Today was my last day here at FPG :(. This morning, I got a crash course in implementation and research design. We also went through the mathematical background of the evaluation process once data has been collected. In addition, we discussed the pros and cons of different research methods. As you can see in the sticky notes below, images came in quite handy when trying to grasp these abstract concepts I have not yet been exposed to. However, I saw that many of the graphs and equations held many similarities to those I have seen in my math and science courses at CA. It was definitely eye-opening to see what I have learned in high school come into play in a field I am interested in pursuing.
Next, we reviewed the edits I had made to the rough draft of Mr.Holland’s book chapters yesterday. It was an amazing experience to see a professional confirm my ideas and use my suggestions to make edits to his own work. As I had felt many times throughout the week, I really was an active part of the team here at FPG.
On day one, we had discussed grant writing and budget creating and today I really got to see the difficulties involved in those processes. Due to employment by the state as well as money coming from different private funders, it can be difficult to figure out where you can spend money, where that money comes from and who needs it. While I am personally not interested in business, I now understand how having a good grasp on financial management is vital to any field.
We then took a break for lunch and headed to a local pizza restaurant. We were joined by two other researchers who I had been interacting with throughout the week through meetings. I loved getting to hear different peoples experiences in the field as well as their journies to get to where they are now. This definitely expanded my horizons even more and gave me even more paths to think about pursuing.
To wrap up the day we had one last phone call “meeting” with the business manager of a programming company that FPG works with. I again was exposed to the importance of financial planning, this time between two different companies.
Overall, I had an amazing experience and learned more than I ever could have anticipated. Everyone has been so kind and welcoming, allowing me to feel comfortable since the moment I stepped inside. I am certainly going to miss working here every day, but I am excited to see what next week has in store for me!