What is Success?

In this project, students considered the idea of success through both humanities and science lenses. On the science side, they explored genetics and molecular biology to deepen their understanding of what success can look like. Students ran genetic labs, learned about DNA structures, and taught local middle school students about genetics. They examined the science behind healthy cell propagation, successful genetic traits, and evolution.

On the humanities side, students shared ideas about success with peers in the United States and read reflections from various philosophers. They worked to write their own children’s storybooks that conveyed their personal perspectives on success. In their broader discussions, students studied Gandhi’s ideas on civil disobedience as a means of creating societal change and examined his campaign to free India from British rule. Through Socratic Harkness seminars and short persuasive papers, they developed and defended their own understandings of what it means to succeed.

The project culminated with students reading their published storybooks to their classmates and receiving feedback on their work.