“How does it feel to be done?” – AACS

Dear Sophomore Biomed Students,

After going through Innovations of Medical Sciences class, we realize that we as a group have grown into future, doctors, engineers, and business women. The DAP cornerstone project was not easy, so we would like to give you some words of wisdom. Hopefully what we have to say will make you feel a little better about this upcoming year, but also open your eyes to what could happen if you don’t get yourself together.

Have fun.

 

Throughout this course I have learned so much new information about the human brain and key body structures. I have especially gained new knowledge about the joints of the body and their functions. I also learned a lot about myself and the way I work with others. I tend to become a control freak, and tell people what to do a lot. This project has brought this issue into view, and I will now focus on working on in projects to come. Some advice I will give you is to breath and make a plan, with a plan everything is set out. Without a plan you can fall behind on tasks at hand. Another piece of advice would be to communicate with your teammates, even though you might disagree with them. At the end of the day it’s a team project and everything must get done. Helpful resources include your teacher, other classmates, and acceptable resources. Your teacher will help in providing great and credible resources that you can use to assist you in your project, just don’t be afraid to ask for help. Other people, such as your teammates can help when you don’t understand something and give you guidance. Acceptable resources can be found online, you just have to search for them. Use as many as the resources given to you as you can and stay on track.

 

Working on this semester long project can cause lots of problems with annoying people. At times we would have lots of disagreements with each other based on conflicting ideas. Sometimes it can set back the work just a bit so you can fix the problems between each other. None of us were innocent in the disagreements because we all went through a little moment with one another, and it’s okay. Being together every other day can start to become too much especially if you don’t really know much about them. At times like these it’s helpful to take a step away and just talk. Instead of raising voices and getting attitude, just close your mouth and think if it’s worth it.  Most of the time it’s a small detail in the big picture. So while you feel the need to start fighting about who’s in charge of slide #10 remember that it’s not worth stressing over because in the end the presentation will be great and your team will be amazing. In the end you’ll make new friends, people you knew but didn’t really know and soon they’ll become someone you can’t go through school without.

In the beginning of the real-deal DAP, I was appointed the position of team leader for my group. It stressed me out a little because I hadn’t worked with any of the people in my group. I was also worried about not being able to answer my team’s questions and not being able to be the leader under pressure. Luckily, I got used to being “Boss-Lady” and was able to get everything done with my group. However, when April came around and our prototypes, proposals, and presentations had to be submitted, I was very frazzled. I kept trying to do everything by myself, which led to a slowdown in productivity within my group. I still wasn’t sleeping when one of my group members told me I had to delegate. I had to be able to assign jobs to the other three people in my group so that I could focus on keeping everyone on task. My advice: If you’re drowning in the work, it is likely that one of your teammates needs something to do.

 

We wish you the best of luck on this big year. Just remember that this is supposed to be a new experience that tests your ability to research and present a topic you know little to nothing about. Do your best.

AACS

Annabel, Anabel, Cynthia and Savannah