The process of the senior thesis

Regents' seniors are hard at work on their senior theses with first drafts due in two weeks. "The thesis project is 100% different than I thought," said senior Will H. who is writing on how the pursuit of pleasure can lead to boredom. "It makes me learn about what life really has to offer. It's not just about getting a good grade."

One of the biggest challenges of the project is learning how to break down a topic and codify a specific question. "Even though it is a 25 page paper, one question leads to others and you have to really figure out what to focus on," says Cathleen H. who is investigating whether beauty is objective or subjective and how beauty standards have changed across time and between cultures. She noted, for example, that her thesis isn't just about beauty but "actually has a lot to do with criticizing postmodernism."

Despite the challenges, most hands in the class went up when asked if they liked the thesis project. "I've really enjoyed having this opportunity to dive into what I care about," says Amy M. whose thesis statement is that nobody should use social media and is taking a month off social media herself to experience her thesis first hand. Keep up the good work, seniors! Stay tuned for their presentations in May!