By Sam Goodykoontz

As the end of the year approaches, the juniors begin their work for next year. That’s right everyone, it’s time for the Senior Thesis! As everyone knows, the Senior Thesis process is a very long and involved process.

Firstly, the juniors were assigned to watch some of the seniors’ thesis defenses. Then, the juniors received the list of thesis groups this year as well as a parent approval form. After getting their approval signed, the juniors then had to rate the groups on how much they would like to be in that group.

A few days ago, all of the juniors received their groups, so now they must get started on reading their books and they will be attending thesis groups. The juniors are stoked to begin their Senior Thesis process.

According to junior Grace McQuaid, she takes away from watching the defenses that “the teachers are not purposely trying to make you fail. They want to help you in every way possible! They want you to be successful. With the defense, it is like a civil conversation between you and the teachers. There is no right and wrong. Some of the seniors said to stay organized and meet those deadlines. If you do that, the experience and process will be more fun than stressful. I think everyone is so stressed hearing about it all these years. However, once you start doing it and start being in the process, it can be super fun and cool. Especially when you defend your paper, you get to think, ‘Wow, look what I just accomplished!’ The anticipation is the worst part from what I have gathered.”

Junior Sama Allam states that “it seems that the seniors who were the most passionate were the ones who knew the material front and back. Watching the defenses gave me insight on what it would be like to be questioned by a teacher panelist, and in a way, that takes off some pressure for when I am the one going to be questioned next year.”

It seems that everyone is relaxed and ready to begin this process, so let’s hope for a great Senior Thesis process for all of our juniors!