Explain how/why you think you’ve grown in terms of the 21st Century skills that colleges and employers say are necessary

As I continue to progress, the purpose in personal growth of committing to a capstone project has become more apparent, in contrast to the view that the end product was truly the end product. My capstone project began on a concept of a tuner, a device which varied countless and has had centuries of perfection. In order to create a unique product which fulfilled the criteria, I was forced to innovate and incorporate new elements.

Another skill for which I've developed is planning. For most independent projects, setting aside a plan to execute is critical before actual work can go in. When one goes shopping for materials, it would be unfortunate to have to make multiple trips due to insufficient materials, but also to have spent way too much extra. Carefully planning out what the design will require is definitely the strategy to take.

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Project Summary

For my capstone project, I aimed to combine my two interests/strengths: STEM and music. My first idea was a tuning tool, but it proved too difficult of a product to make unique. The second option, which I have now committed to, is an LED circuit featuring a Piezo Vibration Sensor that lights up when I play my instrument: The violin. Taking up the capstone project certainly was not easy. In the winter term, I opted to join the capstone project, knowing that I had a multitude of other academia waiting in the junior year. It would be unfair to call this decision an act of confidence in ability, because I knew that if I could complete it with relative success, it could stand out on my college application. By the spring trimester, despite the fact that I had completed my prototype and had achieved fair progress towards the end goal, the burden of work afflicted me intensely. By April, the stresses of standardized testing and the start of the Tennis season gripped me. The goal now is to ...
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Why did you decide to take this capstone course? What are some of your initial ideas for your Capstone project?

Truthfully, I have always wanted to do something with the knowledge and skills I've learned from the classroom. Although it is possible to develop and do research on my own, having a source of guidance will increase the overall task and experience.  I've not yet settled on an idea or product, but have done some preliminary mind-storming. My primary interests are in physics and music, two fields rarely thought of together yet so closely attached. Music can be seen as a portion of physics that has been brought to the world of humanities; As you probably know already, sounds are waves that travel from a vibration source to your ears. This topic is intriguing to me and could be utilized for a design, for example: a string instrument tuner that is mechanical and functions off resonance, the phenomenon of two similar frequencies causing one another. One could pluck (or strum) the string and check if the bell of identical fundamental frequency goes off with it.  That's ...
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What do you hope to deliver on the final deadline?

The end of the school year is always a stressful but blissful moment. The burdens of testing lessened by the imminent reward of vacation. As for my project, I have not been able to devote significant time to tinkering and fine-tuning. Standardized testing coupled with athletics and music really do weigh me down for time. Although progress has slowed, I am still committed to my goal. By May 20th, I hope to be able to present a finished and working device; fully welded and polished product with no exposed wiring.
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