Published Interview: Student Work

 Student 1: Making Macaroons

Publish Interview

To start off I did my interview by email, the person I interviewed was Molly Sheehan.

I emailed her by saying, Hi, Molly, My name is Kimberly, and my teacher Miss. Leffers emailed you if I could have an interview with you about macarons and your business, please let me know if you were willing to answer a couple of questions that I have in mind. -Kimberly Hernandez. These are the ten questions I asked and her responses.

1.         What inspired you to make your business about macaroons?

I was inspired by a shop in the mall of America and thought about trying it one day and it worked out!

2.         How much did you invest in your business?

I invested about 600-700 dollars into my business

3.         Did you take any classes about baking?

I didn’t take any classes for macarons or baking at all.

4.         When you made macaroons for the first time how did they turn out?

The first time they turned out good, but here and there I would get stuck with a bad batch.

5.         What techniques did you use when making macaroons?

I used to fold techniques and whipping techniques for the egg whites

6.         What ingredients did you use?

I used almond flour, egg whites, vanilla, and salt for the shells of the macarons and then I used butter and powdered sugar for the frosting.

7.         How many attempts did you have to do to get the right macaroon?

I think it took about 3-4 batches to get the right macaron.

8.         How much time did you spend on your business?

I think I spent about 8-10 hours a week on it

9.         What is your favorite part of baking?

Eating the product when you take them out!

10.       Lastly is there anything else you would like to add?

The key to a good macaron is to not overfold and get stiff peaks in your egg whites!

The interview helped me get a new idea and it went great.

Cited

Sheehan, Molly M. 15 Feb. 2023.

Student 2: The Fermi Paradox

Interview Questions:

(Chen Jie)

According to your understanding of how life develops, as well as the vastness of the universe, do you think the existence of intelligent civilization is abundant or scarce in the universe?

我认为，如果看着宇宙的广大，应该有很多的应为有无数的银河系。在我们这个银河系里，地球肯能是独一无二的，但是在宇宙里有无数的银河系。肯定有别的像地球比较像的星球，肯能可以让生物生存的。

I believe, because of how vast the universe is, there should be countless “milky ways” in the galaxy. In our milky way, we may be the only life that exists, but there are countless “milky ways” in the universe. There has to be other planets with conditions similar to Earth, and thus are able to sustain life.

Hypothetically, if aliens existed, what would you hope their existence be like?

我肯定是希望他们是善良的。我觉得他们的外貌没有什么大不了的。

I, like many others, hope that they are benevolent. I’m not picky on their physical appearance.

(Follow up question) Would you hope that they are more technologically advanced, then? Or around the same as Earth, if this takes place in the future?

我觉得比地球的科技高会好一点。那他们可以帮地球发展科技，但肯定还是必须善良的，不是只看地球是一个落后，想要用的地方。

I would hope they are more technologically advanced than earth. Then, they can help technology on Earth develop, but of course they have to be benevolent and willing to help, and not look as Earth as just a place to exploit.

Do you support the action of looking for alien civilizations?

我觉的不去找外星人是比较好的。

I don’t really support the action.

(Follow up question) So, do you think we should try to detect alien civilizations at all?

地球还是不要没有本事的时候去找外星人。我们探索宇宙已经是很难的事情了，假如真的找到外星人，然后是比地球科技高很多，怎么办？如果地球把关于探索宇宙的科技搞好，那么，如果需要，人还可以逃跑。我肯定是希望外星人是好心地，但是这还是希望。我觉得还是先不要去找更好。

Before Earth has the technology needed, I don’t think attempts to look for aliens should be made. Exploring space is hard enough, but in the case that we really did find aliens (malevolent) that were much more advanced, what would we do? If Earth was more technologically advanced, in the worst case scenario we could try to escape, but we cannot even do that right now. Of course, I hope that alien civilizations are benevolent, but it is still only hope. Thus, I think restraining from exploring too much would be the best, at least currently.

Do you have anything you want to add about the topic in general?

没有，我没有专门研究，只是有一点兴趣而已。

No, I’m not an expert in the topic, only curious.

 

(Dr. Dima)

1.       According to your understanding of how life develops, as well as the vastness of the universe, do you think the existence of intelligent civilization is abundant or scarce in the universe?

I think that intelligent civilizations are abundant across the universe. Chances of life’s development in general are very low, since a lot of necessary conditions must coincide at the particular moment, and even lower to develop an intelligent life from it. Even though the vastness of the universe and its existence time, should give plenty of opportunities for the development of the intelligent live across the universe.

2.       Hypothetically, if aliens existed, what would you hope their existence be like?

As a human I do hope that aliens will be humanoids since in general it is easier for the human mind perception to associate ourselves with the humanoid rases than with something or someone completely different. But, in general their appearance will depend on the conditions of their habitat and most likely I personally will accept any appearance.

3.       Do you support the action of looking for alien civilizations?

I do support these kind of actions until certain extend, but my personal opinion that if the intelligent life in the universe have much higher technological level of development it would be impossible for us to find them unless they will allow that and from other side our current level of technologies does not allow us to perform an extensive search to find something/someone outside of our planet.

4.       Do you have anything you want to add about the topic in general?

A lot of possible contact outcomes were described in different science fiction literature, and I personally think that any of them may have certain chance to be true. As I said current level of technologies did not allow us to find other intelligent life and most likely we are not developed or interesting enough for someone else to contact us first, but I hope that if or when the contact happens it will have positive outcome for humanity.

(Dr. Wang Dong)

1.       According to your understanding of how life develops, as well as the vastness of the universe, do you think the existence of intelligent civilization is abundant or scarce in the universe?

        I think the alien is existing abundantly in dark matter and dark energy, but scarcely in human energy.

2.       Hypothetically, if aliens existed, what would you hope their existence be like?

 

I hope they exists like human being, then we can communicate with them.

 

3.       Do you support the action of looking for alien civilizations?

            Yes,  no matter alien exists or not, never stop exploring

4.       Do you have anything you want to add about the topic in general?

              All appearances are the product of subjective consciousness,  so alien comes from human imagination, which is supposed to something that human can understand.

Student 3: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)

I interviewed two people. One with a high ACE’s score, and one with a lower ACE’s score. Both persons names will be kept anonymous due to the personal subject matter.

            The image below shows the questions that I asked each interviewee.

            Interviewee 1 had a score of eight ACE’s after taking the test. They answered yes to all the ACEs except 2 and 10.

            They had heard of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Ms. Jorgensen’s child development and working with young children classes. They also already knew before taking this test that they had adverse childhood experiences.

When asked how they personally feel their ACE’s have affected them, physically and/or mentally, they responded saying that “It has affected me to the point where I cannot do certain things and it just messes with my brain.” (1).

They said they would describe having ACE’s as “being in constant fear of doing something wrong,” They also said it is also “just knowing that your best isn’t going to be enough.” (1).

            When taking the Adverse Childhood Experiences test, interviewee 2 had an ACE’s score of 4, some were unable to say for sure. They answered yes to 1, 4, 8, and 9. Question 4 they said that sometimes they had money-based problems and were sometimes short on food, but that they still felt taken care of.

            Interviewee 2 has also previously heard of ACEs in the child development class at AHS. They also knew beforehand of their ACEs score.

            When asked how they think their ACEs have impacted physically and/or mentally, they responded, “I think that I am a lot more aware of mental issues and abuse related issues because of the test.” (2) “I think I am a stronger and more aware person.”

            If they were to describe having ACEs to someone who has none, they would describe it as “Having a different view on life because of the things you go through.” (2) “Things that are harder to understand and empathize with without going through them.”

            Interviewee 2 wanted to add, “I think that the ACEs test is really important and worth educating yourself on because at the end of the day everyone deserves peace and if taking the test is the start of finding and understanding yours, then it’s worth it.” (2)