By Borislava Panayotova

Senior thesis is one of the most special things about our school. It may be the longest and most tiring writing project a student has ever done in their life, but in the end, it is all worth it to realize that you are now a functioning member of society.

To be more specific, it is an essay pertaining to a specific topic discussed in a choice of three books – two picked by teachers and one by the student. Now that may seem to be hard, but with hard work and a lot of advice from your teacher sponsor, you can do it.

However, no matter how important the thesis, that is not what this article is about. We are here to discuss the senior thesis defense, an important part of the process.

Senior thesis defense is when the student stands in front of their panel of judge teachers and have a discussion over topics that were never really covered in the essay. It’s a way for students to have a real say and try to explain what they were thinking while writing their essay.

It provides an opportunity for peers to grade each other as well since the defense is an open door. Anybody can come and watch it, from family to classmates to other teachers. Lower classmen are also allowed to attend. You can even rent out the Zelman Center if there is a large audience coming.

Mr. Hansen, the curator of the senior thesis teachers and students, leaves his advice. “Don’t be afraid of it. Know that we have it built up in such a way that there is help every step of the way.” He describes it as any of the essays you would write in any one of your humane letters classes. With the length of four essays combined and written over the course of a year. The teachers are always helping you and it might sound scary but really, it is not.

Mr. Calahan, who has been a part of senior thesis for a really long time, leaves his opinion on why lower classmen and middle schoolers should come to senior thesis defense. “These seniors have also put a ton of time and energy into this process and it’s a really great testament to just exactly what it is that four years of high school at Tempe Prep … can really help you be capable of.” He believes that coming to senior thesis defense prepares you for something that is coming no matter what.

Many people don’t know that you can attend senior thesis defense. However, now that you are aware, you can find out when somebody is presenting and go. Going will help you prepare and imagine what you can do for your own thesis and defense.