Final Reflection

 

    Here at SUU, they have an EDGE program as a required class to graduate. EDGE is the school of integrative and engaged learning where it focuses on project-based learning and stands for Education Designed to Give Experience. It’s a very student-centered program which helps provide us with more experiences to help prepare us for the future. I feel it is required to help provide us, the students, to achieve a professional or personal goal. They provide us with support and guidance in order for us to become successful. By having experiences through our chosen projects, we are able to grow academically, personally, and even professionally. This is to help give us an “EDGE” when it comes to finding a job after graduation.        

    When trying to decide what to do for my EDGE project, I was at first thinking along the lines of doing something to help me professionally. I’m studying to be an ELEM/SPED teacher and was thinking it would be beneficial to be a tutor or help out in a SPED or ELEM classroom in any way they needed. As much as I would have loved to do that over anything else, I was figuring out that between the time already spent during the day with school/homework and 2 jobs, that wasn’t very plausible. So I had to begin thinking of a project in another direction. Then an idea popped in my head to do some form of charity work. I’ve always wanted to become a better person in that way but haven’t put forth much effort towards doing so. I remembered an old roommate of mine from a few years ago made a few beanies and I thought they were so cool. I wanted to learn how to make them but never did at that time. So for this project, I ended up deciding to make beanies that I could donate to those less fortunate. I can’t imagine how hard life can be at times to some people who don’t have very much. Winter is one of my least favorite months because of the cold. I hate the cold! I can never get warm and it can get miserable at times. By donating these beanies to those in need can help keep them even just a little warmer during harsh, winter weather. 

    I started off by going to the store to grab the supplies I needed to successfully accomplish this project I have chosen. I found all the supplies I needed in one simple set that came with 4 different sized looms, a needle, and a hook. Then I bought all kinds of yarn varying in color and style (the feel of it). I had never made one before so I first had to read the directions and follow them as I started. It didn’t take me to long to learn and get it down. I was able to gain a new skill and it has also inspired me to eventually learn more complex skills at some point in my life. I think learning other new skills will be fun because then I can donate other homemade items than just beanies. Before I began this project, I never set a specific goal of how many beanies I wanted to make but I am very satisfied with how many I did end up making within all those hours. In the end, I can’t remember exactly how much I ended up making, but guesstimating the outcome I would say it was probably around 50-60 beanies. There was a wide variety of beanies to accommodate to the different genders and ages/sizes. My favorite ones to make were the baby ones; they were so adorable and tiny. Overall, I’m pleased with the goal I chose and the outcome of it.