With the in-class speeches in session and oral boards on the way, the senior class of 2018 has only a few more weeks until their high school experience comes to an end. Senior projects have been talked about since every senior’s freshman year, and students like Michelle Dermenjian spent all four years trying to come up with best possible idea that best suited her and her interests. “I’ve always been a lover of food, so after struggling for some time to come up with a topic idea, I decided to do my project on baking,” Dermenjian said.

Senior project consists of a research paper, a portfolio, fieldwork, a final product and a final presentation (oral boards). The entire process has its own challenges, and the difficulty in obstacles range from student to student. Senior Angela Tsarukyan, who did her project on accounting, had difficulty completing her fieldwork. “It was difficult for me to fully grasp the concept of accounting and making various sheets on Excel,” Tsarukyan said. “I also struggled a little in some of the GCC classes that I took, but I still learned a lot.”

The in-class speeches started in early April and will continue until May 16. The speeches are meant to help prepare the students for oral boards and to provide them with feedback from their teachers and peers that will help them improve their presentations. Although in-class speeches did not count as their final presentation, students were still getting graded on them and were quite nervous.

Senior Jaqueline Armenian, who did her project on animation, had a hard time fighting back her nerves during her speech. “I knew what I was talking about, because I had prepared a lot, but my nerves got the best of me at times and I stumbled on my words,” Armenian said. “However, I am still proud of my outcome, and I’m slightly less nervous now for oral boards.

On the other hand, some students are far from nervous, such as senior Arthur Akhverdyan. His in–class presentation is in a few days, and he has been practicing intently. “I feel prepared enough and confident enough to present my project without being nervous,” he said. Akhverdyan did his project on welding, and he made a gate for his uncle’s house. The process was extremely time consuming, but he worked hard and is proud of his final product.

Oral boards begin on May 18 and end May 19. Students are required to come to school prompt, professionally dressed and prepared to present one final time. Each student will be judged by two or three participant judges who will give them a final sore at the end. Senior Vacheh Hatamian Tarkordi, who has not yet completed his in-class speech, has mixed emotions about the upcoming dates. “I am more nervous for oral boards than I am for my speech, because I don’t like presenting in front of people that I don’t know,” Tarkordi said. “However, I’m also excited because I worked hard on my project and I want to showcase what I’ve done. I also just want to get the process over with, so I can stop feeling so nervous.

For his project, Tarkordi chose to use his experience in Scouting to plan a three-day camp, which required him to earn a few badges and merits beforehand. “Because of this project, I had a good excuse to work hard to become an Eagle Scout, which is a huge deal in Scouting,” Hatamian said. “I’m extremely gracious of this project, and the experience has taught me a lot.”