By Becky Barsi, Independent Senior Project Co-Coordinator
Students, faculty and staff, and families gathered on June 3 to celebrate ISPalooza 2024 in The Matarese Commons.
The momentous occasion honors the hard work, dedication, and creativity of the senior class. Over the course of four weeks, these students embarked on diverse and inspiring journeys, dedicating themselves to projects that reflect their passions, curiosity, and drive.
In its 39th year, Derryfield’s Independent Senior Project Program (ISP) offers seniors the unique opportunity to spend the last few weeks of their high school careers pursuing an outside interest, allowing them to explore new ideas, or deepen existing interests. While the bulk of the ISP experience is focused on the last month of school, these students have been curating what this experience could look like since September! They wrote applications, cold-called and emailed potential mentors, tweaked and reworked schedules, and even presented elevator-style pitches at our first annual Cougar Tank!
The breadth and diversity of these students’ experience is impressive.
Several student projects were focused on the medicine and healthcare industry. They shadowed doctors during overnight ER shifts, observed surgeries, and came to understand the intricacies of charting and paperwork. Some focused on specific fields such as nuclear medicine, physical therapy, and nutrition. A student translated medical journals from English to Mandarin, while another added to graduate-level work in a neuropharmacology research lab. These experiences not only broadened their knowledge but also provided a realistic view of a career in the medical profession.
Creativity flourished in so many ways as students engaged in various artistic endeavors. Some learned how to process and develop film, how to record, edit, and publish a podcast, edit imagery in Photoshop, and create an original game that they had first conceived in the 4th grade. While others wrote plays, assisted in the production of a musical, recorded original music, and even explored the history and symbolism of tattooing! Fashion enthusiasts learned to sew, another deconstructed, designed, and reconstructed fashion dolls. One student even blended their interest in medicine by shadowing a urologist in the morning, then wrote poetry and explored photography in the afternoons.
A number of students worked with or shadowed a variety of scientists, engineers, architects, and designers. One student redesigned buildings and developed 3D models of spaces, while another navigated geographic information system (GIS) maps to more accurately design a building. Three students renovated a car, two students learned to weld, an original computer game was coded, a fishing boat set sail, and hours towards earning a pilot’s license were banked. These are just a few projects that highlight our students’ technical skills and problem-solving abilities.
For those who like the great outdoors and adventure, a number of our students took on challenging, and even haunted, hikes in New Hampshire, while supplementing these experiences with research, reflective writing, photography, and developing hiking safety manuals and websites. One student researched the impact of climate change on the White Mountains’ terrain, flora, and fauna, another learned the delicate art of fly tying, while another did trail maintenance for the SouthEast Land Trust.
For those determined to improve their culinary and pastry skills, there was the development of several cookbooks, students learned about food safety and developed their knife skills. Others tracked their diets and nutrition intake and analyzed their data. Two students worked in bakeries, developed their own recipes, and learned very important customer service strategies when communicating with unhappy clients. Other students who worked with small business owners learned about accounting, real estate, preparing and hiring for a local summer camp, and the MANY intricacies of running a small business. These practical experiences provided valuable insights into entrepreneurship.
Our students also pursued a variety of unique personal interests. One student earned a Water Safety Instructor certificate, another completed an online course in organic chemistry, one sat in on New Hampshire state house legislative sessions, and, while it was not directly tied to their ISP, another student became an internet-ordained minister, because you never know when you might need that credential! Finding ways to engage with the local community and beyond, a senior worked with a NH based organization that provides humanitarian aid to some of the hardest-hit areas of Ukraine, and another developed a website to assist families with disabled children learn about and how to get access to financial assistance programs and other tax benefits.
Now, the ISP experience wasn’t always easy. Our seniors faced many challenges along the way. They learned the importance of maintaining a schedule and timeline, collaborating with peers, and dealing with conflict. They discovered the value of advanced planning and the importance of asking for help. Many had to pivot quickly when their initial goals and timelines were disrupted. Remarkably, nearly all of our students balanced their ISPs with playing a spring sport, working a part-time job, or even taking multiple AP exams! This demonstrates their incredible dedication and time management skills.
The class of 2024 had some of the most diverse projects we have ever seen at Derryfield. The individuality and passion of our seniors are truly exceptional.
As we celebrate the completion of these projects, let us also recognize the journey each student has taken. These past four weeks have been a testament to their resilience, creativity, and determination. They have not only enriched their own lives but have also made meaningful contributions to our community, and have made memories that will last a lifetime.
