Grade 9 - Passion Project
The Passion Project is a five-month journey of critical perspective that begins with a teacher-led meditation to immerse students in the powerful world of introspection. After learning more about their dreams, regrets, and inner-roadblocks, grade 9 switched perspectives and were challenged to call out stereotypes and limiting beliefs around intelligence and success by exploring Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. This daring new perspective led into Career Week, where this year, students got the opportunity to hear from some past PEAI graduates, including a Ph. D graduate of Robotic Engineering at MIT, a film and documentary maker, a hip hop choreographer, a diplomat at the Embassy of Korea in Uruguay, and a specialist at UNICEF.
The second part of the Passion Project is focused on experiencing. By teaching their own Master Classes, grade 9 had the opportunity to share their unique hobbies and passions—and by learning from each other, even found new passions! Some of the Master Classes this year included dog training, baking, science, flight simulation, and fitness.
Each week, students in grade 9 were also challenged to choose an activity from the List of Experiences. These experiences prompted students this year to start their own clubs, write poetry, volunteer at the Seoul Marathon, translate online for less privileged children, donate to UNICEF, sign government petitions, learn a new language, design social experiments, create art, and even start their own businesses!
Reflecting on their experiences through a weekly diary, grade 9 also wrote letters to their role models and created advice leaflets about their journey for the current grade 8.
Grade 9 are still on their journey, but in December, each student will present a vlog which details where they began their story to find their passion, and how they will continue it into high school and beyond.
