This website discusses how I balance professional and personal success using the appropriate resources and experiences. This website has abundant experiences demonstrating the ups and downs of my personality, my professional career, what is happening with it right now, and what my career will look like once I have finished college and everything that has occurred during it.
Starting in August 2022, I didn’t know what to expect when I entered college. I didn’t know how it would change me or if it would change me for the better or worse. I do know that when I first arrived at SIUE, I was anxious about being away from home and not being with my friends and family anymore, but being in the C O D E S program helped me make friends more quickly and connect with people more, first starting with each other and then expanding our community to others. The first semester was challenging, but we persevered and eventually established a mentorship program for our research team with NCNW, formed our first partnership with an organization that will become more effective in the upcoming years, and met the chancellor at SIUE to present our research and our home away from home video for a showcase that I created with the assistance of my team and me as C O D E S Scholars.
I joined a fraternity in January 2023, and it was very supportive. Prior to joining, I had attended numerous rush events and had socialized with many fraternity members. However, in 2022, I had no idea what a fraternity was, so I decided not to look into it. However, after learning more about Greek life, I became more aware of all the benefits of joining and how they could improve the community over time. I restarted my youtube channel with interviews conducted around campus. I’m working to build my brand, establish myself as a content creator, and make a difference in our community. Everyone has the power to affect change, but I believe that only those willing to put in the time and effort will succeed.
As time passed, I observed that there were many occasions when some of us could meet and others could not, which did not help with what our goal and mission were about because we are a one-and-all team, and nobody gets left behind or shut out. We want to hear from everyone because we all have something to contribute to our team. We had to postpone various dates and ideas we had hoped to implement in the spring to the next spring as the second semester progressed due to time schedules not working for the team. We believed it would be ideal if we had a strategy to truly demonstrate, not just for us but also for the program and community, that when we choose to do anything, we want it done correctly and effectively rather than being something rushed and not thought through to the fullest of our expectations.
We have conducted additional research as a result of the delay, and we have made numerous personal and professional advancements. We received a $1,000 grant, and since then, we’ve been budgeting for our mentorship and gathering the necessary funds to start it up. We also met with the CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Alton, and there will be many more meetings before we can set up our program for the kids in a way that will be the best mentoring in the neighborhood while we are still college freshmen.
Since 2022, I have been in many things, such as fraternities, different internships, and opportunities, and I have been able to see different views as I have been in college.
What I appreciate most about this photo is how my team and I came together to solve problems individually and collectively. One of the things I’ve done individually is create videos. Over the years, as I’ve gained more experience in college, I’ve developed more questions and ideas about how I want to approach my videos. I’ve learned that having a script is important, but it’s equally important to avoid simply copying it word for word. Instead, I use it as a guideline to stay on track while allowing for natural creativity.
This script was a draft I had for when I first did my video. I wanted to see how the script has changed. It has shown how videos and storytelling can really be told with detail and also how much can be told without it.
Below is how the scpirt changed over time being able to see the beginning to the end and what has changed and also keeping the same message makes this
10% (skills for lifelong Learning b7) [Pursues knowledge and educational experience within projects.
This assignment helped me develop my teamwork and communication skills, pushing me to work more effectively and express my ideas clearly. I also learned to use visual storytelling to show my team and me a message about peer mentoring, which was a new experience. Next time, I would focus more on planning and seek feedback earlier to bring out our project’s impact.
(10% Oral Communication C8): [Develops clear, innovative central messages with significant supporting materials]
I created a rough draft video about peer mentoring, and while it’s still a work in progress, I believe it’s a strong foundation for something great. This individual product reflects my passion for highlighting that everyone can be a mentor, even if they don’t realize it. By helping others, we all take on the role of a mentor, and I want to encourage people to embrace that idea every day. The thing I want to change moving forward is planning my script more carefully to ensure a smoother flow and stronger connection with viewers so they can feel more engaged.
Here’s the video: 
Codes 320 vid 1.mov
30% Based on (Problem-Solving Skills b9) [Identifies and evaluates multiple approaches for solving problems within products.]
Our team faced several challenges while trying to engage with the kids at the Boys and Girls Club, mainly due to scheduling conflicts that made it difficult for many students to attend. However, this didn’t stop us; we adapted by organizing alternative activities for the kids who could participate, even if it was only 5 students.
As we focus on using visuals to represent mentoring, we’ve encountered another hurdle since we couldn’t take photos of the kids to showcase our work. We’re determined to find creative solutions, using different ideas to illustrate how everyone on our team had unique experiences despite being in the same group. Moving forward, I plan to gather more notes and brainstorm ideas to enhance our project and effectively communicate our message.
(10% Based on (Written Communication): [Helps demonstrate the context, the evidence, and the purpose]
In my earlier video, I explained what a mentor is and emphasized that everyone can be one simply by helping those in need. I aimed to make the concept of mentorship accessible to anyone interested, highlighting that it doesn’t require grand gestures—sometimes, just lending a helping hand goes a long way. By focusing on this simple idea, I hope to inspire others to embrace their role as mentors in everyday life. This assignment helped me develop my video editing and storytelling skills, pushing me to create content that effectively communicates the idea of mentorship. I learned how to present complex concepts in a simple and engaging way, which was a new challenge for me. Next time, I would like to incorporate more diverse perspectives and examples in my video to show its deeper meaning and seek feedback earlier in the process to bring my message all together.
(40% Based on Critical & Creative Thinking b2): Takes risks in projects and in approaches to learning to create new knowledge}
I believe I’ve taken risks multiple times in developing different products. Initially, I wanted my video to focus on my personal journey with mentoring, but I realized it was more important to relate to my audience. Making a video is already a lot of work, especially when you must ensure the audio quality and storytelling are strong. Since I couldn’t include footage of the kids, I’m getting creative with different visuals to effectively express my message to the audience. This challenge has pushed me to think outside the box and find alternative ways to illustrate the importance of mentorship. I aimed to show that mentoring isn’t difficult or complex; it’s about building great relationships and helping others, which can encourage those who may not have considered becoming a mentor. This assignment helped me develop my creativity and problem-solving skills, particularly in video production. I learned to think outside the box when I couldn’t include footage of the kids, prompting me to explore different visuals to tell my story. Next time, I would like to plan my visuals more thoroughly from the start and perhaps include a wider range of artifacts, like interviews or testimonials, to enrich the narrative and engage the audience even more.
In reflecting on my approach to engaging an audience, I realize how important it is to connect with them through relevant content. For instance, if I’m addressing those in the tech industry, mentioning how Apple has maintained its dominance can really grab their attention. I’ve come to understand that when I relate to my audience, it signals that what I’m about to share matters, even if opinions vary.
I find myself particularly drawn to speakers who express genuine passion for their topics or have strong public speaking skills. It’s clear that making a strong first impression is important; confidence and the ability to bring ideas help the audience grasp the importance of the message.
As I reflect on my speaking style, I recognize that I need to work on my confidence. Often, I know what I want to say, but I struggle with organization, which can make it seem like I’m uncertain. Moving forward, I want to be more structured in my presentations, allowing me to communicate my ideas more effectively and leave a lasting impact.
Over the past semesters, I’ve focused on essential principles that drive meaningful action—coordinating meetings with my team or contacting organizations to collaborate on mentorship. The goal has always been to find common ground, ensuring we respect boundaries while making a positive impact. One fundamental principle stands out: actively engaging with the community.
In my second year of college, peer mentoring brought this to life. Instead of just talking about mentorship, we took action. Throughout the year, my team and I worked with the Boys and Girls Club, mentoring kids who came after school. This was their chance to study, connect with us, and build lasting relationships. It became more than just mentorship. It was about creating bonds and making a real difference in their lives.
We organized teams and activities beyond surface-level interactions, allowing mentors and mentees to understand each other. What we learned is that effective mentorship isn’t just about giving instructions—it’s about sharing experiences and building trust.
While I’m proud of what we achieved, there’s still so much more I want to accomplish before I graduate. One goal I have is to improve how we communicate through images. Visual storytelling can open perspectives, helping people understand the importance of mentoring—even those who may not be familiar with it. Capturing moments from our work with the Boys and Girls Club, with diverse backgrounds and stories, can highlight how mentorship is a shared journey, open to anyone willing to lend a hand.
This semester, our focus has been on sharing more powerful stories. Whether you’re a mentee, mentor, or someone interested in learning more, our use of visual communication will help us effectively share our experiences. These stories are not just narratives but valuable insights that can inspire others to get involved in the transformative power of mentorship.
So far, my group and I have been doing a good job of assigning tasks and making sure that everything is finished. We are now divided into two groups, one of which is working on surveys and the other on visual elements. According to the article we were provided, we have undertaken many different strategies. For example, one of the fundamental principles is small is good, which implies that we should begin with the little things and work our way up. This is only one of the many things I am eager for this semester to develop further and see our project grow from a small to a large scale.
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