____In the Budget Project, we needed to create a Budget based on a career (according to education level) and a detailed research of daily expenses and expenditures. We conducted a lot of research in this project because as students, we were not familiar with a lot of the information we needed to produce a Budget Plan. For instance, we researched the salary and wages of our careers using the resources on the Internet e.g. Government statistics, IRS etc and also collections of articles e.g.. We also needed to find out the price of different bills including phone bills, electricity bills, cable fee etc. The standard for this assignment is #5 for students to construct and test hypotheses; collect, evaluate, and employ information from multiple primary and secondary sources; and apply it in oral and written presentations. I met this standard by doing the project because I collected and evaluated information I collected, and then I tested my budget by fiddling around with my income and expenditure. I also produced a written report (answering a set of questions) on my budget plan.

_____ I think this project is one of the most useful projects I've ever done in Mission High School. Through research, I felt like I really planned my future. Currently, I am not responsible for expenses such as rent, electricity and cable bills etc. Therefore I did not have any idea of how much daily expense e.g. buying food, paying rent and paying different bills would I spend if I live alone. The project includes three parts. First, with the aid of Internet, I researched and recorded average American spending on different categories based on my need and my education level, thus my career. Second, I used Microsoft Excel to help me drew a pie graph with details of amount I spent and the percentage it occupied in my entire budget. The pie graph was really helpful as it was easier to look at then a set of numbers. Finally, looking at my pie graphs and reflecting on my experience doing the research, I wrote a short essay explaining what I did for the project. Doing the project was somehow scary, because it was realistic. Making money and living in the city is difficult if you don't have, at least, a college degree and if you don't find the right job. Not only did this project teach me how to do detailed, thorough research, it taught me the lesson that I need to study hard so that I can live a better life later. I remember fidgeting with my budget plan because I could barely save any money. That feeling of cutting down here and there is horrible. Therefore I tell myself I am not going to let that happen after I grow up.