Independent Study and Mentorship, or ISM, is a program in which juniors and seniors have the opportunity to conduct a year-long study on a career field that interests them. In order to become a part of this unique program, students must pass a rigorous application process involving teacher recommendations, an essay, and a formal interview. Breaking free of the traditional classroom setting, ISM allows students to complete work at their own pace, and take the initiative of progressing their learning. Through building a network and constructing their images as young professionals, students gain first-hand experience in the career field that fascinates them by selecting a mentor whom they shadow for the year after connecting with them and conducting interviews. At the end of the first semester, students present an original work they have created that showcases the epitome of their research during the first half of the year. At the end of the year, students hold a final presentation that collectively represents the their journey and personal growth within a final product. Ultimately, a student gets out of the program what they put into it, and ISM is a great opportunity for students to get a jump-start into the professional world.
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