Tasks Concerning HMP

1. Career path: If you wanted to follow in the career oath of someone at your site, what would you need to make this happen?
If I was serious about this career I don't need to worry about if others feel I will succeed or not. Also, I need to take the appropriate classes in college for my major and probably transfer to a school that has a great program (veterianarian). Although theres many years of school, Dr. B said it was worth it in the end and he doesn't do it for the money, but simply because he likes being able to help hurt animals that need care.
2. Workload: How does the organization distribute the level of work among the staff? How equitable do you believe the distribution is?
Chateau Hospital doesn't have an abundance amount of staff so there is usually only about 4 others working, not including Dr. B. There is usually one kennel person who cleans the runs, feeds the animals, bathes them, and does all of the "dirty" work, and there is 1-2 desk people upfront depending on how busy the day is planned to be, and sometimes there are 2 technicians who order and assist Dr. B with patients. Throughout the day though, staff may switch out such as technicians and front desk ladies. I definitely do feel like the schedule there is very organized and efficient. All of the staff help each other equally, so there is mutual respect between everyone.
3.Tasks:What types of tasks are you discovering that you enjoy or excel at completing? Which ones are less attractive or fufilling?
Since I do not work at the hospital I am not allowed to touch the animals as far as doing procedures, etc. ,but I have filled vaccines before which is pretty easy to do. Also, I could bathe the dogs,but i prefer not to because most of the time the kennel staff becomes soaked by water and smell like a wet dog by the end of the wash.

Interpersonal Skills

1. Culture: How would you describe the culture within your organization (ways in which co workers interact or don't interact) and how does this fit your "ideal" employer?  I feel like my mentorship's employers work very well together and they use teamwork 99.9% of the time. For example, if a technician needs help with a spa, he/she will ask the kennel helper to assist with holding down the dog, clipping nails, etc. This attitude at work I feel is effective in order to get work done and I feel if you are going to work with others you should be a good team member and help others while doing your part. 
2. Collaboration: Describe the way in which the organization collaborates with other groups in the area.  Although my mentorship is not the only animal hospital in the area, Dr. B makes it important that he respects other clinics located near Chateau Hospital. Also, if there is a case  that is too serious for Chateau,such as serious surgery, they will send the patient to UGA to get helped. CAH also helps with organizations that deal with homeless animals and we help them get healthier to ensure they can find a home. 
3. Mentoring: In what ways have you experienced or witnessed either informal or formal mentoring taking place within the organization, other than the mentoring you are experiencing? Dr. B ensures that all technicians and staff are properly clothed and no tattoos are exposed for patients to see. He does not like the use of foul language or loud talking at the hospital, but yet when he does converse with his staff about non work business it tends to be informal use of language. The conversations among staff members are also usually informal because they have developed friendships from working together so long. When Dr. B is talking to parents of patients he uses "yes ma'am" and "yes sir" if someone asks him a question; when staff answers the phones, their voices are "trained" to be very cheery and pleasant at all times. 

Interview

10 questions I asked my mentor about my future career- Marine Biologist/ Specialist

1. Do you believe going into the career field of animals is a good choice?
Answer: Yes, there are plenty of opportunities in the field.

2. What do you think I can do to get closer to my career goal of dealing with animals or more importantly marine animals?
Answer: You should target more closely to the specific job, find someone that actually does that job and get their perspective. What is the up side to the job and what is the down side?

3. Do you think becoming a marine biologist/ marine specialist trainer will be somewhat difficult?
Answer: It will be extremely difficult because plenty of people like the idea of that job, and a lot of jobs in that field are decreasing- like Sea World will more than likely be shut down in 10-15 years.

4. What is a downfall of being in the animal field?
Answer: The pay is not generally high even when you have similar skills and physically taxing experience

5. What do you like about dealing with animals?
Answer: Since dogs are helpless animals and can't help themselves, its rewarding to be a self advocate for them.

6. Do you think I should go ahead and get my masters degree while I'm already in college(for my major of course)?
Answer: You should only do that if it helps you towards your career goals. That's why you should find someone with the job you want, it should be valuable.

7. Do you feel the marine science field is open/ big enough for jobs (for myself)?
Answer: I think its a very competitive field and you must be on your A game.

8. If you dealt with marine animals what position would you want to have?
Answer: I wouldn't mind being the head vet at the Georgia Aquarium because it would be a fun and interesting job.

9. Do you feel that studying the ocean and its animals are too broad and difficult?
Answer: I feel it is very important because we still don't know what is exactly out there. There could also be something in the oceans that could cure people of diseases/ illness.

10. Do you have any additional tips for me, considering you have your career already?
Answer: Don't quit. Even if it's hard or time consuming don't let anyone else talk you down and don't doubt yourself or you will never get there.

Reflection:  I feel that this interview opened my eyes to just how challenging my career field can be, and instead of sitting back hoping it will happen, I will have to work really hard and put myself out there. This also made me think twice about where I go to college at. Although I want to attend UGA, maybe FAU is a better place for my educational needs.

Reflections on my Mentorship

Describe the most memorable experience you have had this semester in regards to the Honors Mentorship Program?
The most memorable thing that has happened at my mentorship is probably when a Golden Retriever came in and both the owners and vet thought the dog had just swallowed an unknown object. Little did they know that the dog had gotten into rat poison; in the middle of trying to put an oxygen tube down the dogs throat they saw that there was so much blood in the trachea that they had to perform an emergency surgery. Chances were not in the dogs favor because the dog had too much blood in his lungs to live and he could no longer breathe. I saw how sad and stressed everyone was over the sudden death of the dog and it made me remember it so clearly. It also helped me realize in this field accidents can happen and sometimes you can only do so much to fix/help the animal.
What has been the biggest lesson learned during your first semester of your mentorship experience?
The biggest lesson I have learned through my mentorship is time management and how more involved I should probably be while i'm at my mentorship. I say this because my mentor is constantly asking questions, and although most of the time these questions don't interest me, I should engage more because I could actually learn something important.

How will you use this experience in the future? How has this experience changed your view of learning?
I will use this experience in the future by always engaging in coversation with peers and/or workers even if I'm not interested in the topic of conversation. Since my mentor knows just about everything he's made me see different sides and point of views for every subject imaginable; even when I think i'm right over a topic he can lead me to thinking I am completely wrong, and sometimes it makes me believe im not smart.

How has it changed your view of the career area in which you are mentoring?
Seeing how much work and dedication it takes to open an animal hospital, I realize how hard it is working with animals than I thought. Although dogs are not the same as dolphins or other sea animals, both still take a lot of time and care. I know going into the marine science field that I will have much work and time ahead of me.

Narrowing of the Final Project

I need and want to know this: (what is driving your research?)

What is your current essential question (has it changed from when you wrote it earlier in the school year? If it is the same, use that question for this portion of you proposal).

Other than the required website, what other tools do you envision to best show case your project (#4)?

What will you do for your "real inquiry" (see above #5)?

1.  The love and interest I have for marine life is the drive for finding rsearch towards my essential question.
2. How can studying past marine life/oceans help us predict the future of sea life/oceans? My essential question has not changed.
3. Other tools that I may possibly use to show case my project could be technology such as prezi, a video, or a slideshow.
4. For my inquiry I could watch marine life videos over the last few decades and also watch video interviews from marine biologist that answer/give me information on my essential question.

2 Reflections on my Mentorship

Community: Does the organization seem to be an active member of the community (however this is defined)? If so, how? If not, should it be and how could this be accomplished?
Chateau Animal Hospital plays a very active role in the Braselton community because of the amount of care and time they spend on animals. Dogs and/or cats are constantly coming in for check-ups, vaccines, spas, bordatellas, surgery, etc. Not only do they schedule appointments, but also dogs can get groomed or board in suites/runs. The hospital is open everyday of the week and not only provides care for any hurt or sick animals, but also provides shelter, food, and water for the animals when their owners are out of town. If the hospital was not available many dogs/cats in the community would be affected.

Time: How structured/guided is your time? How effective/ineffective does that make you?
Although I spend on average two hours a day at my mentorship, I see how the hospital manages their time. My mentor does not usually come in until 9 and when he does he usually has patients back to back for at least an hour. The hospital also schedules surgeries around noon to ensure all the patients are gone and they have no more appointments scheduled until later that day. I believe this is an effective tactic of time management;it ensures that there are still appointments throughtout the day, but also saves time for important surgeries or any other important tasks the vet techs or vet has to do.

My Essential Question

 Essential question: How can studying past marine life/oceans help us predict the future of sea life/oceans? 

Why did you select this as your essential question?  
Since I want study marine life and oceans in college I feel as if this essential question would be the perfect area to focus on and research.  What excites you most about finding the answer to this essential question? 
Although I already know much about dolphins, I still have a lot of learning to do, and I feel like this question will open my eyes to a lot more that I didn't even realize was is in the oceans. That excites me the most.
Do you feel that this question accurately reflects a desire/need that you have to find out more about this topic?
Yes, because since my area of interest in marine sciences I feel like this aims straight for my career field and could further my knowledge in marine life and the ocean as well.  Also, I know there is currently on going research about ocean life, and there is always an opportunity to learn more.