At the beginning of the year, during the first school assembly, Seakings received a notification from their principal Dr. Park that would completely transform their senior and junior years. The long and strenuous senior research project that Palos Verdes High School required, Capstone, had become optional. Suddenly the gym erupted in cheers.
I support the change Palos Verdes High School faculty and staff has made, because by making the project optional it gives students more freedom on how to control their lives. Now, every student has the right to choose when and how they spend their time and energy. If a student simply does not like doing this project, they can instead focus their attention on another activity or class that they actually enjoy doing.
Palos Verdes High School junior Corinne Hartley agreed, “It’s better than what it used to be and it’s good we have an option.”
I think that the idea of Capstone is a good one, because it is supposed to get a student to think and research a topic they enjoy and find interesting. Unfortunately the quality of the final product has been decreasing class by class. If a student puts in all his or her effort into the projects, then it would be worthwhile.
After all, students spend hours, if not days, working on their projects, so isn’t it disappointing to have a dull result? It would feel like a waste of time. At least now those students who do choose to do this project will put more time and effort into the final execution of the project.
Many past students did not enjoy the research project. They simply hated the amount of work and stress the project caused them. I believe that students should not be forced into doing a project, especially one that is so long and time consuming. In order for the final product to be good, a student should be intrigued and interested in his or her topic and should voluntarily carry out the project.
Ben Fruman, a junior stated, “I think it’s great that it can be an option, because it is such a time consuming process that you kind of have to be completely 100% devoted to it. If you actually want to put all your effort into it, that’s great, but if you’re not then why spend your time on it?”
In contrast, some students may need to be given a little push in order to succeed to their greatest capability. Enforcing the research project helped students perform as well as they could.
Senior Philip Smart noted, “You’re not forced into the opportunity of getting better at doing research projects.” So overall not doing the project may make a student less qualified and unprepared for the future.
An advantage for those who do want to do the project is that it may also increase their chances of getting into college. Since doing the project gives students class credit and looks good on college applications and resumes, one should do the project if one really likes his or her topic. Then it will not seem as much work, instead it would feel like a fun experience.
In conclusion, a student is better off doing the project, because one can do the project on something they enjoy, and they could really learn about an interesting.
However the change is beneficial because now we have a choice, and if a student really does not want to do the project then they can choose for themselves.
After all, when we grow up nobody will be there holding our hand and encouraging us to take opporunities. It will be up to you to make a decisions.
So will you do it or not?