Emily has chosen to research the experience of backpacking and the ways in which it could empower women. Emily's research topic is different from our other subjects because the success of her applied piece will depend heavily upon the active participation of her peers and the support of her community.
To round out Emily's research, she has invited her peers and community members to attend three workshops she's running on navigation skills, a training hike, and reflection journaling.
In this video, Emily explains how her research led her down an unexpected path, and caused her to adjust her essential questions.
Student-centered projects like Emily's, encourage students to explore their interests. Students become excited about the discovery of new and fascinating content. This often leads to deeper thinking on what their essential questions or applied pieces could be. This part of the process results in deeper learning, increased engagement, and self-determination to demonstrate the knowledge obtained.
"While I have gained an immense amount of knowledge on gender inequality and the backpacking trip planning process (which will no doubt help me later on in life), I believe Senior Project is about more than just essential questions and research checkpoints. For me, it has revealed a new dimension of Souhegan, beyond a pretty brick building and a black-and-gold crest. Souhegan is not just a school--it is a community, an ideology, and a philosophy. It is a place where teachers serve as mentors, not just to their Senior Project mentees, but to all their students ... and most importantly, an incubator for creative and exciting educational pursuits. The Senior Project process has developed my real-world presenting and researching skills, yes--but it has also shown me why Souhegan really is a community of learners." - Emily Grudzien