Day 7: Research Projects by Guy Delgadillo

Today was a busy day that included both work and relations. We presented our research presentations and went to the beach to complete the sand study. The first of these activities taught me and my group the importance of research and timely collaboration, as we were only given one night to prepare the presentation and a few hours to rehearse what we had to say. The sand study on the beach involved reviewing sand from three beaches and comparing them in size, shape, and color. 

The question for my research group was how the Earth’s subsystems impacted the culture of Kiholo Bay. We remembered our time helping Lehua and the other volunteers at Kiholo Bay and recalled the stories they had told us. We were told about the numerous volcanoes, tsunamis, and hurricanes ravaging the coastline. During our presentation, we pointed out how these disasters had not weakened the morale of the people of Kiholo Bay and how the locals rebuilt every time. Although the topics were highly engaging, preparing this presentation was challenging because of the short time we had to prepare it. We also worked on it at night when exhausted from the day’s previous activities. However, this was a very important experience because it taught us how to collaborate and produce a product even when the circumstances are not ideal. Even though we were pressured, we could still finish our presentation in the allotted time. This is an essential skill throughout life, as many projects and tasks require working in an uncomfortable situations. The rehearsal for the project did go smoothly, and we quickly figured out that we were all comfortable with what we were supposed to say when presenting. The presentations were also a success. Seeing how other groups had also put together quality presentations that I could learn from was very encouraging. As with our group, the other groups were all prepared for their presentations. Preparing a presentation in only about four hours was definitely demanding. Still, I am glad that I was able to experience this now to know how to handle this situation in the future better. 




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 4: What Hides in the Dark by Macy Bargen

Image
Today opened my eyes. We packed up at the hotel back in Hilo and visited many landmarks before reaching the Preparatory, where we would stay for the rest of our visit. On our way, we stopped by the Rainbow Falls hoping to see a rainbow, but hearing the beautiful sounds from the crashing water instead. Next, we visited the Boiling Pots. We learned that if we had come earlier, the rain would hit the pools of water, causing the illusion of water boiling. Finally, the twenty of us climbed back into the vans, eager to get to the main attraction: the Kaumana Caves. When we first got there, we noticed the Banyan trees. Sonya explained that the wild chickens sometimes climb up and rest in this tree. I was already intrigued, which exemplified my desire to know more about the ecosystem surrounding me. I first noticed the smell when we finally made it down into the caves. The air was cleaner, but the rain still lingered. As I noticed my surroundings using my senses, my group and I began to explor...
Read more

Post-trip: Macy Bargen

During this trip, I learned so many important things. I learned about myself, my culture, and how the environment interacts with the natives. I found friends from all over, and I strive to rekindle these relationships if we ever meet again. Before arriving in Hawaii, I was a nervous wreck. I wanted to learn and have unique experiences but feared I would not make friends or enjoy it. I was exceedingly wrong. I made friends from all over the world, which only made my learning more enjoyable. This trip allowed me to realize most of my anxiety is in my head, and if I want it bad enough, I can accomplish it. I have had significant anxiety since I was a little girl, and I think this program helped me take the first step. I can now take control of my anxiety and do the things I want to do without fear of getting in the way. One of the reasons I wanted to go on this trip was to see the natives. My Great Grandmother passed away recently, and I realized I have never been close to the land or my ...
Read more

Post trip: Lindsey Billings

This week I learned a lot about myself and the importance of nature. Before this week, I had viewed myself as a positive person. However, this changed during the “kilo” period at Kiholo Bay. I had an opportunity to clear my mind and realized that I tend to trap myself in a cycle of negativity. The previous night, I had only slept three hours and was not feeling well. Instead of appreciating that I was in Hawaii surrounded by amazing people, I was focusing on the negative aspects of my day. At that moment, I decided I could not allow a lack of sleep to stop me from enjoying this incredible experience.  My time at the Dryland Forest taught me the importance of being in nature. Although our guide, Lehua, had only known us for 30 minutes, she felt comfortable sharing the story of her ancestors and herself. They had lived on the land many generations before she was born. She told of the struggles they faced when people destroyed their precious forest. She expressed her grief for the los...
Read more