Literal:
I started looking for service learning a couple of weeks into the summer. At first I began looking for service learning that would apply to WWII reenacting. I first sent an e-mail to the commander of the 35th infantry reenacting unit, this yielded no response. So, I moved on to the commander of the 442nd RCT (regimental combat team). Me and Tim Kano (kanowarrior@yahoo.com) exchanged several e-mails and he explained to me the costs of even going to WWII reenactments, (most of which are private) and this caused me to reconsider my idea of using WWII reenacting for my senior project topic.
I then spent a few days thinking of new ideas I could possibly use. I came to the conclusion that I would do video game critique or journalism. I proceeded to contact Jon Tronnity (Jontronnity@gmail.com) of NormalBoots.com as I was already familiar with the video game reviews he uploads to YouTube. After several e-mails with no response I concluded he was unlikely to answer. I decided to contact Stan Burdman, another critic I had seen, via YouTube's Private messaging system (his YouTube page can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/user/stanburdman). I then contacted a couple other YouTube video game critics, including: AngryJoeShow and SourceGameReview, These yielded no response. However, StanBurdman replied that he would only be able to help me by giving me help on my own critique's rather than being a more physical mentor. Not sure whether this would fulfill the requirements I asked Mr. Purther about it. He told me that the senior team felt it would fall more under the category of independent component rather than service learning. He then gave me the information to a past senior (a Ryan M) who had done a similar project. I asked him if he would have any suggestions for my situation, he told me that he had gone to the Poly Post up at Cal Poly and he had written for video game review website.
I proceeded to contact the editor in chief of the Poly Post (E-mail: editorinchief@polypost.com Phone: 909-869-3530) regarding my service learning. He explained that their office was not only closed for the summer but he felt they would not be ideal for my topic as they do not specialize in video games. I then thought of the possibility of obtaining my service learning at a store like GameStop. However, upon inquiry with Mr. Purther he expressed to me that he felt it was not a great idea. Finally, I went to a bookstore and looked for video game related magazines that have offices in California. I felt the best candidate was Electronic Gaming Monthly, so sent them a message using their websites system and recieved a reply from the companies president (E-mail: Steve.Harris@egmnow.net phone: 310-924-1686). He informed me that he likes to help out with projects like mine but his office was not in service due to much of the staff reporting on GamesCom in Germany. This meant that he would not be able to help me before school would start.
Interpretive:
I think that this school requires service learning as part of the senior project, because it helps foster understanding of the topic. This is because it provides more insight into how a topic really is, compared to simple research and report. For example, a senior of last year's class did her project on movie script writing. She had said during her presentation that before doing the project and the service learning that comes with it, she would not have considered movie script writing as something she might enjoy. However, after the project she now has a new found interest in the topic. This is because prior to doing the project she did not have all that much knowledge of how the topic of movie script writing worked. After going through the service learning combined with the research she did she had a much more deep knowledge of the topic and greater appreciation for it. Without service learning I believe the same level of understanding would not have been reached. Which is why I believe this school requires service learning, because it foster's a deeper understanding of the topic at hand.
Applied:
To find the mentor ship that I need for my project I plan to keep in contact with Electronic Gaming Monthly. However I also plan to consider other magazines or critics as possible sources for mentor ship. So that I can ensure that I obtain my service learning.
