The final submit buttons for college applications are clicked and the reality of leaving begins to dawn on seniors as well as the preparation for Senior Project. Senior Project occurs during the month of May.

However there are many steps which the seniors need to do before they leave.
Seniors need to submit a proposal for their Senior Projects which gets reviewed by the Senior Project committee, composed of both faculty and students.

“Part of the process of putting together a Senior Project Proposal might help you prepare for college. You have to interview your mentor and at least another professional for the career awareness interview requirement,” said Senior Project Committee member Anne Marie Shimkus.

“It was a good learning experience into how to get an internship and communicate with people in the work world,” alumna Maulika Kohli, class of 2012, said.

For her 27 hour-per-week requirement, senior Kaia Findlay “would like to get outdoors.”
“I want to do something hands on. Maybe something with the Department of Natural Resources or Friends of the Boundary Waters,” Findlay said.

Senior Aidan Arnold is focusing on engineering as his mentorship, which is 16 hours per week. “3M could be a possibility. 3M would be awesome, I think it would be a great experience,” he said.
St. Paul Academy and Summit School offers resources for students to use, “We solicit internships from people who have done it in the past, from current SPA parents and alums, and we prepare a packet where the internship is presented to the seniors,” Dean of Students Judy Cummins said.

Arnold has chosen to pursue his passion of cooking for his extra activities in order to complete the 27 hours.

“The project is centered on internships, but there is stuff you do on the side. I’ve always been interested in cooking, so I thought it would be a great opportunity,” Arnold said.

After completing senior project, the reaction varies.

“They will say, ‘Wow, I didn’t know it was so hard to get a hold of someone. I didn’t realize that it was so difficult to narrow something down. That field that I was really interested in, I don’t think I am any more,’” Cummins said.

Kohli had an interest in psychology, so she shadowed with a psychologist.

“I’m majoring in psychology now. I also went back there last summer and worked with a neuropsychologist. and now I might get a part time job there with the same lady, so it worked out really well for me.”

In all, “They come away with a lot of learning and any learning prepares you for college,” Cummins said.

Whether going to intern with an engineer or volunteer with a museum, “[The senior project] a great opportunity to go outside of your comfort zone,” Arnold said.