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SENIOR PROJECT
NICOLE CUSHMAN
Academic Reflection
The most challenging class I had ever taken in high school was Pre-Calculus in my Junior year. I had actually been one of the few students out there to enjoy math, but Pre-Calculus made me change my mind. There was so much new and unfamiliar material that was difficult to understand. I would spend hours on end at home studying for my upcoming quizzes and tests but I still ended up with barely-passing grades. My experience in that class helped me to never underestimate what gets thrown my way and to always ask for help when I need it.
I had moved from North Carolina in the summer before my Junior year. Beaverton High School was a huge change from my previous high school and I loved it because Beaverton had so many more classes and activities to choose from. I found out that Japanese was an available language and I immediately wanted to add that to my schedule. My teacher Miwa-sensei has been an amazing educator in her language and culture and I ended up loving the class in my first week. I decided to do the summer homework to jump to Japanese 3 in my Senior year and I now continue to enjoy the class.
I would retake AP US History if I had the chance. I had never taken an AP class before and I treated it like any normal history class. The material wasn't difficult but it was plentiful. As the AP test drew closer, I realized it would be more challenging than I thought. I received my test scores over the summer and got a 2. I want to retake that class and have a better system of studying a college level course and take it more seriously than I had. I know I have the potential to pull through with at least a 3 and possibly even a 4. I am now taking 3 AP courses and I will not make the same mistake.
Post - High School
The Future Me wants to have a rewarding career that I can wake up to every morning and feel happy about. Science has to be one of my favorite school subjects and I am in love with Zoology in particular. I envision myself working with and studying animals as a zoologist and possibly traveling abroad to study exotic animals.
Short - Term Goals
I hope to receive admission into to School of Life Sciences at OSU after my freshmen and sophomore year. Another option would be to get my general education done at PCC and transfer those credits to OSU.
I would like to find an internship at a company in Portland or in the surrounding area to stay close to home. Volunteering at the Portland Zoo or finding an internship there would help.
How I Will Get There
1. I want to maintain a 3.5 average GPA in my undergraduate years.
2. I will meet with my campus counselors and talk to the School of Life Sciences advisor about what steps I can take to help ensure my admission.
3. Once I have a firm grasp of college life, I will begin searching for internships or find work closeby.
Long - Term Goals
I hope to work full time in the field of zoology.
I would like to travel to other countries and work with collegues to study new and exotic animals. Japan would be nice because I will have learned the language and culture and be able to work in the environment confortably.
How I Will Get There
1. I will obtain internships to build my resume and make money with part time jobs to have the money to rent or buy someplace comfortable once I move onto my career.
2. I must build positive relationships with my professors and other people I meet to build my networking connections.
3. Research and apply to as many places as I can to have options and have a higher chance of earning the position.
Career Planning
1. What careers can you pursue with a Zoology degree?
I spoke with my AP Biology teacher Mr. Buckingham who told me that a zoology degree can open up paths to several different careers relating to animals that include zookeepers, veterinarians, and the most obvious being a zoologist. According to an article by Mark Hope Kramer, an animal industry professional from The Balance, zoology can lead to more specific studies such as the study of mammals, reptiles, etc. Acquiring a higher degree can even allow you to become a professional of a certain species. Other than on a strictly biological scale, zoology can mean studying animal behavior or lifestyle.
2. What colleges and universities have the best programs to help you enter a career in Zoology?
Mr. Buckingham informed me that some some colleges he knows of that have a good program for the animal sciences or biology are Oregon State University, Texas A&M, and the University of Washington. StartClass.com ranked the best colleges for animal science programs. These include Cornell University, the University of Florida, and North Carolina State University.
3. Where can you expect to find work as a zoologist?
By EnvironmentalScience.org, zoologists work for zoos, wildlife centers, wildlife parks, and aquariums as the most common workplaces. They may also work for wildlife conservation groups or in the field of veterinary medicine, usually for more exotic animals that the common household pet. Some may even be employed by colleges and universities for research and teaching. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics gathered that in 2012, 34% of zoologists were employed by state governments. Another 10% worked in research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences, where I hope to go.
My High School Experience
Self - Reflection
I know that I'll never forget my high school years. What I enjoyed most was learning Japanese and attending football games on Friday nights. When I move on to college, I know that I'll continue to learn Japanese until I become fluent because I have found the language and culture of Japan to be very interesting and I would love to visit the country someday. At both high schools I have been to, I've had an almost equal amount of fun at the football games, whether I was playing our fight songs with the band or cheering on the team next to my dad.
I think the one thing I could have done differently was to get more involved at Beaverton High School. When I moved to the school, I was really shy and wanted nothing more than to go home after classes everyday, finish homework, and relax until bedtime. I gradually learned of all the fun extracurriculars at the school and didn't act until tennis season rolled around in the spring of my Junior year. I would have made more friends at this school if I had done more, but it was difficult on me after I left North Carolina. It's a mistake I know I won't make when I go to college.
There's lots of helpful advice I would give to future classes. New students should learn about the traditions of their school and try to get involved in the various clubs and activities because it'll make their years enjoyable outside of all the schoolwork. A huge problem that I had, that I know most others had, was procrastination. I want to emphasize that getting started on your work early and turning in all of your assignments by the deadlines will greatly reduce the stress that comes with high school and free up more time for you to relax. To help, I recommend finding ways to get motivated and creative, and eliminate distractions so you don't end up dragging your assignment out longer than it has to be. My biggest piece of advice is to cherish the time you have in high school. Many people start looking into future careers and researching colleges to apply to, but I don't want you to forget to have fun. Build relationships with the students and teachers around you because it'll make a difference in your life as you prepare for college and beyond.
Computer Graphics Client Project
Computer Graphics was one of the most interesting and creative classes I'd taken. My final project in Computer Graphics 2 was to work with my own client to design and create an Instagram post, a flyer, and a brochure. My client was Javier Santiago and his business is Pet Photography. These are the final products of my time working with him.
Around the end of 2016, I began working with my Computer Graphics teacher to create an informative booklet about our school. It took me 2-3 months to make. The booklet was mass printed and used for an event at the school called Incoming Family Night on February 22nd. It was satisfying to see the final product and know that I helped create something for all those students and families transferring to Beaverton High School for the upcoming school year.
Marching Band & Tennis
I attended Northside High School in Jacksonville, NC for my freshman and sophomore years. I miss the school dearly and will never forget the fun I had in their marching band. I played clarinet for the band, an instrument I have been playing since the 5th grade. Band competitions were my absolute favorite events where I could hang out with friends, watch other bands perform, and perform with my own band towards the end of the day. It was an experience that taught me so much, musically and socially.
In my junior and senior years at Beaverton High School, I was a member of the tennis team. I have played tennis in the past and I wanted to play the sport once more before I graduated. All of the girls on the teams were great friends to me and we had lots of fun competing in matches and traveling to tournaments. It was a great way to end off each school year and also a great way for me to get active while having fun.
Northside High School
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