Coursework

Concert Band provides me with the opportunity to make not just music, but create countless memories and lifelong friends. For such reasons, I chose to participate in my high school's Concert Band for all four years of my high school career. It has been the steady force in my academic life when all else has changed. From this class, early in my sophomore year, I discovered my passion for music, which has now flourished to a level I could have never dreamed of. This class has not only helped me find my passion but also my community. 

Spanish 3 + Hispanic Language and Culture

In these courses, I found my passion for foreign language, specifically Spanish. I had the opportunity to explore the role that language plays in culture and how they are interconnected. Furthermore, with the guidance of a great teacher, I was able to unlock the joy of speaking another language and begin to use it outside of school. Once I was able to extrapolate my Spanish from school to the rest of the world, the language became far more fascinating to me, as I was able to see and experience first-hand the joys of being bilingual. 

AP U.S. History

AP U.S. History was a course that changed my mindset in a variety of ways. It explored United States History from a lens completely different than anything I had experienced before in my elementary and middle school years. The course took a completely unbiased and uncensored approach to exploring our history, which changed my mindset on various past and present social, political, and economic issues. Furthermore, it presented me with the opportunity to explore the role art has played in social movements, like the African-American Civil Rights Movement, through an individualistic lens. I examined the work of Gordon Parks, a Black photographer, who played a key role in fostering Black power and exposing the injustices African Americans were continuing to face in the 1950s and 1960s. His work, and my interest in this field, inspired my senior capstone topic. 

AP Spanish Language & Culture

AP Spanish Language & Culture allowed me to fulfill my language requirement for Global Pathways. Language is one of the basics to understanding and becoming more in touch with other cultures. This course, as well as the language, provided me with a light into Hispanic and Spanish pop culture, traditions, and ongoing social crises. After receiving a 5 on the AP test and the STAMP seal of bi-literacy, my dedication to the language has given me the unique opportunity to build on my knowledge of ongoing social issues, not only in the United States, but in Mexico, Spain, and South America. 

Senior CAPStone Advanced Research Project 

The Senior Capstone Cohort (CAPS) at Andover High School is an advanced inquiry-based research seminar. I have the opportunity to pursue an essential question through both quantitative and qualitative research methods along with a substantial field-based inquiry project. CAPS offers students a chance to create an independent academic experience with a focus on extensive authentic examination.

The elective nature of Capstone provides seniors with a critical learning experience and an opportunity for intellectual problem-solving, social change, and community service. CAPS projects require students to develop competency in gathering, analyzing, and reporting on data. As a senior, I have the opportunity to pursue the relevance of music as a force in social movements, promoting peace, and childhood education. 

The overarching goal of the CAPS is for students to merge their various interests, curiosities, and passions with their academic and intellectual lives and take shape through Original Field Research, a year-long dissertation-style Inquiry Paper, a web-based Project Portfolio, and a TED-style Community Presentation that communicates the culmination of the experience. I also will receive 1 credit in English.