public ArrayList<String> findFiles() {
        ArrayList<String> validFiles = new ArrayList<String>();
        File dir = new File(database + "SpeakerFile_files/");
        // array of strings for file names
        String[] children = dir.list();
        //if there is no files in directory
        if (children == null) {
            System.out.println("Either dir does not exist or is not a directory");
        } else {
            for (int i = 0; i < children.length; i++) {
                String filename = children[i];
                //splits at the period to remove extension
                String[] parts = filename.split("\\.");
                // add to the arraylist
                if (parts[0].equals("Session")) {
                        validFiles.add(filename);
                }
            }
        }
        return validFiles;
    }