Independent Projects for High School Students
As young adults, high school students face the relentless force of curiosity in various aspects of their day-to-day lives. Sometimes we strive to actively seek the answers to our questions and quarrels, while other times our minds simply wonder. In either manner, curiosity is a driving factor in expanding our knowledge in areas that we, as individuals, find most interesting.
As high school students are swamped with their busy schedules, it is often difficult to find when and how to actively pursue that spark of curiosity. Working on independent projects is a great opportunity for high school students to put their critical thinking and thoughtful reasoning to the test. As substantial as starting a blog or as small as writing a collection of poems, working on independent projects provide an avenue to actively expand your knowledge surrounding the niche aspects of your interests.
In this blog post, we are sharing the benefits of working on an independent project as a high school student and different project ideas to approach. We encourage you to take these ideas with a grain of salt, meaning that you should reference the listed ideas as a source of inspiration to expand your own thoughts/ideas!
The Perks of Pursuing Independent Projects as a High School Student
#1: CHOOSE YOUR OWN PATH OF EXPLORATION
The beauty of working on independent projects as a high school student is that you get to pick and choose what subject, topic, and idea you would like to explore. While we do get to choose the classes on our academic schedules, the list of classes that we choose from is often quite restrictive. Working on an independent project of any kind will ultimately provide you with the liberty and ownership to explore what you find interesting and want to learn more about. So, starting on an independent project allows you to have full agency over what you would like to pursue.
#2: ENHANCE YOUR TECHNICAL + CREATIVE SKILLS
Starting an independent project means that you have complete control over how you would like to carry out your plans; you are in charge from start to finish! Although you may have done several lengthy projects in school, starting an independent project will ultimately allow you to hone down on your technical and creative skills because you will not have a rubric to reference and follow.
For instance, let’s say your independent project idea is to create a blog discussing the places you have traveled to. There are many details you will have to address, and your technical and creative skills will be key here: brainstorming the blog’s name, choosing the website builder and theme, solidifying who your audience is, and most importantly writing compelling content. Although you may take inspiration from precedent blogs, this would be a moment where you get to exercise your creativity by determining how you want things to turn out. To start a blog online means that your technical skills too will be put to the test, because technology, in this independent project especially, would be the medium in which you communicate your ideas!
#3: STAND OUT IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS
As high school students nearing the college application process, we often hear about the importance college admissions officers place in pursuing extracurriculars and projects that correlate with our interests and showcase our characteristics as individuals. This is because the application pool is frequently filled with those that may have similar academic profiles, so an individual’s extracurriculars and essays may be a key, determining factor in this situation.
The main intention of pursuing an independent project should be to develop an executable idea based on your personal interests and passions, which will ultimately allow you to improve upon your skills. Including your independent project in your college applications would simply be the icing on the cake! If you naturally have a passion, an excitement for the independent project you have come up with, it will also be naturally simple for you to discuss this project in your applications.
Avoid the trap of pursuing an independent project for all the wrong reasons; if you simply do what you love, you’ll ultimately feel a sense of accomplishment and a renewed sense of passion to keep going in your project journey!
Independent Project Ideas
Now that we have discussed the importance behind pursuing an independent project of your choice, we will briefly highlight some independent project types that you can use as a source of inspiration. Note that not every independent project type will meet everyone’s interests or passions, and that is completely okay!
#1: CREATE AN AI PROJECT
AI is a particularly impressive focus for an independent project. Artificial intelligence is a complex field that requires a deep understanding of mathematics, programming, and data science. For a high school student to tackle AI, it demonstrates a remarkable level of technical aptitude and dedication.
AI projects often involve solving real-world problems or creating novel applications. When a high school student takes the initiative to innovate and develop AI solutions, it showcases their creative thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Inspirit AI offers a unique and comprehensive learning experience in the field of artificial intelligence, making it an excellent choice for anyone interested in this rapidly evolving domain. The program boasts a team of expert instructors who are at the forefront of AI research, ensuring that you receive top-notch guidance and knowledge. Moreover, the curriculum is thoughtfully designed to cater to learners of all backgrounds, making AI accessible to a wide range of students.
#2: CONDUCTING A RESEARCH PROJECT
Pick up a research topic that you are passionate about and want to learn more about. Reach out to your school’s science department teachers or local university professors for guidance on how to carry out your idea; make use of the resources around you and don’t hesitate to reach out to professionals!
Here are some ways that you can best portray your discoveries from your research:
Develop an interactive website or blog to present the research that you have conducted
Create a multimedia presentation—through Google Slides, PowerPoint, Canva—to showcase your findings from the research
Hold a virtual or in-person event where you present your research project to an audience, in efforts of spreading awareness
#3: SETTING UP A SMALL BUSINESS
If you have an entrepreneurial mindset, setting up a small business is a great way to improve your innovation and problem-solving skills. Note that these projects can be as small or substantial as you desire.
Here is a list of different small businesses that you could develop:
If you are a technology expert, teach senior citizens about aspects of technology that they may not be familiar with.
Set up a clothing drive donation spot where people can donate clothes that could be donated to a local women and children’s shelter
#4: ACADEMIC + REAL WORLD PROJECTS
A great way to pursue an independent project is to utilize the knowledge you may have learned from your AP Environmental Science or AP U.S. History course.
Here are some ideas to consider:
Write a blog series that discusses the home-gardening tips and tricks
Put together informational videos about U.S. history that incoming students could refer to
Volunteer with a non-profit organization that focuses on a cause that you learned about in school
About Inspirit AI
AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) program that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive a personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.
