Dexin (Dora) Wang ‘28
On September 17th, the Stettler Learning Resource Center was buzzing with academic curiosity as Wyoming Seminary students gathered for the Summer Work Presentations. This event offered opportunities for students to share projects they had worked on during summer. This year, eight students presented projects based on topics spanning scientific research, community service, psychology, theater, and personal reflection.
The presentations covered a wide range of subjects and personal interests. For example, Peter Zhuang ‘27 presented on Uranium and Uranium dating while Yolanda Zhou ‘29 focused on her community involvement with migrant children; Jayden Li ‘28 discussed Isolation of Mouse Intestinal Crypts Organoid Culture while MJ Michaels ‘28 explored how theater affects mental health and builds confidence; Stella Ruiz ‘28 examined the psychology of confidence; Anaya Choudhry ‘28 reflected on her experience in the STEM/STEAM concentration; lastly, Benen Griffin ’27 and Adam Salam ‘27 presented on their trip with the Normandy Academy. Across their varied subjects, the presentations also revealed how these events had shaped students’ confidence, academic interests, and future goals.
Among the presentations, Stella Ruiz ‘28’s project on the psychology of confidence connected closely to students’ everyday experiences since confidence can influence how they learn, communicate, and interact with others. Through vivid examples such as sports, she explained how people can fall into self-depreciation and examined the reasons behind this process. Reflecting on what she learned and how she hopes to apply it in the future, Stella said, “Confidence is something that can seem so abstract, but in reality, it’s a process that you can strengthen in your own brain. I’m really excited to learn more and maybe help my peers train their own brains in the future!”
Beyond exploring a topic that affects everyday life, some presentations offered reflections on students’ previous firsthand experiences with academic research. Anaya Choudhry ‘28 looked back on her time in the STEM/STEAM concentration and how working in a university environment changed her understanding of science, as explained in her presentation:“I saw that an experiment is only the beginning. The real scientific work continues when you analyze the evidence and decide whether it actually supports your hypothesis.” Anaya’s experience also helped her see research as a possible future path rather than simply a school assignment.
The presentations ended, but the ideas continued to resonate in the SLRC. They demonstrated that learning does not pause when the school years end. The presenters returned to campus with new perspectives and questions, carrying their summer experiences into the academic year ahead.