Batch 7: Thank You

Dear The Bay School Administration:


I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve as an educational intern at The Bay School.  I have gained valuable insight into the education industry over the past 4 months.


Because you gave the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, I had the chance to observe numerous aspects of teaching, from working with student with autism to maintaining the educational website.  You and your staff were extremely welcoming and helpful and offered me terrific career advise.


This internship has defiantly increased my interest in pursuing a career in education.  I would love to stay in touch, and perhaps speak to you regarding steps I should take in the future to pursue a career as a special education teacher.  Once again thank you for a terrific 4 months!


Sincerely,


Talya Danzig

Batch 7: Most important thing learned / Goals Met

Through my internship I have accomplished and learned more than I thought I could learn in a short amount of time.  Some of the most important things I've learned have to do with communication.  Communicating effectively with others has defiantly been one of my biggest challenges.  Through my internship I have met so many different individuals with different personalities.  Navigating through the different personalities has been a big learning experience for me.  Great communication is an attribute that not everyone has so it is important for me to remember that not everyone is as great at communicating.  Previously, I had never had any experience training other people.   At my internship I was able to train several individuals.  When I started training at my internship I wanted to point out everything that the person I was training was doing wrong.  I found out later from feedback from others that the people I was training were feeling discouraged.  I discovered that I had to give more positive reinforcement.  It was a great experience learning how to train others.  I really didn't know how difficult it was until I tried.

Three goals I achieved during my internship:
1.  Learn about the business:  I learned about what each position at The Bay School does and how the school operates from day to day and year to year.
2.  Learn new skills:  I learned lots about autism, teaching, and applied behavioral analysis.
3.  Make new contacts:  I met over 80 employees some of who are now my friends, and others who will defiantly become future contacts.

Batch 6: Career Service Write-Up

Career Service Advisor
This week I attended Cal State Monterrey Bay.  I have liked my internship so much that I wanted to get more information on the special education program at CSUMB.  I plan to graduate ASU this coming spring and I would like to apply to graduate school this summer.  My internship has given me an idea of what it is like to teach children with all different kinds of disorders.  I really enjoyed my experience working with children who have special needs and the possibility of me going to grad school and getting my teaching credential. I met with a career advisory at the college and discussed the application process.  In order to apply I need to take the CBEST, which is a reading, writing, and math test.  I also need a GPA of 2.5 or higher which I already have and 3 letters of recommendation to be submitted with my application.  I am really excited to start the process of applying for graduate school.  Since the interview I have made arrangements to take the CBEST.  I have asked 3 people some of which have supervised me during my internship to write me recommendation letters, and I have filled out the application.  So hopefully in the near future I will be accepted to start summer '16!

Batch 6: Free Write Death of a Student

It was a horrible day for The Bay School, one of its most beloved students passed away.  The Bay School had never encountered such a tragedy as a death of one of its students before.  The student had been sick and hospitalized for sometime but it was a complete shock when the news came.  Everyone was called into the conference room and it was announced.  There was not a dry eye in the building and everyone was mourning the loss.  We sat in that room for hours crying and sharing stories of how that student had affected each one of our lives.  The organization in which I intern has policies and procedure for just about everything but not this.  The news was delivered to us as soon as the director received it and there was no protocol of what would happen next.  This got me thinking should there be a procedure in place in educational organizations if there is a death and what would that procedure/policy look like.  Somethings I thought the organization could of done better: I think the school should have waited until the end of the day the announce the bad news.  Announcing it during work caused emotional chaos and many people could not even work after finding out the news.  Also, no one told parents of students at the school until a week later which seemed to be a little late.  Lastly, I think having some sort of counsling could of been called to help people start to process this unfortunate circumstance.  Even though I think the organization has many strengths, I think The Bay School could benefit from having a policy/and or protocol for student deaths.

Batch 6: Free Write Dressing as an Intern

I am writing about dressing as an intern only because at my internship I see so many interns inappropriately dressed and thought it would be a good read for those of  you interning right now. Dress for the job you want not the job you have.  How you choose to dress each morning reflects how you feel about your job and that you take your position seriously, that you are ready to work and that you pay attention to detail and know what you expect to encounter that day. You wouldn’t go to a construction site in your favorite four inch stilettos, right? Of course not, you’d go in a hard hat, because it’s appropriate for the situation. Appearances matter!  I am only writing this because I see this all too much and the interns aren't the only one breaking the dress code.  Here's a list of helpful pointers of what not to wear to work. Enjoy!

1. Uggs - They are comfortable but they look like slippers for pajamas.  If it looks like something you go to sleep in leave it at home.
2. Sweatshirts and sweatpants - Again, it is just not professional same thing goes for basketball shorts!
3. Spandex leggings/yoga pants - Please save these for Pilates class its just not appropriate to wear at work not even as a layer underneath a skirt and defiantly not alone by itself.
4. Message Tees - It may be cute or funny or so totally true to you, but you never know how other people are going to react. You might be an Italian Princess or The World’s Greatest Mom, but those honorable titles are best kept for your weekend wear.
6. Too much make-up/no make-up - Too much make-up and you look like a clown, it's distracting!  a little make-up goes a long way.
7. What you wore yesterday - Most intern don't make a whole lot of money but you should be able to rotate more than 1 day.
8. Hats - It looks like your hiding your face and you can't be trusted, please abstain from wearing at work.
9. Long finger nails - It looks unkempt and sends the wrong message of poor hygiene.
10. Wrinkled/torn clothing - If you don't own an iron i highly encourage you to go out and get one.  Wearing wrinkled clothes can make you look frumpy.  Same with ripped or torn jeans (even if they were expensive).

Batch 6: Strengths of a non-profit

What are the strengths of your organization?

1. Strong Leadership
The Bay School has the proper organizational system to allow them to work to their capacity and be supported in their work.  People progress together and the progression together touches the deep seated value for social cohesion.  The organization as a whole is compassionate, has good work ethic, high integrity, and humility.  
2. Enthusiasm
Staff feels some degree of fulfillment and worth while contribution which leads to enthusiasm and performance.  Those I work with are excited about what they do which creates a positive atmosphere to work in.  Staff is motivated by the organization and therefore is enthusiastic about the work.
3. Empathy
The Bay School has a great understanding for the feeling of another person.  This organization understands that sometime people have bad days or that sometimes life happens outside of work.  All staff member have paid-time off and sick days for these purposes.  I think they offer reasonable time off to ensure employee satisfaction. 
4. Self Improvement
The Bay School always looks for ways in which they can be more efficient.  The administration holds meetings in which they discuss self improvement.  They take suggestions from staff and employees as well as participate in surveys to better understand their own strengths and weaknesses.  When improvement is needed they actively work to find solutions to problems.
5. Creativity
This organization has expertise in many different areas like speech and language, autism spectrum disorders, behavioral analysis, to name a few.  Administration, teachers, staff, and all employees are able to collaborate ideas with many different minds and come up with creative solutions to specific areas of concern. 
6. Develop Others
Most importantly this organization values their employees and encourages development within the organization.  This organization does pay for schooling for those want to continue their education in the special education field.  About half of their employees are graduate students at CalState.

If you were in charge of a similar organization, are there any things you would do differently?
Since this is my first go at being in an educational setting in which I am not a student I am not sure that there is a lot I would change.  I am more than happy of my experience interning here.  I have helped my develop my skills in a wide range of areas from data analysis to voice inflections of a teacher.  I defiantly recommend this organization for anyone looking to get some experience in the non-profit sector..  

Batch 5: Free Write ABA instructional Method

The Bay School's education and treatment approach is based on the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), an intervention program that applies principles of behavior to learning.  ABA is monitored by objective data measures to assess desired outcomes.  Skills are systematically taught through highly structured individualized and and small group teaching sessions.  The defining characteristic of  the instructional program is the use of explicit and systematic instruction.  These instructional strategies are used both in highly structured settings and in more natural setting, as means of facilitating generality and increasing motivation of children with Autism and other developmental disabilities.  Teaching procedures such as direct instruction, discrete trial teaching, precision teaching, observational learning, and incidental teaching are used to teach each student meaningful skills to maximize participation at school, at home, and in the community.  In my weeks at The Bay School I have seen first hand the significant changes made to students behavior and learning with the ABA approach.  I had the misconception that a behavioral approach might be cold and rigid.  But even through ABA is a science, the creative teachers make it into an art as well!

Batch 5: How does your organization demonstrate public service and/ or urban governance?

I think The Bay School, the school I intern for, organizes the day to day management of the school in many ways.  From the highly trained staff to the director, this school is a well oiled machine.  Every morning staff check in with the teachers and the teachers check in with the administration.  It is a highly organized system of checks and balances.  The Bay School employs over 80 staff members.  The curriculum is determined by teachers and administration together and is individualized for each student depending on the need of each student.  The administration shows great dedication to the students and their needs.  The Director has also shown great ambition in achieving a super program designed on teaching students new skills and documenting the progress in reports and charts.  They have proven effective leadership that is demonstrated by the progress of each student.  This is a great company to work for and I look forward to what the future might bring!!

Batch 5: Free Write Havest Festival at my Internship

October 30th was a great day at the internship.  The school prepared an all day event for its students called the Harvest Festival 2015.  There was food of all kinds chips, pizza, cake, cookies, and beverages of all kinds!!  There was ghostly music playing on loud speakers and games and activities for all the students to participate in.  I shadowed one of the students who has severe challenging behavior.  The students parent's came to show their support, but as soon as the student saw his parents he wanted to go home.  It was interesting to watch his teacher try and shape him into a better place where he wasn't so anxious and wanted to leave the party.  The student was able to participate in the party for 5 minute increments and then went back to his normal school day and went about business as usual.  By the end of the party the student did not want to leave the party and he was actually excited to be apart of the party.  This kind of work was really meaningful for me to observe.  I really feel as if my internship has made me think very hard about continuing my education and getting my special ed teaching credential.  I graduate next semester and am now applying to schools to further my education in special ed!

Batch 5: Free Write Life as an Intern

Life as an intern has been a lot of fun.  I have gotten to work side by side with teachers and students.  I feel like I now have a better idea of what life is like as a teacher and I am really enjoying my experience.  I have learned a lot about how to make daily lesson plans and how to prepare for the day.  I have also learned some teaching strategies, how to get students to attend, and proactive strategies for student learning.   Sometimes, interning has its challenges.  It is not easy being the one who has to do the menial work like chores, classroom cleanup, and data entry.  Although interning has its challenges, I have got a lot of experience doing meaningful work.  This week I got to sit and chat with some of the students.  I even got to teach a little bit.  I was teaching prepositions in, on, and under.  I presented the teaching materials that I made and sat with a student and ran a few work trials!  It was a lot of fun and I can't wait until I can do even more.  This week has been the best week yet!

Batch 4: Leadership and my internship!

Leadership plays a role in my internship in many ways.  At my internship it is important to demonstrate strong leadership skills.  Many people interpret leadership and how to lead differently.  For me, being an intern, I do my best to set a good example for others.  I take a pragmatic approach to solving problems and listen to other people without trying to tell them what to do.  I am a good listener and assist others in their efforts to make good decisions. I set a good example for others by staying on task, completing tasks, having a passion for the work that I do even if it’s just laminating papers.  Just because I am not in a leadership role I am still able to demonstrate my leadership skills. I demonstrate my leadership skills by having positive interactions with students, parents, and colleagues.  I give help where it is needed without prompting from others.  I take the initiative to seek out more work if I’m not busy.  My supervisor displays leadership in a different way because he is in a leadership role.  Not only does he exemplify the traits of a leader similarly to me, he also has the power to delegate work.  He is very approachable and I am able to learn a lot from him for that reason.  I think he is an amazing leader.  He really takes the time to check in with all of his employees and find places where he needs improvement and always accepts feedback from others well.  This to me is a sign of a great leader!!

Batch 4: Free Write Dining on a Budget

Last Friday I had the pleasure of dinning at my favorite restaurant called Shadowbrook.  It is a little pricey but dining out doesn't always have to be expensive.  The first tip I have to dining out and not spending a whole lot of cash is to look for places with deals.  Groupon is a great resource for finding great dinner deals for two.  Many times you can get a free meal with the purchase of an entrée item. Restaurants also have great happy hour menus and the portioning is a little less but so are menu prices.  If you are dining with a friend try splitting an entree.  There is always usually enough food for two on an entree item.  Yelp is a great way to pick a restaurant, I use yelp to look at the reviews for the restaurant and look at pricing.  Order water, not only is it healthier but drinks add up!  Drinks can take a 8 dollars meal and make it an 11 dollar meal.  My question to you is it really worth the extra cash?  3 dollars a day can add up pretty quickly.  There are many ways to dine without spending a lot of money.  The first step to saving money on dinner is reading this blog post, so your already there.  Now try planning and doing a little research to find the best deal.

Batch 4: Interview with My Supervisor

I met with my supervisor today and got to pick his brain on the pros and cons of working as a teacher.  I got some really good insite Enjoy!

My Interview with Teacher:

Me:  What are their main job responsibilities?

Teacher: My main responsibilities vary from day to day.  Managing a classroom is the main responsibility.  I manage 12 aids and am in charge of creating student programs.  I create the schedule and make sure all the students are receiving the 1:1 hours with their aids.  Students receive anywhere from 3 to 6.25 1:1 hours per day.  It is my job to create schedules to ensure we are appropriately being paid by the student’s school districts.  Every student has a quarterly IEP (Individualized Education Plan).  I collaborate with The Speech Language Pathologist and write student qaurtley and yearly goals individualized to meet each students need. 

Me:  How did you choose this career?  

Teacher:  I started working at the school my senior year at UCSC as an intern.  I really enjoyed the work and was hired on as an aid the following year.  Three years later I became teacher trainee and went back to school for my Master’s in Special Education.  After receiving my teaching credential I was promoted to full teacher.

Me:  What type of education or training is needed for this position?

Teacher:  I started out in this field my senior year of college.  After working in the field a few years I decided to go back and get my Master’s in Special Ed.  I continued moving up the lateral chain.  Two years into my Master’s I received my teaching credential and was promoted to full teacher.  I am currently still working on my Master’s with about a year to go!

Me: What advice would you give to someone interested in this field?

Teacher:  I would say make sure you’re committed to the field.  There is a high turnover rate for teacher’s especially special education.  The work is hard and a lot of us feel under paid for the work we do.  Continuing education can be costly.  My best advice is working in the field for a couple of years and make sure that it is something you’re going to stick with.

Me: Do they notice any new trends in the field?

Teacher: A new trend for teachers is technology.  Technology has changed the way we teach and has created lots of new opportunities for learning.  It is important to stay current and do research on how we can use technology as a tool for learning and understanding new ideas.

Me: Why would you be interested in this career or position?

Teacher:  Working with children with autism has been challenging at times but for me has no bigger reward that teaching to those who face moderate to severe challenges.  I enjoy what I do and that’s the best reason for me to continue.  I love going to work and feel passionate about my job.  I get to wear so many hats it’s hard to be bored but easy to get overwhelmed, but that’s part of the fun for me.


I hope you guys enjoyed my interview with Classroom Teacher Ben!  Thanks for reading!!

Batch 3: Free Write

I thought I would give everyone out there an update of how my internship is going.  Well, I'm in week 7 and started to remember names and faces.  Also, people are finally starting to pronounce my name right!  After all the awkwardness of being the new girl I am starting to familiarize myself with the setting and getting to know my fellow colleagues a little bit better.  I am really enjoying the work that I am doing and feel like I am learning ALOT!  I am glad I picked a school to do my internship, I great after a days worth of rewarding work.  Although there is a lot about the internship that I enjoy, I am feeling a little overwhelmed with all the work.  There is a lot of policies and procedures to learn, and a lot of terminology that I have never heard of until now.  My favorite part of my internship is getting to work with the students.  It makes the day go by much faster when I get to interact with students.  Over all it has been a really great experience and I am looking forward to pursuing a job in education after my internship is over. 

Batch 3: Career Service Write-up Talking to My Career Mentor

Today I spoke with my career mentor, a teacher that works at The Bay School.   I wanted to know what made him go into teaching special education and how he got a job working in the field after college.  What surprised me is that he started interning (just like me) at the school before becoming a teacher.  He said that he interned for a year and then was offered a job working as an instructor the following year.  He said that continuing his education was a big part of him moving up the career ladder.  It wasn't until he received his teaching credential that he was officially offered a job teaching with his title as a Teacher.   He said the whole process took about four year of work experience with a combination of schooling and education.  After speaking to him I felt extremely good about my internship and the possibility of growth and potential.  I believe my internship is the first step into getting my foot in the door and gaining experience in the field I wish to pursue.

Batch 3: Free write - Tuition For Everybody

The problem is tuition cost have sky rocketed and more student are having difficulties getting into college because they do not have the financial means.  Here are some ideas of how we can make it so all who want a college education have a better chance of achieving that goal, without major structural changes we can’t make it happen, but we can start.  Paying students to go to high school, creating a network of employers who work with colleges to pay tuition for students, and recreating John Edward’s college for everyone program will all help to make tuition more affordable to students who want to attend college. 

The college for everyone program will offer one year free for students willing to take part-time jobs, more grants awarded to continuing second, third, and forth year student, and make tuition affordable to all those who want to go to college.

A College for everyone program already exists.  The program works with college summit and North Carolinas Universities and community colleges, to pay for the first year of tuition, fees, and books for college students who agree to work part time.  Student must also complete coursework that prepare them for further education, and stay out of trouble.  The projected college going rate has increased form 54% before the program to 74% today.

Recreating this program, that already exists in North Carolina and expanding it to other parts of the country would help to make college tuition more affordable for everyone.  An estimated 200,000 college qualified graduated fail to attend college each year.  This Program would ensure those qualified and those who want to go to college can.  The program is intended to encourage poor students to go to college the goal is to get a foot in the door and ultimately be successful.
 

Another way to reduce tuition costs is to pay student to go to high school.  Allow students to earn money for tuition by working at their high school education. It need not be exclusively money for college, but programs that gave a higher wage for students who put at least some of their money in to a "tuition savings account" would provide a base of dedicated money for college and would also provide students an incentive to go to college in order to get the most for their working dollars.

Finally, the last way to make college more affordable to students create a network of employers who work with colleges to pay tuition for students working for them while in college. Ideally this network should at least include community based organizations funded by foundation and corporate sponsorship programs, it should also include corporate and apprentice based employment that provided students applicable life and career skills.

High School student are shocked by high tuition costs and scared of student debt with a college for everyone program, pay student to go to high school, and  creating a network of employers who work with colleges to pay tuition accomplishes many positives, but most importantly it get more kids to strive and attend college.

Batch 3: Free write

I am privileged to have a family who is very interested in Art.  My mother, when she was young, was an Art major, and grew up to draw and paint whenever she could.  She put my sister, my brother, and me in art classes since we were able to hold a crayon in our hands.   I am the youngest in my family, and my brother and sister were always very involved and talented in art.  I am also very privileged in the way the I have traveled a lot in my 29 years of life, and gotten to seen many famous and amazing pieces of art and architecture all over the world.  I do not think I could be as happy without art in my life.

I have always grown up appreciating art, but I have only grown to make my own art in the last couple of years.  I actually grew up to believe that I was the “oddball” or untalented one in my family.  My brother and sister are older and have always been tremendously good and talented in art, but neither of them was able to concentrate on their academics because of it.  I on the other hand was great at academics, and classes that were not art, so I made myself believe that I just wasn’t made to create art.  This I have come to realize is not true.  Once my sister and brother moved out, I gained the confidence to take studio art classes.  It turned out I happened to be better than I realized.  
  
My sister, now an interior designer, and my brother, an architect, never thought that they had such an impact on me, nor did I until I had to sit down and right this paper.  I always compared myself to them, which was unrealistic because I was a different learner than them, and talented in different ways.  Although I take art classes now, I do it for enjoyment rather than for a career: whereas my siblings have made art their careers. 

Even though I have the experience of living with an artist as a mother always support of me wanting to make art, it turned out my siblings had more of an impact on me.  And in the end I had to mature enough to get back into art and not feel inferior to others.  Everyone has different styles and no one can really say who’s better or who’s worse. 

Batch 2: A Typical Day At Work

I go into school around 7:30 and log on to the computer and check my emails and respond to any pressing matters.  After I check my emails I update students behavioral data in excel (data entry).  I then prepare all teaching materials necessary for the day by printing, laminating, or collecting teaching tools.  I then go to my morning meeting and discuss pertanant student information for that day.  Students arrive at school around 8:30.  I pick up my student and take them to their class.  The student changes on a day to day.  I then have 6 different periods a day and meet with one student per period and observe and document behavior seen that day.  At 2:45 I take my last student to their bus/car.  After the student leave I process all data collected that day and the input the data in to different software systems.  I end up leaving work around 4 and then picked up where I left off the day before.

Batch 2: Free write - Shopping on a Student/Intern Budget

Eating out can be expensive and if you are still a student and/or an intern it might be a good idea to understand how to better save your cash and plan your meals.  It may take a little more thought and time but the results ......  The first step in saving your cash is to set a Budget.  Setting a budget will help you plan and decide whether or not to the item you are purchasing is worth your dollar.  After you figure out a budget you should do some research.  I do my research online, I go to my grocers website and look at sale items or items with coupons, this directly effects what I purchase and changes week to week.  Think about items that are non-perishable and that wont go to waste if you don't eat them quickly.  Also, think about recycling.  I like to recycle some of my food items.  For example,  if I purchase a meat product I try to make it last at least two meals.  If I make chicken one night I will use the same chicken in another dish the next night.  This also helps if you are cooking for 1, as cooking for one sometimes seems wasteful in the end you will be surprise at how much money you really save if you follow these steps!  Thank you for reading! 

Batch 2: Free write - The City I intern in Santa Cruz, CA

Santa Cruz is different from other cities in many ways.  The physical environment, the culture, and all around way of life are very unique in comparison to other places.  It is interesting for me to write about Santa Cruz because locals of Santa Cruz typically do not like to attract outside visitors.  It is considered Taboo in Santa Cruz culture to attract visitors.  The culture and vibe of Santa Cruz is “locals only”.  But for the purpose of this assignment I will share the City with you, as long as you don’t vacation, move, or tell your friends!  

50 miles South of San Francisco along the coast of Northern California is a beach city, Santa Cruz.  Population is around 60,000 people.  The city is characterized by images of oceans, beaches, forests, country, and urban the same.  The Ocean makes up the coastline of Santa Cruz.  The ocean is surrounded by beautiful white sand beaches.  Locals flock to the beach to soak up the sun, barbecue with friends, swim, paddle board, surf, sail, and fish.  On one of the beaches there is a boardwalk with arcade games, a roller coaster, a Ferris wheel, and much more of course.  There are free concerts on the beach every weekend with musicians like Smashmouth, Eddie Money, and Soul Asylums headlining.  Another characteristic of Santa Cruz is the redwood forest.  Hiking trails line the old aged trees and lead to beautiful landscaping of waterfalls, beaches, and gorgeous parks.  Bicycle riding is a must if you live in here.  The downtown area consists of historic buildings, shopping, restaurants, bars, and theatres to name a few.  If you are visiting the area (please don’t) and worried about transportation there are many ways to getting to your destination.  There are many modes of transportation but I recommend riding your bike or walking, but if walking isn’t your thing try the trolley. 

The physical environment of picturesque landscapes contributes to the active and healthy lifestyles of its inhabitants and just one of the reasons Santa Cruz is so unique.  Although we try not to promote to the city “outsiders”, we do like to represent our city with pride.   Whether is spending to day at the beach or taking a hike in the forest there is always much to do and plenty to enjoy!  

Batch 2: Intro to Organization

The Bay School provides student with autism and developmental disabilities ages 5-21, comprehensive, extended year educational and clinical services.  The educational and treatment approach used at The Bay School is based on the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), a methodology that applies principles of behavior to learning.  Their mission is to provide scientifically based educational and clinical services to produce measurable and lasting improvements in the lives of the students and families we serve.

Some of my duties as an intern:

· Implement and evaluate instructional and treatment programs
· Participate in the development of Individualized Educational Plans and meetings
· Collect, summarize and evaluate behavioral data
· Assist teachers in making recommendations for modifications if desired behavior change does not occur
· Assist in the development of new programming ideas
· Supervise the arrival and dismissal of assigned students
· Respond to and report emergencies as school policies and procedures
· Attend staff meetings, pre-service training sessions, and in-service sessions
· Ensure proper maintenance of classroom, other areas of the facility and grounds

Batch 1: Goals

Three goals I hope to achieve during my intership:
1.  Learn about the business:  There are many different positions of employees, I would like to explore the day to day operations of aids, teachers, and administrators.
2.  Learn new skills:  The school specializes in autism and applied behavioral analysis,  I would like to learn how data is collected and how to analyze it.  I would also like to learn and familiarize myself with the IEP (Individualized Education Plan) process.
3.  Make new contacts:  I would like to be able make professional contacts and be able to ask questions to others in the field who have experience in what I would like to pursue.