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The Class of 2023 got the FIRE (Freshman Interdisciplinary Research Experience) going this week as they completed work on the “First FIRE” English Narrative Project.
Students conducted original research into topics of their selection, spanning the subjects of English, History and Biology. They then composed stories told from the perspective of fictional first-person narrators based upon this real-world research. The resulting narratives could be presented in a variety of formats--including traditional essays, original videos/podcasts, visual artwork, or 3D-printed objects--to best express the essence of each character’s story.
The assignment prompt specifically asked students to “fill in the blanks” in the following statement: “As a ___________________, I have lived a life of ______________________.”
As students worked to craft clear, compelling narratives based on their character’s experiences, they had to include reliable documented evidence of his/her/its place and time. Students were challenged to think very carefully about the “I” perspective from which they chose to write as well as the “eye” with which their selected “I” saw the world. Among many innovative responses, several stood out for their exhibition of Moravian’s CULTURE of CURIOSITY and emphasis on empathy:
Camille Atkinson '23: "Life of A Sea Turtle"
Camille’s project focused on the life of a Hawksbill sea turtle and how they can be considered introverts. After learning a lot about Hawksbill Sea Turtles, she decided the best way to represent their life cycle was through realistic painting.
Okezue Bell '23: "In the Eyes of the Beholder - Guardian Angel"
Okezue focused on the spread and interaction of a rare disease known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob, which can cause drastic changes to the brain by affecting its neurochemistry. His creative story encompasses the hardship of being a single parent and living with a terminally ill guardian from the perspective of the child, interweaving biology, social studies, and literature in order to create a unique experience.
Sierra Smith '23: "Conformity in Different Eras"
Sierra Smith’s project--which included poetic, visual, and aural components--was based around the book Stargirl and its recurring theme of conformity. She conducted interviews of older family members to better understand how conceptions of conformity have changed over the years, leading to many valuable insights especially for teenagers today.
Read Sierra's project abstract.
Phoebe Shane '23: "As a Mother"
Phoebe Shane’s project on “Cell Phone Addiction Amongst Teenagers” included a poem entitled “As a Mother,” enhancing her message about the interpersonal impacts of modern technology.
She states in the poem, "As a mother, I have lived a life of observing addiction/ My children, / Who live with a constant white glow/ On their face."
Patrick Johnson '23: "The Series of Events That Created Life: A Narrative"
Patrick covers a broad scope in his project, taking on the voice of Earth itself. His detailed, humorous narrative explains various geological events in their chronological order, from the accretion of the Earth, to the formation of oceans, to the development of complex biochemical molecules necessary for life. A vast range of interests indeed!
Olivia Cunningham '23: "Mirror, Mirror"
Olivia's project, entitled “Mirror, Mirror,” is based in part on Julia Alvarez’s novel How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents. Olivia learned about the experiences of young Dominican-American women concerning issues of identity and feelings of unwelcomeness and discrimination. Using this knowledge, she wrote a story from the perspective of teenager Carla De La Rosa, the main character of the novel who immigrated with her family to America from the Dominican Republic.
Evania Raskapur '23: "Struggle for Water"
Evania’s goal was to expose the struggle of impoverished Indian villagers by telling a story about the experiences that rotated and repositioned their lives. Specifically, Evania spoke to an Indian villager through her Nani, Illa Metha. In addition to her powerful story about dangers of dehydration and related hardships, Evania’s project also utilizes a 3D printer to show what healthy and poorly hydrated organs look like.
Sam Greenberg '23: "As a Farmer Shortly After the Agricultural Revolution, I Have Lived a Life of Struggles"
Inspired by a book he read over the summer entitled Sapiens, Sam explored a variety of sources, both historical and scientific, in his investigation of the agricultural revolution and its impacts in ancient Mesopotamia.
Sam writes, "I chose to do this FIRE project about Sapiens because I found it very interesting, and it was a book that stimulated my knowledge and instead of just feeding me information, taught me about a new way of analyzing events or other topics."
How rewarding it is to see such examples of curiosity, creativity, perseverance and empathy embedded into these projects! As much as the FIRE program seeks to develop research skills--such as selection of appropriate sources and proper approaches to paraphrasing--its primarily goal is to help students ignite a passion for learning that will last well beyond their years at Moravian. If this year’s first FIRE project is any indication, the future looks bright for the Class of 2023 and for those of us along for the ride.
If/when you’re next on campus, consider yourself invited to view displays of student work to be exhibited in the Upper School Library. Current FIRE projects are scheduled to be displayed through November 20th. Stop by and see what the FIRE fuss is all about!
