Journals
The journals give me the opportunity to reflect on the progress I have made so far and what I have accomplished with my project. They also allow me to think about where I am in my project and what my next step should be moving forward. I have inserted a quote that is representative of each journal entry below.
Journal #1: "I am really hopeful about my project and the year to come. I think that the more I get into my project, the more excited I am going to be about it. That has already held true. I am more excited for my project right now than I was ever before. I am also eager to move forward with my fieldwork, as that is what I am working on moving through right now."
Journal #2: "Another thing that I hope to get out of my project and fieldwork is an understanding of different perspectives about Alzheimer’s Disease. I want to learn about the scientific, emotional, and physical aspects of Alzheimer’s Disease because based on the individual and the relationship they have to the disorder, they will likely describe it very differently."
Journal #3: "He has forwarded many interesting articles and updates to me, which I appreciate and enjoy seeing. Overall, I am so happy that I was able to find a mentor for my senior project, a great one at that, and I am really excited to work with my mentor and see my project come to life throughout the year."
End of 2020 Mini Journal: "I think that when I look back on 2020 I will focus more on what did happen and what I got out of it, as opposed to what did not happen. I definitely did gain some important things that I do not think I would have otherwise, so for that I am grateful. However, I am also looking forward to leaving some other elements behind in 2020."
Journal #4: " I was surprised to hear that after a certain age, everyone with Down Syndrome will develop Alzheimer’s disease. Also, I knew that people with Alzheimer’s cannot process and interpret the messages their brains receive, but I did not know that they could interpret emotion through music. I found this very surprising; people often use music to connect with patients with Alzheimer’s, since they are no longer able to connect through memories and shared experiences."
Journal #5: "In term 1 and term 2, my primary focus has been increasing my knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease, and while I will continue to do that during term 3 as well, I think that moving forward, my primary focus will be my fundraiser and increasing other people’s awareness of Alzheimer’s disease.... I really hope that everything works out, the fundraiser runs smoothly, and I am able to make a substantial donation to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund. "
Journal #6: "I think that the research paper is a very important component of my senior project, and it was very applicable to the focus of my senior project as a whole. It helped me learn a lot about Alzheimer’s disease and encouraged me to explore the connection between COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s, which I found fascinating. "
Journal #7: "I think that I have grown a lot personally through my senior project. I have definitely reaffirmed my interest in neuroscience, and I am so excited to have the opportunity to learn so much more about it for the next four years at Tufts University. I have also gotten a lot more confidence in myself through my senior project. I have always had a hard time being the first one to reach out and address a lot of people, but I am grateful that my project really forced me to do that."
Journal #1: "I am really hopeful about my project and the year to come. I think that the more I get into my project, the more excited I am going to be about it. That has already held true. I am more excited for my project right now than I was ever before. I am also eager to move forward with my fieldwork, as that is what I am working on moving through right now."
Journal #2: "Another thing that I hope to get out of my project and fieldwork is an understanding of different perspectives about Alzheimer’s Disease. I want to learn about the scientific, emotional, and physical aspects of Alzheimer’s Disease because based on the individual and the relationship they have to the disorder, they will likely describe it very differently."
Journal #3: "He has forwarded many interesting articles and updates to me, which I appreciate and enjoy seeing. Overall, I am so happy that I was able to find a mentor for my senior project, a great one at that, and I am really excited to work with my mentor and see my project come to life throughout the year."
End of 2020 Mini Journal: "I think that when I look back on 2020 I will focus more on what did happen and what I got out of it, as opposed to what did not happen. I definitely did gain some important things that I do not think I would have otherwise, so for that I am grateful. However, I am also looking forward to leaving some other elements behind in 2020."
Journal #4: " I was surprised to hear that after a certain age, everyone with Down Syndrome will develop Alzheimer’s disease. Also, I knew that people with Alzheimer’s cannot process and interpret the messages their brains receive, but I did not know that they could interpret emotion through music. I found this very surprising; people often use music to connect with patients with Alzheimer’s, since they are no longer able to connect through memories and shared experiences."
Journal #5: "In term 1 and term 2, my primary focus has been increasing my knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease, and while I will continue to do that during term 3 as well, I think that moving forward, my primary focus will be my fundraiser and increasing other people’s awareness of Alzheimer’s disease.... I really hope that everything works out, the fundraiser runs smoothly, and I am able to make a substantial donation to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund. "
Journal #6: "I think that the research paper is a very important component of my senior project, and it was very applicable to the focus of my senior project as a whole. It helped me learn a lot about Alzheimer’s disease and encouraged me to explore the connection between COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s, which I found fascinating. "
Journal #7: "I think that I have grown a lot personally through my senior project. I have definitely reaffirmed my interest in neuroscience, and I am so excited to have the opportunity to learn so much more about it for the next four years at Tufts University. I have also gotten a lot more confidence in myself through my senior project. I have always had a hard time being the first one to reach out and address a lot of people, but I am grateful that my project really forced me to do that."