Helping Out One Sophomore Project at a Time
Sophomore Project fully returns with community service requirements for 2022-23 school year.
By Sophia Aranda
Sophomore Project fully returns with community service requirements for 2022-23 school year.
By Sophia Aranda
The Sophomore Project is a critical part of Pioneer’s 10th-grade curriculum. Dating back to the ‘90s, the project has become a staple for students on campus.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, students were not able to complete any service hours for their project and therefore the requirement was waived. Upon returning to campus, the project has now had some adjustments, the biggest change is the required service hours, however, it is similar to the pre-pandemic version.
World and U.S. history teacher Allen Smart said the Sophomore Project is an important project for students to do.
“(The purpose of the project) is getting students to not only learn about problems that are occurring all over the world, across all of history, but also that it's happening locally as well, and finding a way that students can contribute to actually being part of the local community and helping out with, issues that are seen locally as well as around the world,” said Smart.
In order to help the community, students are required to fulfill 20 community service hours, down from the previous 30 hours originally required for the project.
“They are going to volunteer 10 hours with a non-profit that's doing work (with their world problem),” said world history teacher Darlene Dueck. "This is an amazing way for a student to not only take care of their 10 hours or 20 total to graduate as a sophomore, but it's also intentional so that those hours have meaning to them and maybe spark interest for future careers.”
Some students, such as Marissa Hudson Pomarantz, 10, have come to love the aspect of students being able to fully immerse themselves in a project and being able to truly understand what is going on in the world.
“Becoming aware of what is going on not just in your community but around the world is a great trait to have. It can help you have a different perspective of issues going on in the world currently,” said Hudson Pomarantz.
The project takes place throughout the entirety of sophomore year, and with various assignments and deadlines, students are prone to the stresses and time-consuming factors that this project can bring. This could lead students to be overwhelmed when doing this project for a vast amount of time.
“I would change the restrictions on it. Some (of the) world problems are really hard to do and with the timelines we have, it’s very hard to be able to juggle school, sports and now this too,” said Sara Macconi, 10.
Although the project has historically been given to sophomores, the pandemic caused juniors who completed the project last year to not grasp the entirety of the project, which has led them to wish they would have done this project later in their high school career.
“I think a project about world and societal problems is better off as a junior or senior project because during your last years of high school, you’re more mature and have a better understanding of what you’re passionate about,” said Ruby Valadez, 11.
Although the project may have its struggles for some students, the most important aspect is that high school students get the experience of being able to participate in a project of this kind.
“I think what’s more important is making those connections with outside community members and, for students that generally like to do hours and really partake, they learn a lot more about how organizations are run, how to manage people and how to manage projects,” said history department chair and service learning coordinator, Mike Burell.
Although the project has seen some changes, service remains one of the most important parts of the project since it can benefit many aspects of students' lives and even spark a newfound passion.
“I feel students can benefit (from sophomore project). I never did service in high school and as a college student, once I started getting involved in doing some youth group work and things like that, I learned a ton about myself (and) the community,” said Burell. “It was one of those things I wish I would've engaged in earlier when I had more time.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, students were not able to complete any service hours for their project and therefore the requirement was waived. Upon returning to campus, the project has now had some adjustments, the biggest change is the required service hours, however, it is similar to the pre-pandemic version.
World and U.S. history teacher Allen Smart said the Sophomore Project is an important project for students to do.
“(The purpose of the project) is getting students to not only learn about problems that are occurring all over the world, across all of history, but also that it's happening locally as well, and finding a way that students can contribute to actually being part of the local community and helping out with, issues that are seen locally as well as around the world,” said Smart.
In order to help the community, students are required to fulfill 20 community service hours, down from the previous 30 hours originally required for the project.
“They are going to volunteer 10 hours with a non-profit that's doing work (with their world problem),” said world history teacher Darlene Dueck. "This is an amazing way for a student to not only take care of their 10 hours or 20 total to graduate as a sophomore, but it's also intentional so that those hours have meaning to them and maybe spark interest for future careers.”
Some students, such as Marissa Hudson Pomarantz, 10, have come to love the aspect of students being able to fully immerse themselves in a project and being able to truly understand what is going on in the world.
“Becoming aware of what is going on not just in your community but around the world is a great trait to have. It can help you have a different perspective of issues going on in the world currently,” said Hudson Pomarantz.
The project takes place throughout the entirety of sophomore year, and with various assignments and deadlines, students are prone to the stresses and time-consuming factors that this project can bring. This could lead students to be overwhelmed when doing this project for a vast amount of time.
“I would change the restrictions on it. Some (of the) world problems are really hard to do and with the timelines we have, it’s very hard to be able to juggle school, sports and now this too,” said Sara Macconi, 10.
Although the project has historically been given to sophomores, the pandemic caused juniors who completed the project last year to not grasp the entirety of the project, which has led them to wish they would have done this project later in their high school career.
“I think a project about world and societal problems is better off as a junior or senior project because during your last years of high school, you’re more mature and have a better understanding of what you’re passionate about,” said Ruby Valadez, 11.
Although the project may have its struggles for some students, the most important aspect is that high school students get the experience of being able to participate in a project of this kind.
“I think what’s more important is making those connections with outside community members and, for students that generally like to do hours and really partake, they learn a lot more about how organizations are run, how to manage people and how to manage projects,” said history department chair and service learning coordinator, Mike Burell.
Although the project has seen some changes, service remains one of the most important parts of the project since it can benefit many aspects of students' lives and even spark a newfound passion.
“I feel students can benefit (from sophomore project). I never did service in high school and as a college student, once I started getting involved in doing some youth group work and things like that, I learned a ton about myself (and) the community,” said Burell. “It was one of those things I wish I would've engaged in earlier when I had more time.