Blog 12

Today at Family Medicine Associates, Dr. LaBarge informed me that the two medical students from Tufts would not be completing their internship with us, and that they would be transferring to some other area. This was kind of a let down for me, as my learning was somewhat amplified in the presence of the medical students. As I explained in my earlier blogs, the two medical students asked a lot of in-depth questions that really intrigued me. After Dr. LaBarge broke the news to me, we continued seeing patients. We had one man in his sixties who had just returned from a six-month trip to the Caribbean and was due to head over to Findland soon. Unfortunately, his health was in horrendous condition, and Dr. LaBarge and I tried to get to the bottom of it. After some questioning and running some tests, we realized that he had high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which were both caused by his continued consumption of large portions of alcohol. This man claimed that he used to own a brewery, and that he would drink beer nonstop all day years ago. He currently still drinks heavily, and this seems to be the cause of his problems. Dr. LaBarge shared with me that a hefty percentage of the patients who come into the office have problems that are largely caused by their high levels of alcohol consumption. If people learn to drink alcohol in moderation, their health would be a lot easier to control, and he would see a lot less patients.

Blog 11

During my experience at SCORE and at Family Medicine Associates, I have come to the conclusion that when I become a physician, I do not wish to practice in primary care. After shadowing Dr. LaBarge for several weeks, I feel as though when I am right out of medical school that I will want to have something a little more fast-paced and exciting, such as working in the emergency room, or in the intensive care unit. There are interesting aspects to primary care, however, I just feel as though I am more interested in other areas of the field of medicine. For example, I did think that identifying and diagnosing diseases, illnesses, and conditions in patients was an awesome process. When I was shadowing Dr. LaBarge, we would listen to the symptoms of each patient, and from my education through Anatomy and Physiology, Psychology, and Biology, I was able to identify some ailments in patients, and sometimes, Dr. LaBarge would even ask me for a diagnosis before he gave the official one. I find that process intriguing, however, I feel as though I will see more interesting, and a wider variety of cases elsewhere in the field of medicine. One of the cool aspects of this field is that there is so many options, and once one obtains his or her M.D., that person can choose to practice in whatever area they please, given that they have the required training to do so. For now, I am ruling primary care out of my career interests, at least for the start of my career.

Blog 10

Up until the third week of my internship at Family Medicine Associates, I had run into very little issues. However, this week, I ran into something I had not put a whole lot of thought into. After seeing several patients, I went into a new room for the next patient, and realized that it was someone I knew personally, and someone who I had gone to school with. I cannot and will not reveal the name of said patient, however, I was very surprised and had not anticipated running into anyone who I knew personally. This patient was not too bad, as I just watched the doctor examine an ear infection, but my episodes of encountering familiar faces were far from over. From that point on, whenever a patient came up who was around my age, Dr. LaBarge would ask me if I knew said patient before observing, which saved me from several awkward situations. Yet, things were somewhat trickier with adults who I knew, simply due to the fact that Dr. LaBarge would not read off every name of every patient we would see. I have come to the conclusion that if I somehow make it and become a physician, I do not wish to work in this immediate area, simply due to the fact that I would see too many people who I have known for quite some time. Being a physician seems like it will be an extremely rewarding career, but I wish to avoid the awkwardness of working with people I know if possible.

Final

Teak Switzer

Advisor: Nolan

SCORE Final Paper

24 May 2013

Starting a Small Business

Starting and running a successful small business is something that many people aspire to do. It sounds easy enough, but there are many important aspects that are overlooked throughout the process. Many entrepreneurs tend to jump right into things disregarding the little details that need to be planned out very carefully to avoid problems. Following a well thought out plan that takes an entrepreneur through the steps of researching, organizing, and planning ahead is a dependable way to lead to success in starting a small business.

Millions of people in the world drop everything they are doing to start their own business. For lots of those people, it was a great idea in their head and on paper but reality eventually makes its way into the plan. Many people walk into the world of small businesses blind, they do not realize how many details go into becoming successful. They only picture the small business owner of Toms who started his business in a small apartment in California only to end up a millionaire (Mycoskie 14). People forget about all of the businesses that they have been to that eventually went bankrupt. Today there are so many businesses, and so many ways to research them. New entrepreneurs should use that to their advantage, and analyze what happened to their favorite coffee shop on the corner that disappeared. By planning ahead, someone can clearly see where he or she wants their business to be in ten years, instead of just jumping into it.  

The idea of a small business seems like a very broad term, but it actually has very specific requirements. In the United States the Small Business Administration (SBA) covers the rules involving small businesses. Under the Small Business Administration, a business with under 500 employees is considered a small business (“What’s a…”). Therefore a small business doesn’t necessarily have to be a tiny little store, it could be a big company with 400 employees. According to the Small Business Administration, out of all the businesses out there, 99% of them fall under the category of a small business (“What’s a…”). There are many different sized companies under these standards, and there are also many different types of businesses. In today’s society not only are there physical businesses, but businesses online as well. Entrepreneur Jenny Davis and owner of Second Wind Sails, works mostly over her Internet website, opposed to owning her own physical store. She enjoys the fact that she does not have to deal with customers all day, and can work on her own time (Davis). An entrepreneur should plan ahead in order to start the kind of business that will benefit them the most in the long run, whether it is by opening up their own store with 500 employees, or by dealing with customers only through the internet with two employees.

Prospective entrepreneurs also have to ask themselves if they have what it takes. Entrepreneurship is not for everyone. In order to avoid failure, one needs to plan ahead and think about whether they have what it takes or not. One really important characteristic of an entrepreneur, or a business owner is to have a sturdy work ethic (“10 Qualities…”). An owner of a small business is usually the one who puts the most time into their business. They are usually responsible and liable for everything. Michaele E. Gerber, an author and expert on entrepreneurship introduces the idea that the owner of a small business really is the business. “It is a belief that says small businesses in the United States simply do not work; the people who own them do,” (Gerber, 1). It takes a certain type of person that will take on this big of a project. Another thing to keep in mind is that an owner’s attitude can really reflect on their business. If an owner is negative all of the time, than most likely their employees will be unhappy. Unhappy employees can lead to unhappy customers, setting the stage for what kind of business they run. Even less dramatic different types of thinking can reflect on a company, “If your thinking is sloppy, your business will be sloppy,” (Gerber, 5). Nobody is perfect, but a business will run a lot more smoothly if the owner isn’t greedy, negative or sloppy. One of the most important characteristics for a business owner to attain is competitiveness (“10 Qualities…”).  An entrepreneur needs the drive to go above and beyond other companies in the same field. Chances are, there will be multiple numbers of businesses that have the same idea, or sell the same product as theirs. They need the competitive drive to push themself and their company to it’s fullest potential. Without these personal characteristics, starting and running a small business is not impossible. These characteristics are what would help someone become even more successful. By researching and understanding what it really takes to be an entrepreneur, many people might be able to avoid failure.

One of the most important things that will lead someone to success in a business is finding the right product or service. Having passion for what one does will lead them on an easier path to success. For most people, finding what they really care about is the hard part, researching some already established unique businesses would help spark some imagination. Prospective entrepreneurs should sit down and ask themself what their dreams and aspirations are (Mycoskie 36). It is not an easy ride from here, but when someone loves what they do, it will set them a part from the rest.  The owner and creator of the idea behind Toms, Blake Mycoskie, speaks on the importance of passion, “The more strongly you feel about what you do, the more likely you are to push yourself to be good at it and find a way to make a success of it,” (Mycoskie 36). An entrepreneur should find a great idea within them, and get inspired about it. . It is also important to be realistic with those dreams, and make sure that whatever they want to sell is something that someone will want to buy (Taulli). Previous business owner of a small business called Untitled, Alexander Morris, had a difficult time thinking realistically when it came to finally pursuing his dream of owning his own business. He was quick to jump on his idea to start designing his own jewelry and money clips, to put in his newly rented store in a busy tourist town. Alexander spoke out on his biggest mistake, “When I started out, I thought tourists would buy absolutely anything. I knew what I wanted to sell, but I wasn’t being realistic.” His business was short-lived, only lasting six months due to the fact he just couldn’t get enough business to stay in business. Alexander did not even think about researching the businesses that are already in that area or researching what his customer market would be, he made the mistake of just jumping right in, (Morris). It is important for an entrepreneur to find something and get an idea that they are passionate about, but equally important to find an idea that makes sense. After the idea is planned out, the next thing to think about will be whether there is enough passion there to really get going. If one has passion for their business idea, than they will most likely be motivated to get to work and get started. Enthusiasm and excitement goes a long way. Often people start businesses for the wrong reasons and that is where they run into trouble (Solovic). If someone is running away from a problem by trying to find an escape in a new business, this often leads to failure and lack of motivation. Reasons for starting a business are directly related to one’s attitude. If someone is starting a business for the wrong reasons, often their attitude will be on the negative side, eventually leading to lack of motivation. Motivation is a key factor in keeping things going, especially in a small business (Solovic). According to business blogger Leo Babauta, there are eight main ways to get motivated. Most of his ways are consistent with the ideas listed above involving enthusiasm, inspiration, excitement and the importance of having a goal. Something to focus on and strive for motivates most people to keep going. What he really emphasizes is how hard it can be to get motivated in a tough time, whether the business is failing, or just someone is personally taking on a lot. The most valuable point he expresses is the need to have help. Humans are social beings, it is important for everyone to have someone or a group of people that can help pick them up when they are down (Babauta). Without passion and motivation in the life of an entrepreneur, they will not be able to push themselves to their full potential. By researching all the different kinds of products and services out there, entrepreneurs can make sure that they find something they love. 

            One way for someone to make sure they are ahead of the game is to research why numerous businesses fail so early on. In the United States about 25% of businesses fail within the first year. The most major causes of failure include lack of planning, not having the right knowledge for the business, and not having the right experience (“Startup Business…”). Looking at these calculations makes an entrepreneur more aware of the common problem areas. Instead of planning to fail, just plan enough to avoid failure by knowing the setbacks and paying more attention to them. Experience is extremely important in order for someone to know what they are doing and for them to be able to rely on themself. Jenny Davis owns her own business, Second Wind Sails, where she makes recycled bags out of used sails. When asked about where she learned how to work with sails she replied with, “Before this I worked with a sail company. I learned about the different materials, stitches and tons of little things that I use here day-to-day,” (Davis).  Before Jenny took the leap to starting her own company, she made sure that she knew what she was doing and had the right knowledge and experience to become successful on her own. Jenny emphasizes,  “It really is essential to have experience because starting a business usually means taking a lot of risks,” (Davis). Whether it is through a past job, or an internship, having the right knowledge for a specific area of business is the key. It would be a misconception to think that if a business survives the first year that it is home free though. At a companies fifth year of business about 55% fail, or go out of business (“Startup Business…”). The assumption would be that if a business has been working for years, that it will continue if the same standards are met, this is when many people run into problems. After five years of being in business, business owners still can’t really feel relieved just yet (Gerber 3). The “fatal assumption” would be to assume that since a business owner has the skill and everything is working for them, that they also understand how to run their business. A hairdresser knows how to cut hair, but does a hairdresser know how to run a business successfully? (Gerber 13). If someone’s business becomes successful even after multiple years, never assume that they are home free.  “There is no such thing as a mature business,” (Charan and Tichy, 241). The bottom line is that according to statistics, lots of small businesses in the United States fail. The things that put an entrepreneur above the rest are extensive experience and the ability to recognize common problem areas to keep their company running after numerous years. No one wants to be another statistic of failure.

            After someone has their idea and they are ready to go, the first things they will face are start up costs. When it comes to money, it is extremely important for one to be organized with their spending and saving. Depending on where someone is financially, it is time to start stretching money as far as it can go. One seemingly obvious tip is to buy things used (Torres). Whether it is a computer, a sewing machine, a desk, or even furniture, it will most likely be available for a significantly lower price when it is used.  Another great way to save on spending is to share office space (Torres). If someone is starting a business online and all they need is a computer and a chair, than this is definitely the way to go. Some businesses require their own space, like a retail store or a restaurant, but with a growing online market it is not always necessary. Overall the most important thing for an entrepreneur is to basically know what they have (Torres). Entrepreneurs should plan what they can spend to start up, in order to have money leftover to run their business from day-to-day. Entrepreneur Alexander Morris was very stringent with his money when he first started his business. He was able to find cheap seasonal space to sell his product, but he did not want to work everyday, or pay anyone because he could not afford it. He came up with the solution, which was to have a friend work in his shop for free in return for her being able to sell her artwork in his store. He could not explain in words how thankful he was that he did not invest his life savings into this business when it ended up failing six months later (Morris). Alexander was able to think creatively in order to cut down start up costs by getting cheap rent, and cut down day-to-day costs by not having any paid employees. People all over the world, entrepreneurs or not, are finding unique ways to cut costs and spending, each person just has to find what works for them and their business. Second Wind Sails owner, Jenny Davis, had an uncommon approach to selling her products. Jenny was able to skip over most of the startup costs that people face by not owning or operating her own physical store. Instead, like many people today she sells her recycled sail bags through the Internet. Not only does she save money on rent, but also it opens her business up to customers in other countries. In addition, she also sells her bags in well-known small businesses around the local area. Jenny had a difficult time at first, “I went from store to store with my bags in hand asking if they would sell my stuff. It was a really hard time, some people would tell me that my bags were ugly, others just politely turned me down but I didn’t give up.” It paid off in the end, now her brand can be easily found in high-end stores scattering the beach towns of Cape Ann (Davis). Researching what other businesses have done in the past to save money, can help a new entrepreneur plan out how they are going to stretch there money in order to stay in business.

Planning can’t be emphasized enough, that is why creating an organized business plan is a very smart thing to do. It is essential for things like eventually pitching to investors, to plan a strategy, and for the business owner’s benefit as well. It will help get the entrepreneur to think about the risks and to understand more what they are getting themselves into (Taulli). There are many components to a business plan, but the first portion for many entrepreneurs will most likely be the executive summary.  This is basically the outline of the grand scheme of things, and the plan. This will include what someone will plan to sell, and how they plan to do so (Writing).  This is an important step because it will be the first two to four pages that someone will read, whether it is an important investor or just someone interested in a business. It has to be interesting enough for that person to want to continue reading (Lavinsky). The next big section of the business plan will be the part that focuses on analyzing the customers and the potential company into more detail. This is where someone will focus on the more specific details about their product or service (Lavinsky). It’s important for them to identify what exactly they are selling. “The product is what your customer feels as he walks out of your business,” (Gerber, 154). You are not only selling a product, but a feeling, whether it is passion, love or power. “People buy feelings,” (Gerber 155). After that is clearly identified it is important to recognize the target market. “You can’t be all things to all people and still maintain your credibility and integrity,” (Mycoskie, 43). It is time to really narrow down to the type of person that an entrepreneur wants their business to attract. Prior research at this point can be extremely helpful. It is vital to show the need for the product or service through research in that particular market (Writing). This might also be where one would include their target market’s demographic model. This will allow whoever is reading it to really understand who their customer is, and who they are trying to sell their product or service to.  For example, some pieces of a demographic model would be certain traits or characteristics like the customers age and total income (Gerber, 155). This can be helpful for the business owner too because it makes the goal clearer, that way they really know who they are trying to reach. The third basic section of a business plan is the competitive evaluation (Writing).  In this section all competitors should be recognized (Lavinsky). Entrepreneurs should do some research and find the businesses online or in their area that are in the same market. They should find a company that sells the same products or services and compare the two businesses. Prospective business owners should identify the positive differences where their company will surpass another’s, whether it is higher quality or maybe even cheaper prices (Writing). Identify where one’s company will have an advantage over one of their competitors, by acknowledging what they are doing right as well as what they are doing wrong (Lavinsky). These three sections are not the only sections, but usually the first and most important ones in a business plan. Having a really organized and thought out business plan will help someone to run their business by keeping their goal clear in their mind, as well as on paper.

Once an entrepreneur has really gotten started, it’s time to think about a legal structure. Lots of people don’t think about this right away, but it is definitely worth planning out ahead of time. There are many different kinds of legal structures, but most small business entrepreneurs will be deciding between being a sole proprietorship or a partnership. When only one person owns and runs a business, this is considered to be a sole proprietorship. This is the most common structure among people just starting out in the business because it is the easiest option (Casmer). The best and worst part about this is that one person gets to make all of the decisions. They get to make the fun and easy decisions, but they also have to make the difficult decisions that will include some risk. There are a lot less regulations, and things in general seem to be much less strict (Casmer). This appeals to lots of people because it seems to be stress free compared to the hassle of figuring out all of the other possible options. Entrepreneur and small business owner, John Switzer speaks on his favorite part of being a sole proprietor, “It’s all about simplicity.” He enjoys the fact that tasks are much more simple, straightforward, and all around easier when he is the only one involved (Switzer).  Another go to legal structure for a small business would be a partnership, which is basically owned and ran by two or more people, instead of just one. This is beneficial because the stress and responsibility is no longer on just one person (Casmer). Even though it may seem more desirable to work with a friend or even just a business partner, it does have its downsides like everything else. “You can’t just do what you want, when you want,” (Switzer). Normally in a partnership, partners are required to run things by each other before making decisions or carrying out important tasks. Things may take longer to get done, and just be a hassle. Everyone is different; some people are more independent than others. That is why it is important for a new entrepreneur to research and plan out how they want to handle their business idea.

After entrepreneurs have their business set up and running, most automatically are looking to prosper and grow their business. In order for one to plan how they want their company to grow, they must first clearly understand growth. “Grow or die,” (Charan and Tichy, 241). There is good growth, but then there also is bad growth. Bad growth is a mentality when a business owner thinks they are growing, but in the long run is really not. Good growth is balanced and happens over time. This is the kind of growth that will benefit in eventually making more money (Charan and Tichy, 242). In human nature, growth as well as change, is something that excites people and keeps them going (Charan and Tichy 22). There are also numerous unique ways for someone to grow their business. One way is to analyze where the company is doing best, and expand that area (Charan and Tichy 72). If a business were to be selling bags and clothing, and they were making more of a profit in their bag sales, the best thing they could do would be to expand that section. Another way to grow that is becoming more popular today is to globalize (Charan and Tichy 72). Globalizing is as easy as opening up a website where a business owner can take orders from other countries and mail them out, thus opening their markets. Owner of Second Wind Sails, Jenny Davis was surprised at first by how many international orders that she received from places like Switzerland and all around Europe. “It really opens up a ton of doors for a business,” (Davis).

One last important thing to emphasize is organization through all steps of starting and running a small business. One great way to get organized and stay organized is by creating an Organization Chart. This can be beneficial especially to small businesses, even if it seems unnecessary (Gerber 165). Even if there are only four or five people involved in a business, a chart can keep everyone on the same page while increasing the overall efficiency. It is important that everyone knows what their jobs are, and what they are responsible for, and a chart can outline this. For example, there can be the owner or president that oversees everything, the vice president, and a couple employees (Gerber 173). If everyone has a specific job and position, it eliminates confusion.  If each person has a specific job, and it does not get done, then the owner knows who to talk to. If a couple employees are assigned one job and it does not get done, the owner does not know who to talk to about it, which is why clear objectives is important when running a business (Gerber 176). Not just from a management point of view but also with organization in general, it allows a clear plan to developing where there is less room for things to go wrong. It is also important to stay organized on a financial level and even just a personal level. If an entrepreneur has clear organized goals outlined, he or she will probably be less likely to forget what their purpose is. Organization is even important on a smaller level, when an owner is organized they can make sure to answers emails, pays bill on time, and many other little things that need to get done. Some general tips would be to use a calendar and color code whatever needs to get done whether it is to attend a meeting or respond to an email (Briz). With the technology today most smartphones come with a calendar, the option to download different organization applications, and even with the option to set up reminders on specific dates, which can be very helpful. The biggest thing to stress when it comes down to staying organized is to “do what you say you are going to do,” (Briz).  By just getting things done when they are supposed to be done instead of procrastinating, nothing piles up or gets backed up. Second Wind Sails owner, Jenny Davis, practices just this every week. Monday morning she will write a list of all of the products she needs to make and mail out by the end of the week. By crossing things out as she goes along she is able to see where she is in her progress and adjust accordingly (Davis). Without even just a simple form of organization many things will fall apart and deadlines will not be met.

Starting a small business may seem like a simple thing, but in reality there are many pieces early on that contribute to its future success. In society today people enter the world of entrepreneurship for so many different reasons. With the right attitude and idea, many entrepreneurs become extremely successful, but realistically in the end most do not. Avoid the common problems that new business owners face by researching what those problems are enough to be able to come up with a plan to maneuverer around these obstacles when and if needed. Developing a business plan, figuring out the finances and legal structure can seem overwhelming but with the right background knowledge and planning it will all fall together to help outline what one wants their business to grow into. By organizing through every step of the way, no detail is overlooked and everything gets done. Researching, planning, and organizing will play a big role in the success of a small business.  “Starting a business is a lot of hard work, but it’s worth it,” (Switzer).

Works Cited

Babauta, Leo. “The Ultimate Guide to Motivation – How to Achieve Any Goal.”             Zenhabits.net. N.p, 5 June 2008. Web. 27 Apr. 2013.

Briz, Brooks. “How to Organize Your Business.” Online video clip. Youtube. Youtube,     15 Feb. 2011. Web. 20 May 2013.

Casmer, Jeff. “Sole Proprietor Or Partnership? The Pros and Cons of Each.”          Webpronews.com. iEntry Network Publications, 6 June 2006. Web. 20 Apr. 2013.

Charan, Ram and Noel Tichy. Every Business Is a Growth Business: How Your Company             Can Prosper Year After Year. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2000. Print.

Davis, Jenny. Personal Interview. 2 May 2013.

Gerber, Michael. The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and        What to Do About It. New York: HarperCollins, 1995. Print.

John, Switzer. Personal Interview. 3 May 2013.

Lavinsky, Dave. “Key Components of a Business Plan: Part 1.” Businessknowhow.com. Attard Communications Inc, n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2013.

Morris, Alexander. Personal Interview. 4 May 2013.

Mycoskie, Blake. Start Something That Matters. New York: Spiegel & Grau Trade            Paperbacks, 2012. Print.

Taulli, Tom. “The Basics of Starting a Business.” New York Times 2 Sept. 2009. Web.

Torres, Nichole. “Lowering Startup Costs.” Entreprenuer.com. Entrepreneur Media Inc,   10 Oct. 2006. Web. 27 Apr. 2013.

“Startup Business Failure Rate By Industry.” Statisticbrain.com. N.p, 26 July 2012. Web.           27 Apr. 2013. 

Solovic. “The Right Motivation for Small Business Success.” Sba.gov. N.p, 19 Aug.         2011. Web. 27 Apr. 2013.

“What’s a ‘Small Business’?” Factcheck.org. N.d, 25 Aug. 20120. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.

Writing, Alexis. “What Are the Basic Components of a Business Plan?” Smallbusiness.

“10 Qualities of a Successful Entrepreneur.” Under30ceo.com. Under30CEO, 27 Sept.      2010. Web. 24 Apr. 2013.

Blog 9

One of the huge components of practicing medicine is upholding patient confidentiality. Basically, what this means is that patients’ medical records must be protected, and they have a right to privacy when being treated. What this means for me is that each and every single patient has the power over whether or not I have access to view their appointments. Each patient can surrender their privacy and allow me to observe, and they can also choose to have it be just the patient and the nurse/doctor. Physicals are off-limits to me because I am not medically qualified to conduct them, and they are usually very personal so patients wouldn’t want others observing anyways. When it comes down to it, this basically means that I cannot observe at least one third of all appointments, if not more, that are conducted by Dr. LaBarge. Thankfully, physicals are generally very repetitive, so I am not missing out on too much with regards to that type of appointment. But every now and then, I miss out on something interesting because the patient wishes to have privacy with the doctor. Now, this is completely necessary in the field of medicine, however, to me, it deprives me of opportunities. Another legal issue is filling out paperwork after each appointment. The doctor must fill out information regarding medications, appointments, etc. in order to make sure that they do not get sued for misinformation or malpractice or something along those lines. I had no idea how many legal concerns there were for something as simple as a check-up.

I finally got to ride!!

Of course on my last day of SCORE I finally get to ride! Finn (who is a horse by the way) was about to get taken back to the barn because his rider didn't show up.  So I was just kidding around and said "Hey if he needs to get ridden I could ride him" and the instructor turned to me and said "I think that is a great idea!" I was so shocked. I thought she was kidding but she was totally serious. So I went to my car and got my helmet (yes I keep my helmet in my car just in case for emergencies like this) and was the lead rider for the class. This class the riders are almost independent and are working on trying to tort off lead.  So I would demonstrate how to post in the trot and the kids would follow behind me and try to match my movement. After their trotting was done I get to show them what a canter looked like (they are not going to canter anytime soon). It was so cool to be the demo rider and show them how to do everything and to top it off I was able to ride the one horse I wanted to ride all alone. So it was a great ending to SCORE.

Week 6 Blog 3

          Since this is the last post for my S.C.O.R.E. project I figured I would just reflect a little on what I learned.

            Throughout the past 6 weeks I have learned about teaching as well as the importance of foreign language. Even though I do not plan on becoming a teacher I now realize that it is a profession that has become more of a possibility. Teaching is a profession that not only takes work to get ready for the lesson but they also have to learn how to deal with students. I never realized how difficult it is to do something as simple as getting a class or 6^th graders to quiet down. There is the exact opposite problem in the 9^th grade. This class is very small and it’s like pulling teeth trying to get them to say anything.

            My appreciation for what teachers do has increased immensely. I have always tried to appreciate teachers but being a part of the behind the scenes work has opened my eyes to all that teachers do that we as students don’t see. Using my knowledge to help others get better has only increased my passion for languages and convinced me that my plan to use this passion to guide me through college is the right one for me. I have to admit at the beginning I was skeptical as to whether or not I was going to be able to pull off a 12-page paper and presentation with this project. As I got farther into the project I realized that there is a lot to learn and that it was the right choice. I’m glad I chose to do this and I will always remember the classes that I helped teach.