An Early Dismissal: Senior Project

From Left to Right: (Top Row) Martina Carlucci, Alex Casey, Calvin Castaneda, Mary Pfeifle, John Salzillo, Eilish Tiernan, Ms. Waters (Bottom Row) Kimmy Hiss, Peter Khone

From Left to Right: (Top Row) Martina Carlucci, Alex Casey, Calvin Castaneda, Mary Pfeifle, John Salzillo, Eilish Tiernan, Ms. Waters (Bottom Row) Kimmy Hiss, Peter Khone

Caroline Moll

On April 7th at 2:04, a class of Franklin High School seniors looked anxiously at the clocks, the last minute on the last day of senior year. Although most seniors do not graduate until the end of May, some have already put classes behind them, thanks to a program called “Senior Project”.

This program allows participants to research their careers of interest and opportunities to learn more about this career. They are assigned to find an internship or program that lets them work 70+ hours over six weeks to explore their interest further, as well as write an eight to twelve page research paper.

“I think the most exciting project,” program mentor Ms. Waters, explains, “is a girl who is working for a beekeeping company in Boston. She’s caring for bees on rooftops in Newbury. We also have kids at the police station going through swat team exercises”.

She goes on to explain all of the different experiences the students have been having, whether it is in education, medical care, politics, science, or the arts. She compares the students excitement to start working in their chosen field as watching children on Christmas morning. I’ve heard back nothing but great news”.

Senior Calvin Castaneda has been working for a few weeks now at the Triboro Youth Theatre in a subject very close to him. Through his project, he studies the design process of producing a show, including costume and scenic design.

Calvin thinks the project for him has been a huge success, adding “I honestly could not imagine myself in school this last term, so the fact that I am out working in the field I’m going to be in in the near future is so great. I couldn’t be happier”

It gives me the opportunity to see what the business is like and to see if this is really what I wanna do.” Another senior, Eilish Tiernan, is shadowing at a salon in Milford. She is enjoying the experience so far, despite the ups and downs that come with any career.

You can come out loving it, and can’t wait to get engaged further, or realize you do not want to be doing that for the rest of your life.” States Ms. Waters. Like Calvin and Eilish, many seniors choose the career path they hope to follow out of high school. 

However, Ms. Waters believes there is another way to benefit from the program.

You may just do something you’ve never had to opportunity to try. You may never do it again, but it was worth the experience”.

Despite the variety of student’s interests, most everyone agrees the program has been a great experience so far. With just a couple of weeks left, participating seniors are starting to put their high school years behind them and looking forward into their futures. For senior project students, actually getting the chance to graduate into some of these fields can not come soon enough.