Senior Project is a class run by Mr. Goldberg at Oliver Ames High School that allows students to explore what they’re passionate about and be an independent worker. It involves fieldwork and a research paper that allows students to hyper-focus on a specific passion they may have. Goldberg says that this year’s group is very impressive, has unique projects, and is “as good as it gets.”
I asked three students who are participating in the Senior Project class about their work.
Matthew Nosalek – Electrical Engineering
Nosalek hopes to expand his knowledge in the field of Electrical Engineering by interning with his Uncle, who is his mentor for the project. His uncle works for Florence Electric and is very qualified for the position of mentor. He became interested in Electrical Engineering through his Uncle and looks up to him. Term one, he was enveloped with setting up his project, and with term two starting, Nosalek will be starting his internship with his Uncle.
Bret Silverman – Record Label
Silverman has always wanted to be an executive producer for his entire life and was inspired by Brian Eno, who worked with the likes of David Bowie, U2, Talking Heads, and many more. Silverman believes that musical talent and industry connections are only a part of the vehicle to help musicians. He believes a record label is vital for musicians to be entirely successful. Silverman put his music producing on hold while he ran Dust Collectors. Silverman described the tough choice that was putting his passion on hold, but the label saw exponential expansion in terms of reach and profits.
Silverman’s mentor is Erik Sarno, who is a producer and shop owner out of Sommerville MA. They met nearly two years ago, but their relationship did not prosper until Silverman’s interest in the local scene expanded, which has been key to discovering many talented Massachusetts musicians.
Dust Collectors focuses on the genre of LoFi, which is excellent for relaxing and studying. The genre has exploded with exponential growth in popularity since 2017. DC reaches nearly 10 million streams per month and is extraordinarily successful in terms of a label. They launched Visualizer in March and have seen great success with building a fan base.
Silverman says the Senior Project has been an amazing opportunity as it allows him to work in an environment that’s impossible for a school to provide as well as working on something he cares so deeply about.
You can check out Dust Collectors on Spotify at:
Stephanie Badran – Karam Foundation (Refugee Assistance)
Badran had first-hand experience with the hardships one encounters in a time of distress as she was escorted out of Lebanon in the midst of the 2006 Lebanese War. She describes that what she experiences in a week is incomparable to that of those in Syria which drives her to aid such a cause.
Badran originally came across the Karam Foundation through the connection of her mentor. The Karam Foundation promotes the importance of education, and because of this, they can send Syrian children out of the workforce and into schools. Her mentor is Allison Farrah, who is a family friend she met at the Saint Theresa Church. Badran describes that Farrah is well versed in composing church fundraisers and awareness, which will assist her in making community fundraisers. Farrah has a Lebanese background that breaks any language barriers that stand in their way.
Together, Badran and Farrah have created a timeline in regards to their next steps and met with the founder of the Karam Foundation. Their goals are to spread awareness and organize a community fundraiser. Badran believes that if their work helps one Syrian refugee, she will feel as though she has made a change in the world. She describes how an issue like this requires years of political and social change, yet, through her project, she hopes to reach the greater Boston area with the hardships that Syrian children and adults face every day.
The funds Badran raises will be used to allow Syrian children to obtain an education, which, according to Badran, is something taken for granted in the United States. Her constant determination feeds into her hope that she can bring at least one smile to the face of a Syrian refugee.