Client Project Reflection

I have really enjoyed having a client project for this class. It makes me feel like I am actually doing something of relevance and something that is practical, rather than just "busy work." But, I am also learning tons in the process!!

A lot of what I have learned has come from working with my team members. This has helped me to realize that everyone has a different perspective about things and everyone has their own individual talents. Once a group or team understands this, they are able to embrace the differences and create a magnificent product. Our group has gotten along really well and I have enjoyed getting to know everyone and finding things about them that I would never have known otherwise.

The best thing about this project is realizing that we are making a difference for Helping Hands and that they are finally getting rewarded for all the hard work they do every day and all the sacrifices they have to make. It is great to know that we are, in a way, giving back to them what they have given to so many needy children. I also think that another great thing about this project is the relationship that we have with Debbie. I have seen her a couple of times while shopping in the thrift store and it is just so awesome to hear her stories and some of the things she deals with every day. It makes everything so much more personal and really makes me want to do the best I can for the project.

The biggest challenge we have faced is the PayPal account. Our group thinks that this is a really great idea and that it really will improve the amount of donations given, however, Debbie and her coworkers are not quite understanding what it does or how to set it up. It is just hard having an idea that we know will really benefit the organization and knowing that it may not be put into practice. But I am sure that the website and the blog will still put the needs of Helping Hands out there and who knows, maybe even cause a donation increase!!

I have learned the necessity of having action items in the group's meeting minutes, the importance of getting to know the group a little bit before beginning the project, and how beneficial group work can be if used in the correct manner. In a lot of other classes when we have group work we usually only are in that group for that one class period and never again and that is really frustrating because you don't even get a chance to know the people in your group. However, I like the fact that we are working on our whole project for the whole semester with one group of people. This allows us to become closer as friends which will definitely help us really come together on the project.