diff --git a/frontend/src/views/Observation.vue b/frontend/src/views/Observation.vue
index f8ef398..a262098 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/Observation.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/Observation.vue
@@ -101,12 +101,12 @@
                         <b-col>
                             <b-form-group label="Strengths">
                                 <b-form-textarea v-model="item.strengths" placeholder="Enter Strengths" :rows="1"
-                                                 :max-rows="2" required no-resize>
+                                                 :max-rows="2" no-resize>
                                 </b-form-textarea>
                             </b-form-group>
                             <b-form-group label="Areas of Improvement">
                                 <b-form-textarea v-model="item.improvements" placeholder="Enter Areas of Improvement"
-                                                 :rows="1" :max-rows="2" required no-resize>
+                                                 :rows="1" :max-rows="2" no-resize>
                                 </b-form-textarea>
                             </b-form-group>
                         </b-col>
@@ -171,8 +171,8 @@ export default {
         {
           type: null,
           rating: null,
-          strengths: null,
-          improvements: null
+          strengths: "",
+          improvements: ""
         }
       ],
       totals: [0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0],
@@ -189,8 +189,8 @@ export default {
       this.observations.push({
         type: null,
         rating: null,
-        strengths: null,
-        improvements: null
+        strengths: "",
+        improvements: ""
       });
       Vue.nextTick(function() {
         window.scrollTo(