The Senioritis Remedy: ISPs
For seniors, the buzz over ISPs (Independent Senior Projects) has overridden the stress of college admissions in the promise of a change in scenery and a much-needed break. For many, however, embarking on an ISP means anything but a break. With over half of the Class of 2017 jumping from the nest a few weeks early, the senior class has taken on a new energy - call it anticipation or simply the sudden lifting of college application pressure - that has begun to direct the conversation.
It is not hard to believe that upcoming ISPs are offering students a cure for the dreaded senioritis. While the rest of DS is hard at work preparing to take final exams, the seniors are off preparing to enter the real world. Here are two of the projects that will be taking shape within the next few weeks.
Max Curtin ’17 has always had an interest in investing. Crediting his dad, Curtin’s involvement in investing has grown more and more, and he could not let the ISP opportunity pass without applying this passion. Curtin knew it would be an amazing opportunity “to gain invaluable experience in such a professional environment, and to learn about what goes into the researching in investing.” Max will be interning at Pax World, a sustainable investing firm in Portsmouth. He will be working with specific funds and learn the researching process at a company that takes into account the environmental and social factors (among others) that affect stocks.
Rather than emerging with a physical product, Curtin would feel this project to
be a success if he returned with “new knowledge and understanding about evaluating companies and stocks in order to invest sustainably for the rest of my life.” Curtin is not only using this opportunity to pursue something he is interested in, but he is also taking a chance to think about his future and embrace the crucial life skills that he will come to have access to learning.
Unlike Max, Annalise Groves ’17 did not know exactly what she wanted to do for her ISP, but she knew she wanted to spend seven weeks doing something she loves: either working for the environment or climbing. Groves reflects, “It wasn't until I was reading Outdoor Life that I knew what I wanted to do. An article came up about how a Utah representative proposed a bill to sell off 3.3 million acres of federally owned land out west because it ‘served no purpose to taxpayers.’ The bill frightened me because I realized that what he meant by ‘no purpose’ was from an economical standpoint rather than a cultural understanding of the public land.”
The idea dawned upon Groves to embark on a project that is not only interesting but meaningful for her, as she will be covering this new “Sagebrush Rebellion” on a cross-country expedition: “I will travel to several national parks, state parks, national monuments, and national reserves using a GoPro, drone, and camera to capture their beauty while also doing research on the area and interviewing rangers to gain a better understanding of their importance.”
Groves will also be running several social media accounts (including an
Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and blog linked with YouTube videos) under the name “Appreciate Adventure” with the purpose of sharing her journey and raising support for the lands that need protection. Groves has also committed to taking an academic approach to this issue and will be exploring both sides of the argument over federal lands to explore the possibility of compromise.
Of course, Groves could not travel across the country without taking the opportunity to do some climbing: “While I will be running these accounts, I will also be rock climbing at each location and learning how to become a better outdoor climber with the help of my two older brothers.” In her moving ISP application essay, Groves concludes, “The outdoors has always been a place I’ve seeked since I was a little girl, and to make an effort to protect and recognize the value of the land I care about will not only be rewarding, but will demonstrate the responsibility, character, and skills that Derryfield develops in its students.”
Please tune in to Annalise’s adventure as she conquers 6,000 miles in seven weeks.
The ISP program is an opportunity for students to invest themselves wholly in a topic of their interest; when creative and intense students are given this kind of free rein, remarkable ideas can emerge. Students this year seem to be no exception as unique projects are being shared one after another.
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Anja Stadelmann '17 is the Editor-in-Chief for Lamplighter. If you would like to reach out about the above article, you may find additional details on the 'Meet the Staff' page.