For my project, which was also my Girl Scout Gold Award, I made a 16-minute documentary on the Fourth of July in Upper Arlington. I interviewed several people involved in the parade and the Party in the Park, as well as community members regarding their memories and experiences on the 4th. I also researched the history of the Fourth of July in UA. The video is now on Vimeo (at
https://vimeo.com/275537313).
Why did this focus interest you?I am a history buff and wanted to learn more about our community and the history of its traditions, especially since last year was the centennial. It was a way for me to honor my hometown and learn about it at the same time.
How does this project bookend your academic experience at the high school?This project involved using old skills and developing new ones. I used research and source-citing techniques I learned in high school. At the same time, I had to learn how to create a well-developed video. At the high school I learned how to tell stories through a variety of mediums, such as music, art and writing, but I had never told a story through a short film before this project. This project was a perfect way to utilize old techniques while simultaneously learning new ones.
What is your next step after graduation?I’m going to attend The Ohio State University in the honors program. I’ll be studying history and political science for a double major.
About the Senior Capstone Project
The Senior Capstone Project is the culmination of each student’s academic experience at Upper Arlington High School. This is a genuine way for seniors to merge their interests, passions and curiosities with their academic goals. Seniors are given the opportunity to demonstrate the autonomy, complexity and uniqueness of their Senior Capstone Project both in a written format and through the oral presentation of their project before high school peers and teachers.
We welcome community ideas for our seniors. Please feel free to submit those ideas by filling out this online form.