From meeting with mentors to writing emails to composing journals and getting papers signed, seniors are focusing in on their senior projects. 

The senior capstone project is required to graduate, and seniors can choose a specific field to shadow or a major project to complete.

Senior Jessica Lott has completed all her job shadowing hours shadowing a computer engineer and is continuing to learning programs because of her interest in the topic.

“I choose this career because it’s what I want to go into, and I’ve really learned a lot so its been easy for me to get all my hours in. I mean from the beginning I knew I was going to choose this person to shadow.” Lott said.

Others like senior Trace Warton have not been able to start their project and this is not due to lack of effort, Warton can simply not find a mentor.

“I’ve called like 30 people and haven’t been able to find anyone. I’m miserable. We’re on our fifth journal, and I can’t write about anything new,” Warton said.

Senior Hayden Brawley, who is job shadowing a nurse practitioner at Community South, shared advice for juniors who will start their projects in April.

“My biggest struggle has been finding time to do it. I’ve been leaving school to do it. So I would say start over the summer or as soon as you can. Actually do your journals and not the night before,” Brawley said.

Senior Kate Schausten is also job shadowing. She chose a pediatric psychologist she knew.

“For juniors, I would say choose someone easy for you and do the networking and preparation to excel because it really does go by fast. Start early and get it put of the way before you start your senior year,” she said.

Senior Naveah Eliott talked about her experience with the Greenwood Fire Department.

“The first time I rode on the firetruck, I got really excited just being in the truck, and being there just excited me more than anything else,” Eliott said.

For senior Blake Thompson this project is more than just a school assignment. Thompson is shadowing Dr. Joe Robb at Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge. 

“I’ve grown close to my mentor. I really value the things I’ve learned and for me its turned into more than just a school assignment. I’ve been inspired and I think all in all its been a valuable life experience,” Thompson said.