WA3
Eddie Arciga
English
Shannon Carter PhD
20. October. 2009
Proposal
As I finally narrowed my search down to a final question, I was able to think of all the ways I could approach it and I found that this specific topic can be one with a great potential. Many have wondered what drives a student to succeed when certain parts of their life are not part of the idealistic views that are set up for success. I know what influenced me, but I do not know if that same thing is what influences any other person. So that leads me to my final question, “How does someone’s personal History affect their own pursuit of the ‘model student’.”
Not everyone is always blessed with the perfect successful home all the time through wich many scholarly people come out of. Some have homes that are broken; some have families that do not support education because they simply did not get that luxury as a child. Others are so poor that education is such a far stretch to them that they just do not even try because they think they will end in ultimate failure and their hard work would be in vain. You always see the doctor’s kids or the lawyer’s kids as the ones who will succeed in school because they are set up to succeed. But there are those kids that work hard and despite all of their struggles in their life, they make it through and begin a new legacy for their families. Those are the kids who no one sees as the model students but regardless, something inside of them serves as a catalyst to continue through and throught that determination, they some of them accomplish their goal of being one of those model students. Through this project I hope to discover what drives those people who have lives that are set up for failure to succeed and excel far more than in just the classroom.
This to me is a personal subject because I was in one of those situations where success was not all lined up for me just waiting for me to take it. I had to work hard in various things so I could get to the spot where I am now. Through my parents being uneducated and the lack of money at times, I was probably not the one you would have thought to succeed in my class. But for me it was more than that, it was the burning inside knowing that I could do so much that kept me driving forward to my goals. In order to get there I had to strive to be that model student that is not only good when it comes to making good grades but also is a well rounded student. As a member of the band, football team, powerlifting team, track team, UIL science team, and other clubs and organizations, I found myself busy up to my neck. Not only was there all that but I also had to work on the weekends I was free in order to have all the money I would need to go to all the extra curricular things I was involved in. That took a lot of time off of my day and I was always really close to my breaking point, but somehow there would always be someone who would encourage me enough to serve as a boost to keep going. My drive was to make something of myself, and that is what kept me going through my high school years. The work load was tremendous but in the end it was worth every second of doing it all and I know if I had to, I would gladly do it again. The questions I ask are questions that I would ask myself about my experience through high school. I would start off by asking what all they were involved in, if they had a long term goal they wanted to achieve, where they were born, were their parents educated, and stuff like that. All these questions pertain to the essential part of how their life may have been more difficult than others to succeed.
My targets in this research are all those of whom may have had a difficult journey to having success as a well rounded scholar. Those that had no chance according to the society’s expectations but yet made a great run to get where they may be now. As a fellow classmate of many of the people I will be interviewing, I will approach them through a meeting and ask them if they would be interested in being in my research project. I would explain in detail all that I am trying to accomplish and not leave anything out. I would tell them what to expect from the questions that I may ask them during our interveiw so they would not be taken by surprise on any of the questions. I would ensure them that if a question made them feel uncomfortable we would gladly move on to the next question and continue. I would assure them that the research is being taken seriously and that all that they will provide me will serve as a tool in trying to find the thing that drives people to success. While doing this I would be calm and make sure they understand everything that I am saying to ensure there is no miscommunication between us.
When I am done with all the interviews, I will start to compile all the information together and finding the answer to my question. I will look from the habits of all the interviewees to the beliefs of each person. By doing so I hope to find a connection somewhere so I may draw a conclusion to the question of what drives them to working towards being a model student.
As for the permission, I plan to make an appointment with Dr. Green so we can discuss my project and see if he will allow me to do some of my interviews among the Honors College students. Not only will I ask him for permission but I will also ask each individual for their permission to interview them as some of my possible interiewees do not go to Commerce. After I obtain permission, I will go in search of those who fit the criteria within the Honors College and then go to my friends and ask them to be a part as well. I will set up meetings with each indiviual person at a pace of their convenience where they feel most comfortable so my interview can be most effective. By asking questions and recording the conversations I will later analyze what everyone said and try to draw a conclusion from which seems close to what they all indsiviually said in the interview.
This research to me was brought up through Brandt when she compared the two people of which one was set up for success and the other one was not. It showed the difference in the ease of one to further his education as the other had to go the extra mile to further hers. That and my personal experiences sparked this project to which I believe will help people understand that it is not always who is in the spot for success that succeeds but that in order to succeed, you must have a drive to get you there and that in the end is worth more than being set up for success. In the end being able to find a correlation in similar interest towards striving for that “model student,” may help even teachers motivate some students towards working for that same goal.
Eddie Arciga
(903)335-6974
I understand that I am being interviewed and recorded for an ethnographic research project conducted by Eddie Arciga for English 102-H taught by Shannon Carter PhD. I agree to let him use the interview to write a paper for the class. It will not be used for any other purpose.i have been informed that if I am at any time uncomfortable, I do not have to anser the question or I can ask for the recorder to be turned off. I am aware that I may request a pseudonym to be used. By signing, I agree with all the terms stated on this form.
Do you agree to participate in the interview? YES NO
Can the interview be recorded? YES NO
Should a pseudonym be used? YES NO
Signature of participant: Date:
Eddie Arciga
(903)335-6974
I give permission for Eddie Arciga to conduct a study among his fellow classmates in the Honors College for his ethnographical project for English 102-H instructed by Shannon Carter PhD. By agreeing to this I am aware that this research is only to be used in his project and in no other place. I am also aware that he will be conducting interviews upon his research question to which he has thoroughly discussed and explained to me. I also understand that if these guidelines are not followed I am allowed to take any action of my choice.
Signature: Date:
Questionaire:
- What all activities were you involved in as a High School Student?
- Would you consider yourself well off, average, or below average economically?
- What was your favorite subject in school?
- How many hours did you put in to extra curricular activities during the average week?
- Why were you involved in the extra curricular activities?
- Did your parents support your studies?
- Did you work? If so, why ?
- What grades did you maintain yearly?
- Did anyone outside of the family encourage you?
- What made you want to succeed?
- Were there any problems in your road to be where you are now? If so, what were they?
- What is the one thing or things you believe helped you succeed?
- What do you think is the reason people decide to continue with their goals and dreams in situations like yours?
