These rounds were much better than the first round and I enjoyed them a lot. In the second round, we learned how to work together with a group. Even though there was a language and culture barrier, I found that we bonded quickly and worked well together. The freedom of choice for the topic was very nice since it allowed us to choose something that we were passionate about. We had to share our ideas, which required our leadership skills to be able to express them clearly. We also had to manage our time well, splitting roles between the team members, which emphasized teamwork. The third round focused on the ability to work independently and share your ideas. I thought that the question was good and created healthy discussion. However, I disliked how the round became like a competition. It made the discussion unlike normal discussions. Some people would focus on winning the round and appealing to the judges, through questions, introductions, and summaries, rather than just having a good discussion.

I agree with how students used the rubric as a guideline. Originally, my project presentation had focused on different areas, but after seeing the rubric, I had to change my presentation and do additional research, which was not originally the goal of my project. Also, I found that the judges were quite rude. Even if they have something correct to say, they should say it in a respectable manner. For example, they asked me if my project was done by me, which is the dumbest question they could possibly ask. They tried accusing me of plagiarism, which was based on only their assumptions. Afterwards, they asked me a question about chromatography, but not related to what I worked on at all. The question was a not only inappropriate, but was also a trick question, meaning it was asked in a way so that there would be no correct answer.

I learned about the differences in culture between Chinese and American students. They have completely different presentation methods, like using skits, music, and transitions in their presentations. I can use aspects of their presentations to improve my presentations in the future. Also, I have learned how to present to a large audience without becoming too nervous and affecting my speaking.

As I practiced my presentation, I learned that it is important to focus on and develop a singular point rather than providing a general overview. This helps make the presentation more understandable and not as scattered. To improve my presentation, I should have focused more on the implementation process rather than the background. Since this is a leadership project, it is more important to show how you helped resolve an issue.