Senior Reflection

As my senior year is coming to a close and I’m completing the long journey that was the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Graduation Project, it is necessary to recap and reflect on the things I’ve
learned from Levine and the Graduation Project, and what I want future seniors to note about this project
and its completion.
Upon reflection, I now realize that not accounting for potential setbacks in my project timeline
severely threw me off schedule when I was faced with roadblocks and setbacks. I now know to always
allocate for potential setbacks and delays with every plan or project in life. Making time and space for
error is crucial for your success in whatever you do, don’t allow yourself to be swept off track because
you didn’t allow enough time for you to correct yourself if something unexpected was to occur. That also
segues well into another lesson I learned through this project and product that I feel everyone should
know- do not procrastinate, ever. It will only cause you more stress in the long run, and you don’t want
that last minute anxiety on top of the anxiety the project carries with it already.
When reflecting upon the project more, it is crucial to note the importance of what subject matter
you choose to base your project and product around. Remember that you will be focusing on that subject
matter and working around it solely for 2-ish years. Choose something you're passionate about and you'll
actually enjoy a great deal more of the project and product than you would have anticipated. Listen to
your heart and your gut, try not to limit your brainstorms and ideas to just career orientated topics and
theses. Life has so much more outside of the college you're attending or the career you’re pursuing- it’s
mandatory that you complete the Graduation Project, so why not spend that time on something you have a
true, driven passion for?
To any rising seniors, by far the most difficult phase of the project is the period of time between
completing your research paper and starting your Service Learning Hours. It is never too early to begin on
your hours, and you'll thank yourself later. Your biggest enemy with this project is procrastination and
slacking off, don’t let that be your downfall. The time between finishing your research paper and starting
your hours feels almost like a break, like everything is easy and there's no need to rush. I encourage you
to not get into that mindset, you will find yourself behind and bring only more anxiety onto yourself that’s
not necessary.
This Graduation Project, like high school in general, was a very long, not so enjoyable process,
but I can't deny the valuable lessons they both taught me. Rising seniors, I know it looks like a long way
to graduation, with this project only making the road rougher, but you are completely capable of
excellence, and it will reward you with displicince in time management, self advocacy, net working, and a
sense of pride in knowing you gave back to your community in a positive way. You will use all of these
newly acquired skills wherever you go in life, regardless if it’s college, a career, or whatever else you may
pursue. This project broke me down, but it built me back up again into an adult that is fluent on how to
function in the real world, and I’m forever grateful for the lessons I’ve learned.