Week 5 - My CSUMB Journey

Part One: Comment on Teammates' goals




Part Two: Possible Capstone Ideas

After watching several of the capstone presentations, I was inspired by the range of creativity and technical depth across different domains. From those, I identified three possible capstone project ideas I might pursue in the future. These are based directly on projects that stood out to me, though I may or may not ultimately pursue them.

1) Date and Be Safe – Secure Dating App

This project tackled the issue of scams and fraud in online dating by requiring users to verify their geolocation and take a live photo during sign-up. I found this idea meaningful because it directly addresses a real-world social problem. If I were to build something similar, I would expand on their concept with features like AI-based scam message detection or optional verification badges. The balance of security and usability in this project gave me a strong idea for a potential capstone.

2) Like a Camera – Interactive Photography Education

Andrew’s project stood out to me for its educational value and technical creativity. His site taught photography basics like exposure, aperture, and shutter speed through interactive demos using HTML canvas. I enjoyed the way it combined learning and experimentation. If I were to create a project along these lines, I might adapt the idea into another field; perhaps an interactive platform that teaches coding concepts, cybersecurity principles, or even math simulations. It showed me how education and interactivity can come together in a capstone project.

3) CultureConnect – Cultural & Historical Travel Finder

George’s mobile app helped travelers discover cultural and historical points of interest beyond the typical tourist spots. I liked that it filtered out restaurants and hotels, focusing instead on meaningful experiences. This made me think about building an application that leverages APIs in a creative way, perhaps a tool to explore local science landmarks, eco-friendly sites, or even community resources. A project like this would allow me to combine full-stack development skills with data integration and mapping technology.

Reflection

The presentations showed me that capstone projects don’t have to be massive or overly complex to make an impact. The best ones combined a clear problem, a practical solution, and personal passion. Drawing inspiration from these projects, I can see myself choosing a capstone that not only demonstrates my technical skills but also reflects an area I care about, whether that’s security, education, or culture.

Part Three: Keep Up With Your Learning Journal

This week I spent time reflecting on my capstone preparation. Watching capstone presentations gave me a better sense of what makes a strong project: solving a clear problem, demonstrating technical skill, and showing personal passion. I realized that I want my own capstone to not just be technically impressive, but also meaningful and practical. Thinking about this early will help me choose a project idea that I can both manage and be proud of.

Along with planning for the capstone, I learned more about video creation and editing. The resources on YouTube tutorials and video-making tips helped me see how important it is to present my work clearly. Being able to edit videos, add visuals, and explain concepts in a way that’s both engaging and understandable will be especially valuable when it comes time to present my capstone project. It also feels like a skill that will transfer well to future careers, since communication is just as important as technical knowledge.

Finally, I thought about the next steps after graduation. From the career guide and readings, I learned how important internships are for gaining practical experience, networking, and testing out a career path. They act almost like extended interviews, giving both students and employers a chance to see if there’s a good fit. This made me more determined to pursue an internship in software development or data science before graduation. I also reflected on graduate school. While I’m not fully decided, I see how it could help me specialize, expand my opportunities, and grow professionally. For now, internships are my main focus, but graduate school is an option I want to keep open.

Overall, this week connected a lot of pieces for me. Preparing for my capstone, improving my ability to present through video, and thinking seriously about internships and graduate study all tie together as steps toward building both my academic and professional future.

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