Final+Proposal


 * Background- ** For my Senior Seminar I am planning on exploring the treatments for lupus. My driving question will relate to how new treatments are better than old treatments, what new treatments have recently developed and how survival rates have improved. I chose this topic because I have been a member of the Lupus Committee for 5 years and I am interested in learning more about the disease I have been raising funds for. I am seeking to find out why there have not been many treatments for lupus created specifically for lupus in many years and how lupus "borrows" medication from other diseases to help treat patients.


 * Vision **- This project will make a difference by proving to people how difficult it is to treat a chronic illness and how it is especially difficult for those with a disease with little treatments. Also, it will make a difference to me. I have been raising money for those with lupus for many years and would like to see what sorts of treatments that money goes towards. My driving question relates to the treatments of lupus, which will be reflecting in my paper and my hands on project. The money raised from my hands on project will be donated to those with lupus and my paper will reflect completely on the treatments for lupus.


 * Goals- **
 * teach others about the treatments for lupus and make them realize how difficult it is to have a chronic disease
 * prove that there are very few new treatments for lupus and that those with lupus "borrow" from other diseases
 * raise enough money to send a child with lupus to camp
 * prove my thesis in my paper
 * successfully present my information in an organized fashion
 * Products **- To show that I have met my goals, I will give an adequate presentation on my findings. Also, I will show a chart of the money I have raised for the three diseases; lupus arthritis and diabetes. This chart will be a graph of a comparison of the money for each disease in which people chose to donate their dollar to. My fund raiser is going to be called "dollar for your cause." It was an idea brought up with little detail within the Lupus Committee (now known as Youth in the Loop) executive board throughout the past year, so I decided to pick up on it and make it my own. It will be a school-wide fund raiser to ask everyone to bring in one dollar to send a child with Lupus to camp. Since the committee is now focusing on 3 illnesses a year, rather than just Lupus, they may want to help raise funds for another one of our causes along with Lupus. We plan on replacing our previous "pasta for pennies" with this new fund raiser. So, basically, I am experimenting with it to see if it will be successful for years to come. I am planning on, instead of doing it by homeroom, doing it by b-block class. Most people are in school for b-block, including late arrivals and tech students. I would like to start it as soon as possible, definitely before the holidays.


 * Task Analysis **- I will definitely need the materials for my hands on project, which will be provided by the Youth in the Loop Committee. We are making containers to hold the money that we will be collecting and also making posters to advertise our cause. I am not 100% sure when my hands on project will be because we had to change the date, which was scheduled for October 26th. But, I would definitely like to be completed by holiday season. Within the next week I am going to get a group of committee members together to make the containers and begin advertising. Also, Mrs. Lewis will assist me with informing faculty members of this fund raiser. Also, within the next week, I need to get more specific information on the treatment types I have begun to explore. I need more information on "borrowed" medication also. I have most of my information from my thesis based research, but the more, the better. After I complete more reading, I am planning on beginning my paper.


 * Mentor **** and Topic Expert Analysis- ** My mentor is Ashley Gbemudu and my topic expert is Mrs. lewis. Mrs. Lewis knows a great amount of information on lupus. Her daughter was diagnosed about eight years ago and still struggles with the disease. Ashley is the president of Youth in the Loop. She is also very knowledgeable about lupus and is a good friend of mine. Mrs. Lewis has helped me find direction for my topic and gave me new research paths. Ashley has encouraged me to hand things in on time and to do the best I can with my research. I plan on checking in with both of them weekly to see what they think about my project and paper thus far. I am able to communicate with both of them in school and by phone.


 * Conclusion **- This project has great personal importance to me. I enjoy helping others and learning new things about where the money I raise is going. Completing this type of long term project takes great skill and patience. But, I believe that doing well is possible. I am building strengths in the research field and learning to work more independently. I need to make sure not to wait until the last minute to complete any part of this project. I have definitely learned valuable time management skills thus far and plan on improving throughout the rest of this semester.