Peyton Zaletsky, Features Editor
@peytonzcourant
While some students use their time at home to work on history notes or complete an algebra assignment, Junior Avery Morawa is working on a study that could result in findings associated with cancer research.
Instead of solely focusing on the classes that NCHS requires, some students are using their time to research topics they are passionate about and potentially want to pursue in the future.
Photo contributed by Avery Morawa
“I am using an inhibitor called Thapsigargin to interfere with the functioning of the rough Endoplasmic reticulum,” Avery said. “I began researching in a lab over the summer and I wanted to continue my research during the school year.”
Avery is able to do continue her research because she is participating in the Independent Study Program, a program giving students the ability to research any topic of their choosing, provided that there is no course already offered for it. Although students participating in the program often face challenges with time management, the majority find that it is a great way to study unique topics that are not included in the school’s curriculum.
“It’s a really open-ended program,” said Ms. Astacio, a Program Co-Coordinator. “We have had people studying languages such as Arabic and Russian, a student who did research on what causes premature children, even a student who collected school supplies for children in Ghana and then actually went there to teach them.”
Many students entering the program often come in with a specific goal that they would like to achieve, usually relating to a summer program they did or the motive to learn more about a topic. Junior Ella Mihailoff is researching Gastroenterology for her study and wants to learn more about food quality and how that affects the health of millions around the world. “Health and wellness are things that I really value because so many diseases that people suffer from can be prevented or cured through the right foods,” she said. “Something that I focus on is the quality of food and how what we eat plays a huge role in gastrointestinal health, so my goal of completing this study is to learn about the anatomy of the digestive system and all of the diseases and their treatments under this branch of medicine.”
Because of the openness of the program, students have the opportunity to formulate their own schedules and process for how they would like to complete their research. Although the school year has only recently begun, Ella has already planned out everything she will do to meet her goals. “My plan is to read books, listen to podcasts, and read studies or articles in published journals to acquire knowledge about my topic,” she said. “I keep notes on whatever I discover, and I also have a website where I have different topics and subtopics that I add information to.”
Students in the program have basic requirements that they must complete in order to receive credit for their work, including writing in a journal, creating a google site, and making a presentation to present their findings. Students also must select an advisor and consistently check in with them so that their progress can be tracked. Program Co-Coordinator Dr. Schneider thinks that the advisors are a key part of the program as they are very helpful guides for students. “An advisor is usually someone who is related to the subject you are pursuing, or who you have a friendly relationship with,” she said. “But the advisor doesn’t teach you, they are more like a coach who can help guide you through the requirements.”
Rather than researching a unique topic, some students like to independently study an AP course if they are unable to fit the class into their schedule. Senior Stella Turner, who participated in the program last year, studied French Conversation and Literature so that she could take the AP Exam. “I am passionate about learning French and becoming as fluent as possible and felt like taking my French education outside of the typical classroom environment would best help me to do so,” she said. “My goal was to get a 5 on the AP French exam, so my curriculum followed concepts in the AP French course and studied the culture of Francophone countries.”
While participating in the program, students commonly struggle to balance their independent study with their other obligations. “A challenge I faced was keeping track of checking in with my advisor, but I ended up sending her an email twice a month recapping what I did,” Stella said. “One issue students may have is staying on top of their work because it is easy to prioritize other classes over an independent study, so it is very important to hold yourself accountable and stick to a schedule.”
By the end of the year, students get to create a presentation and showcase their hard work and newfound knowledge to a committee. Teachers enjoy watching the presentations because they get to learn about a wide array of topics and admire the fact that students are taking the initiative to independently pursue their interests. “The committee is always looking to praise students and award them credit for their hard work,” she said. “We love this program because we want to applaud and reward kids for their love of learning.”
If you are interested in doing an Independent Study, contact Dr. Lenore Schneider or Ms. Veronica Astacio. You can study any topic of your choosing, pursue your passions, and prepare for your future!
