Students gain skills through projects

Letter from the editor

As a senior in high school, I was required to write a senior thesis. Granted I had to spend a lot of time reading and do some in-depth literary analysis to produce the 20-plus page paper, but it was nothing compared to what seniors at Bigfork High School do each year.

BHS' senior projects require students to meet with mentors to learn something new that they are interested in and to experience growth that will hopefully help them in their futures. Hours of time are spent producing the papers, portfolios and the final tangible products from their projects. For honor students, that means a little something extra — an intimidating presentation before a panel of judges.

The most I can recall from my senior thesis was its topic — comparing the then-leader of the Walt Disney Co., Michael Eisner, to kings in Shakespearean tragedies after reading the book "Disney Wars." While interesting, it was nothing that I could carry with me past that class and that assignment.

The advantage with the BHS approach, which other schools use as well, is that students actually walk away with skills that will either help them in their future career or give them a hobby to pursue. In each presentation I witnessed last week, the students said they intended to carry on in what they learned, be it guitar or stop-motion animation. And it was clear they weren't just saying it because they thought that was what the judges wanted to hear. That above all else proves this approach is effective.

—Jasmine Linabary