Self Reflection

(1) How do you think you are doing so far in your senior project and why?  AE, P, AP, CR, or NC
So far into my Senior project, I believe I am at an AP. That is because I am struggling with my service learning. With my research, I believe I am at a P.
(2) What one thing do you think you have done well on and why?
I should have done better on trusting my first option for service learning. If I had a backup from the beginning, I would not have been in a tight spot.
(3) What is one thing you would like to improve on and why
Finding a Service Learning in order to complete my necessary requirements.

Science Fair Proposal

My hypothesis:  If a certain type of protein is digested, then there will be a higher rate of denaturation that takes place.

Independent variable (manipulated): Types of protein (beef, chicken, whey protein powder)
Dependent variable (produced): enzymatic activity (mass [kg] lost during denaturation)
Control: Grams of protein, synthetic stomach acid concentration

My science fair project imitates how employees at gyms stay fit: they know what the best available protein is as well as a proper fitness regimen. Since my senior project topic is "24 Hour Fitness®", and I am learning various aspects of being a part of that company, I have learned that my own fitness level plays a part.  I would like to model proper habits for gym members and employees. 

Project Category: Chemistry

What I've Learned So Far

I have learned that in order to sustain any successful business, you need to subconsciously reel in customers by making sure they are satisfied each time they enter and exit out the door.

The 24 Hour Fitness Service Promise, which is a set rule for all employees states, "contribute to running a clean, friendly and well maintained club, and executing the team member basics of being on time and complying with the dress code".

On Sari Hardyal's "How to Manage Fitness Clubs" eHow article, it states "Treat club members the way you would like to be treated. Respect them, and build rapport throughout your club. This helps retain members and attract more."

Hardyal, Sari. "How to Manage Fitness Clubs | EHow.com." EHow | How to Videos, Articles & More - Discover the Expert in You. | EHow.com. Web. 27 Oct. 2011. <http://www.ehow.com/how_5663583_manage-fitness-clubs.html>.

Independent Component 1 Plan Approval

For my independent study component, I plan on  filing papers, shadowing meetings held with employees, and making sure the 24 Hour Fitness club is nice and tidy.

I should be able to complete all 30 hours if I am patient and go according to my schedule, which has still not been given to me yet.

I should be trying out different methods of "managing" by shadowing, and see for myself which method was the "most efficient"

Defining the Essential Question

My Essential Question is "What is the most efficient way to manage a 24 Hour Fitness® club?". It is simple and straight forward but needs some clarification because 'most efficient' and 'manage' can be general.


By "most efficient" I mean "economical to use". This means "achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense". Even simpler, it means "Most Profit, Least Loss".

My possible answers:
By creating a workforce with employees who can use their skills to reel in customers and a manager with the talents that allow him or her to make the right moves in the market, along with other managers of the 24 Hour Fitness firm, in order to defeat competition.
 
My most important source has been 24 Hour Fitness® Manager Walleed El Sherif.

Second Interview Questions

Q. I know that in order to work at 24 Hour Fitness, one must be above the age of 18. Does that mean I will not be doing my service learning here?

Q. My main focus during my service learning is watching you manage this business. Will it be a hassle to have me following you around all day?

Q. Can you teach me how to create a business plan?

Q. Is there any type of waiver or agreement that can be signed to allow me to work/ volunteer at 24 Hour Fitness, even though I am one year below the requirement?

Q. Some days seem more stressful than others when you are on the job. Like a doctor, you never know when there might be a day were you have a lot of work on your hands. What precautions do you take when you realize that "today is going to be a long day"?

Presentation Reflection

My interview gave me a more descriptive image of how Walleed manages his 24 Hour Fitness. I knew the technical methods of managing a gym, but hearing Walleed speak of it himself made the process sound more realistic and critical. For example, one of the steps mentioned about managing a 24 Hour Fitness was creating a business plan. I thought a business plan was just a way of making sure your business is flourishing in the current state of the economy. It turned out that a business plan is literally a document that contains elements like: Description of business, Competition, Business insurance, Loan applications, Balance sheet, Breakeven analysis, Profit and loss statements, Three-year summary, & Tax returns.


During my 5-minute presentation, I made sure I stressed on the procedures of beginning a business. I gave more simple necessities that a business depends on, but that didn't specifically belong to the "fitness business". The reason I did that was in order to be able to fully present the specific procedure later on in other presentations. (According to Mr. Purther, anything that was discussed in this presentation is not to be repeated again in any other presentation.)


I had a hard time trying to figure out how to schedule an interview. Every time I would call, the manager would either be in a meeting, out to lunch, or on vacation!

Senior Project Presentation 1

Objective: The students will learn what a manager’s main roles are in a business.

Procedure: First, I will begin with an introduction of why I chose my topic and my best resource for help. Second, I will ask questions regarding whether or not students have an understanding of business in general or not. Third, I will begin to use my binder prop to help my audience understand the main roles of a manager in a business. Then, I will ask a few more questions. Last, I will exit out in theater format.

Check for Understanding:

                What are the main roles of a business manager?

·         Investigate the economic conditions

·         Conduct extensive market research

·         Prepare a detailed business plan

·         Adopt a team approach

·         Understand the skills and qualities you bring to your business.

What is the difference between economics, business, and accounting?

·         Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

·         A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers.

·         Accountancy is the process of communicating financial information about a business entity to users such as shareholders and managers.

Resources/ Materials: I will bring candy for those who answer questions in order to motivate the audience to give feedback. My prop will be a binder.

Interview Check

 Interview

I am going to interview a Fitness Personal Trainer who is available at 24 Hour Fitness at the time I visit. I was able to arrange this by speaking to the Club Manager at the West Covina 24 Hour Fitness. The reason I will be interviewing him/her is because they are specially trained to help their customers with reaching their exercise goals. Some possible results are: weight loss, muscle gain, balance, flexibility, and a boost in confidence. I am going to target at getting answers about weight loss, muscle gain, and confidence since those are three changes I personally encountered.

Questions To Ask

"What are some of the techniques you focus on when personally training someone?"
"I heard the elderly have a harder time losing weight and gaining muscle. Is that true? Can you still train them effectively?"
"Why do you think an improvement in one's diet and exercise helps boost confidence levels?"
"How do you measure self-confidence?"
"What are some success stories of people who had their lives turned around because of exercise?"

"What are failures you have encountered in helping people?"

My Topic & Goal

About My Topic

My project for the year is Self-Confidence & Exercise because of the personal commitment I have taken in setting them into my life. I have learned that these two additions in my life have caused a positive enhancement in my abilities to be a better person; meaning a mentally, physically, and emotionally stronger individual. I have accomplished a rise in my own confidence, which was a direct result of proper exercise, resulting in a better perception of myself, others, and the world around me. Although I have personally set even more goals for myself to accomplish in the future, I realize that since this is certainly one of the greatest achievements I have had, I chose it to be my Senior Topic for detailed studying and researching for the upcoming year.

My Desired Accomplishment

By the end of my Senior Year at International Polytechnic High School, I would like to have accomplished the following:

• Solid evidence that supports my theory (Exercise increases Confidence).
• An increase in my OWN Self-Confidence due to the results of physical exercise.
• Convince a number of people to include Exercise in their lives for the purpose of confidence boost