Where Curiosity Meets Creativity: The Class of 2028 Personal Projects
During the Middle Years Programme Personal Projects presentation, the CDS gym came alive as a vibrant showcase of curiosity, creativity, and personal growth, with our tenth graders proudly unveiling the culmination of their MYP journey. From hands-on experiments and artistic explorations to deeply personal endeavors, each project told a compelling story of passion transformed into action.
The CDS gym looked a little different this week. Instead of the usual sounds of practices and classes, the space was lined with project boards, prototypes, artwork, research displays, and students standing proudly beside months of work. For our tenth graders, this was not just another school event. It was the moment their Middle Years Programme journey came to life.
March 3rd marked the presentation of the MYP Personal Projects, the culminating experience of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme at Carrollwood Day School. Beginning in sixth grade, the MYP challenges students to think deeply, ask meaningful questions, and connect their learning to the world around them. The Personal Project represents the foundation of that work. It asks students to take everything they have learned about research, creativity, reflection, and perseverance and apply it to something that truly matters to them.
The project itself has three components: a final product, a written report, and a presentation. But the heart of the experience is something deeper. It is the moment when curiosity meets ownership. Students choose their topic, design their process, and push themselves to see an idea through from concept to completion.
As the Class of 2028 lined the gym with their displays, there was an unmistakable sense of accomplishment. Students eagerly welcomed visitors, ready to share the stories behind their work. Each project began with a passion and grew into something meaningful through creativity, research, and personal growth.
Some projects focused on strengthening skills students already loved while pushing themselves into new territory. Watercolor artist Lana Xu explored mixed media, learning how different materials interact and solving creative challenges between wax, ink, and paint. Aubrey Apanovitch deepened her passion for horses by completing college level coursework in equine handling and medicine, exploring a possible future in veterinary science.
Other students built entirely new skills. Gavin Zebrowski and Ethan Esguerra designed and constructed a functional tank hull modeled after the American T34, navigating engineering challenges and learning how failure can be part of the design process. Kaitlyn Nolt and Lauren Anglim each wrote their first novels, very different in theme but both rooted in a love for storytelling.
For some, the project was deeply personal. Brenna Coe used her experience with a heart condition to study heart rate data and better understand how her medication affects her body. Through the process, she gained both knowledge and confidence, turning a personal challenge into a powerful learning opportunity.
The range of projects reflected the individuality of the class. Students explored music, sports, culinary traditions, mechanical design, creative writing, and even practical life skills such as learning how to sew or navigating the process of purchasing a car for the first time. What stood out most was not just the creativity of the projects, but the way students spoke about them. With confidence and pride, they explained their goals, the obstacles they faced, and the lessons they learned along the way. The fair was more than a showcase of finished products. It was a celebration of growth.
The Personal Project is a cornerstone of an IB education because it reminds students that learning does not happen in isolation. It happens when curiosity leads to action, when ideas turn into experiments, and when students realize they are capable of far more than they imagined.
A special thank you goes to Sabrina McCartney, our CDS MYP Coordinator, whose guidance and support help students navigate this ambitious process each year. Because of her leadership and the dedication of our faculty, the Personal Project continues to be a defining milestone in the CDS experience. Standing in the gym that day, surrounded by the work of the Class of 2028, one thing was clear. These projects were not just the end of a program. They were the beginning of what these students are capable of creating next.
How have you embraced risk-taking this school year? Share your experience with the MARCOM Department for a chance to be featured on the Portrait of a Patriot Blog.