Senior Internships Provide Valuable Experiences
May 27, 2015
As the year winds down, the Class of 2015 has started their Senior Projects. This program is famous at Hackley for its ability to give students an opportunity to gain some “real-world” experience before graduation or pursue a passion they may not be able to explore as fully in college. However, instead of venturing outside of Hackley for internships or jobs, a few Hackley seniors have chosen to do their projects at Hackley.
Senior Jules Oppenheim has been working alongside current teacher Melissa Brennan to teach the AP Computer Science class. A major element of his project involves working closely with Ms. Brennan to design a curriculum and learn teaching techniques that he can employ when he works with students. “Ms. Brennan helps me create a lesson plan and make it really interactive for the students so it’s a fun time for them,” said Jules. A math and science buff himself, Jules states that he chose this department “because I’m very passionate about Computer Science and I thought it would be great to do a project that involved it.” Ms. Brennan has also allowed Jules a considerable amount of freedom in what he chooses to teach about.
For many students, a deciding factor in doing a senior project at Hackley is its ease and familiarity. Jules does not seem to feel that he is missing out on anything by staying at Hackley for his project; in fact it is just the opposite. “When I chose my internship I knew that commuting is just horrible and I would never want to go to the city every day, especially if I have APs. I live fifteen minutes away so it’s a lot easier to come here.” Jules’ project is working out very well for him. “It’s just a lot of fun. I’ve made up my lesson plans and I’ll be teaching throughout the rest of the year.”
Tristan Jung is also working closely with a Hackley teacher as a part of his senior project. Tristan is working with Mr. Klimenko to help teach the sophomore U.S. History course. Part of his job is designing a curriculum, composing and grading assessments, and leading class discussions. “I teach some mini lessons in class and then I’ll write quizzes and DBQs and other little assignments for them to do; I’m basically like an assistant teacher,” said Tristan.
Tristan has also been working with Michael Rover on this project. Mr. Klimenko has been working closely with Tristan and Michael, giving them lesson plan ideas, movies to select clips from, and insight about particular students and class dynamics.
Tristan’s project aligns nicely with his longstanding interest in history, giving him an opportunity to explore the teaching side of history at Hackley. He expressed his passion for the subject and feels that the curriculum at Hackley is very good compared to many other public and private schools. “Mr. Klimenko is also my advisor and we’re close so it made sense to do it with him,” he said.
Like Jules, Hackley’s convenience and proximity was a deciding factor in Tristan’s choice to do his project here on campus. Tristan said, “I have track and APs, so the student teaching option made the most sense for me to do.” In addition to practicality, Tristan states that “Hackley is close enough that I can go home and take a nap which is great. The free food is also nice.”
Though he does enjoy being at Hackley and doing his senior project on campus, Tristan also feels that he may be missing out in some ways. “I think the whole point of the senior project is to expand your horizons and even though at Hackley teaching is really different from being a student, you are still with the same people, and you are not meeting as many new faces as you would be otherwise,” he said.
Senior Lauren Fallon is writing a memoir on her grandfather, a project she says has been largely influenced by the skills she accrued during her time at Hackley. For Lauren, this is truly a passion project. “Besides the fact that I have a huge interest in journalism and writing, my grandpa is 92, so for me this is more than just a senior project. It’s a chance for me to spend time with him that I feel is running out.”
Though Lauren’s project does not require her to be directly integrated into the Hackley campus, she cites her time as a student as a huge influence in her decision to write the memoir. She notes her time as a junior as especially impactful: “I took a lot of stuff I learned as a junior at Hackley and put it towards this memoir.” Lauren’s biographical account of her grandfather’s life connects with the Hackley Upper School History and English curriculums, both of which contain many elements of the “American dream” or the “American narrative.”
Lauren’s academic advisor for her senior project, Dr. Russell, has been “really helpful” in ensuring that the memoir is different in structure and style from the numerous essays and Dial articles Lauren has written throughout her time at Hackley. Lauren explains that the objective is to tell a story, not argue a thesis like a typical paper would require. “Each time we meet, Dr. Russell reads my work and gives me feedback, tips, and different styles I can use for writing the memoir.”
Lauren’s project will be completed by the end of the calendar school year and has progressed nicely throughout her spring semester. “I love history so I find all of the stories that my grandpa has to tell very fascinating. I am almost done with the memoir!”
