She is definitely using the training as an excuse, and you will later find her thinking up a new excuse when training is over too. Rather than expecting her to figure it out on her own, you might want to guide her to plan better. And if that's not possible, take it upon yourself to defrost when she forgets.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.