achieved what I desired, I feel happy the most.  
2. React/ Respond to article
• The article's theory was very interesting. Although happiness is measured differently for each person, this article tries to visualize and measure the happiness in terms of flow. It seems little bit over simplified, but the main concept of the flow explains people's happiness.  
3. Where are you on the flow chart?
• I will put myself on the Anxiety zone above the flow channel. I often challenge overly and end up in a panic mode.  
4. How has this changed/remained the same throughout your project?
1. I feel like my WISE project is the same way too. Without that much skills and techniques of music producing, I have set my goals way too challenging that I often panic about it. 
5. How can you achieve flow?
1. In order to achieve flow, I will either improve my skills and techniques or lower the challenges that I have set to fit in the flow channel.