LoFaro

Name: Sandra LoFaro

Guiding Question: Will I be interested in studying political science in college?

(optional) Use this space to list possible activities, tasks, experiences. Remember everything you do should help you answer your Guiding Question.

(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 ||
 * = 5/2 ||= Senator Coons' office (Wilmington) ||= 7 ||
 * = 5/4 ||= Senator Coons' office (Wilmington) ||= 7 ||
 * = 5/6 ||= Senator Coons' office (Wilmington) ||= 7 ||
 * = 5/9 ||= Senator Coons' office (Wilmington) ||= 7 ||
 * = 5/11 ||= Senator Coons' office (Wilmington) ||= 7 ||
 * = 5/13 ||= Senator Coons' office (Wilmington) ||= 7 ||
 * = 5/16 ||= Senator Coons' office (Wilmington) ||= 7 ||
 * = 5/18 ||= Senator Coons' office (Wilmington) ||= 9 ||
 * = 5/20 ||= Senator Coons' office (Wilmington) ||= 7 ||
 * = 5/23 ||= Senator Coons' office (Wilmington) ||= 9 ||
 * = 5/25 ||= Senator Coons' office (Wilmington) ||= 7 ||
 * = 5/27 ||= Ashland Research Center ||= 1 ||
 * = 5/31 ||= Senator Coons' office (Wilmington) ||= 7 ||
 * = 6/1 ||= Senator Coons' office (Wilmington) ||= 7 ||
 * = 6/2 ||= Senator Coons' office (Wilmington) ||= 7 ||
 * = 6/3 ||= Senator Coons' office (Wilmington) ||= 7 ||
 * =  ||> Total Number of Hours ||= 110 ||

Journal 1:

So far, I have completed 65 hours of my senior exploration. It has been going really well and I am moving closer to answering my guiding question. I think I want to major in political science or a similar field. This internship has been a great opportunity and I will continue to work there through the summer. Today I met the Senator for the first time which was really exciting. My jobs include answering the phone, writing letters to constituents, calling constituents, case work, and collecting contact information of the fire chiefs in Delaware. On Wednesday I accompanied one of the Senator's liaisons to the Bio-Breakfast at Agilent where I met scientist from various chemical corporations. My mentor, Amanda, has been very helpful in assigning me work pertaining to my guiding question and allowing me to go to events which help me gain knowledge about the senators office and help me determine the answer to my guiding question.

[I'd be interested on your take of how closely political science prepares you for a political job. –Mr. E.]

Journal 2:I have almost completed 80 hours of my senior exploration. I am still really enjoying my work at the Senator's office. Recently I have been doing administrative work (answering the main phone) because one of the receptionists was recently promoted and the front desk is short staffed until a replacement is hired. I have also been collecting data for the Senator's staff and making spreadsheets. I spoke with my mentor, Amanda, again about me majoring in political science. She said that she majored in political science in college and she really liked it. I am still not sure about the answer to my question yet. Journal 3: I have completed the required 80 hours of my senior exploration. So far I have, done 110 hours. I am going to continue to work at Senator Coons' office at least through the summer. I have learned a great deal here and I am doing really well. I am being considered for part-time work as a Staff Assistant in the office. I will find out if it will work out in the next couple weeks. If I do not get the job, then I will continue to volunteer at the office this summer, which I am really excited about. Last week I went to an event at the Ashland Research Center honoring 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner, Dr. Richard Heck. I discovered the answer to my guiding question, which is I am not sure whether or not I want to major in political science, but I know I do not want to major in Education (which is what I was signed up to major in before my exploration started). I recently switched my major to Undeclared. I am going to take some courses in political science and in other fields of study my first semester and hopefully I will know what I want to major in by my second semester. 5/7/11 POL presented successfully in Meeting Room. Mentor present. Copy of mentor evaluation. Thank you written but envelope not addressed--she will get us the note in the addressed envelope later.

J. Ergueta