Beard

Name:Jordan Beard

Guiding Question: Would I want to pursue a career in nutrition/Personal Training once college is finished? (Required) This plan is a “best guess” as to what you and your mentor think you will be doing. It is not meant to be a hard and fast schedule for your Exploration. The plan should illustrate how you intend to complete a minimum of 80 hours.


 * = Date ||= Location/Activity ||= Number of Hours ||
 * =  ||= Dover YMCA- Yoga ||= 25 ||
 * =  ||= Dover YMCA- Pilates ||= 15 ||
 * =  ||= Dover YMCA-Swimming ||= 17 ||
 * =  ||= Dover YMCA-Weight training ||= 19 ||
 * =  ||= Dover YMCA- Self defense ||= 10 ||
 * =  ||= Dover - Zumba ||= 8 ||
 * =  ||= YMCA-nutrition class ||= 6 ||
 * =  ||= YMCA-abs attack ||= 10 ||
 * =  ||= YMCA- Personal training ||= 45 ||
 * =  ||= YMCA-cardio ||= 45 ||
 * =  ||= YMCA-dance ||= 7 ||
 * =  ||= YMCA ||=   ||
 * =  ||= YMCA ||=   ||
 * =  ||= YMCA ||=   ||
 * =  ||= YMCA ||=   ||
 * =  ||= YMCA ||=   ||
 * =  ||> Total Number of Hours ||=   ||

=Journal Entry One= May 20th, 2011 I am, as of right now, 40 hours and almost three weeks into my Senior Exploration and let me tell you, it has been very interesting and difficult. I have tried to do a minimum of 2 hours of my exploration each day and it has been challenging between working two jobs AND doing the exploration. So far I've really focused on weight training, swimming, cardio and personal training. Learning about nutrition has become a daily experience as I now look at food and drinks on an entirely different level.Calories, grams of fat...I never realized how everything adds up and affects your body in a certain way. I am going to start taking more classes such as zumba, pilates, etc. I have tried a couple but have found that I really don't enjoy some of the classes I picked, or I find that I'm just to tired or don't have enough time. It's been a learning experience in not only my endurance, but also my time management skills. I am not worried about getting all of my hours finished before the deadline. In fact, I know that I am going to continue this sort of training even AFTER the explorations conclusion. Not only to get ready for college or volleyball, but in order to make sure that I stay healthier me. Even before officially starting the exploration, I had to set my goals for how I want my body to be by the end of the month- what wait I wanted to be at, etc. Then I underwent measurements etc, to see my starting point. My mentor has been a huge part of this experience every step of the way. Whether it be recommending a trainer, coming up with a food chart, or even just getting me a bottle of water, she has been an integral part of this experience. This experience has been incredibly eye opening and it is only the second week! I feel like I'm making progress and learning more about myself. I have been pushed to my limit almost every day and it has been so gratifying to see results subtly take shape. Literally.

Total of hours so far: 40

PT - 8 Swimming - 4 Cardio - 4 Weight training - 15 Nutrition - 9

5/21: Interesting beginning Jordan. If there's a crunch between working a job and doing the exploration..exploration comes first becuase that's why you've been given this time off from classes..not to start a summer jobearly, but to have time to explore soemthing different. Glad you are learning some new things about nutrition and your body..Mr. Bernard

=﻿ Journal 2:May 31st, 2011=

It has been an interesting two weeks but I only need five more hours in order to complete the eighty hour requirement. I feel almost completely transformed. I have lost weight, toned up and am eating a lot better. No more Dunkin Donuts for me. Well, in moderation at least. This last week and a half have been more focused. I made up my own workout routines to follow and a food planner. It has been different because my trainer has left it up to me to decide what I want to do. I have tried several classes but find that I really didn't enjoy them. I think maybe it was the pace and intensity that the instructers implemented into their classes. They were very slow and had hardly any intensity to them. I tried three pilates, yoga lassesthroughout the day to see if maybe the intensity and pace would increase as the audience changed but found that that did not happen. It was really a let down because I truly love doing yoga and pilates and really needed it as a stretch from the weight training and personal training I was doing. Swimming and my trainers have been really helpful though. When I come in on a day that I have not been scheduled to workout with them, they go out of their way to make sure that my hamstrings are stretched. My hamstrings have been such a problem with this whole working out process. I have learned so much about myself and have pushed myself more than I thought possible. I have seen and felt a difference. I am lifting more and more. The last five hours will be dedicated to getting the remainder of the pictures, weight training and really just pulling the rest of my presentation together.

Total Number of Hours: 74

PT- 11 Swimming-6 Cardio- 8 Weight Training-40 Nutrition- 11 Ab Attack-4 Pilates-3 Yoga- 2

=﻿Journal 3 - June 5th, 2011=

It has been 35 days, but I have managed to not only finish my 80 hours, but I managed to surpass them as well and answer my guiding question. I really spent this last week focusing and pushing myself beyond what I thought I could do. It paid off. With major time management skills and determination, I have finally finished my hours. Looking back on this experience, it has been a great opportunity. I have honestly learned a lot more than I thought I would. I even managed to get a visual aid, with difficulty. My presentation is all set to go. My mentor is currently on a college trip, but my PT, Melvin has been with me every step of the way and is proud of how far I have come. My lifestyle has been altered. I workout everday and am eating healthier. To answer my guiding question: no. I would not want to pursue a career as a fitness or nutritionist after college, rather I'd love to implement it into my daily routine so I can be healthier. I have extended my YMCA membership and gotten more PT training sessions lined up for the summer. This has been a truly eye opening experience.

Total Number of hours: 92

Yoga-4 Pilates-4 Swimming-11 Weight-45 ( 15 were with PT) PT-15 Nutrition-15 Ab Attack-5 Cardio-8

6/6/11 POL successfully completed. Mentor's report hand delivered to me. Thank you...

Note: Jordan also worked two jobs during Exploration and reported that this put a big strain on her time...we need to remind seniors that Sr. Ex. comes first and is not for getting a head start on summer employment. R. Bernard

Response to Mr. Bernard, I have been working these two jobs all year since junior year. My managers gave me a couple weeks off to finish my exploration. I gave my mentor a thank you note.