On February 9th, the students of AP Literature brought their perfect humans to school! The room was crowded with models ranging in size, gender, and attributes.

The project is modeled to close out the Frankenstein unit. Just like Victor Frankenstein, students were tasked to create their own perfect creature, with a couple of guidelines. The creation must be human and must be handmade.

Along with the models, students prepared presentations on Nature vs. Nurture, and how their creation chalks up against Frankenstein’s. Essays and pamphlets were made, along with memories to last a lifetime.

Natalie Eng, a senior in Mrs. Ballew’s AP Literature class, really enjoyed the project. “I loved being able to be more creative. Sure, there were guidelines, but ultimately, we called the shots.”

This kind of freedom is proven by the differences in each model. “It’s really cool to see how different each model is. Everyone made their own choices and added their own special flair.”

Asora Gonzales, also in Mrs. Ballew’s AP Literature class, loved the challenge. “A lot of people worked with groups, but I chose to work on my own. It was really fulfilling to complete.”

The project was definitely a lot of work, so it’s very impressive to accomplish it all on your own. “The hardest part was probably making sure I included everything. There’s a lot of parts and only one of me, so that was a real challenge.”

This project not only got the students’ creative juices flowing, but they also taught a valuable lesson about ambition. Mrs. Moreno, an English teacher for seniors, believes that this lesson in particular is very important for young adults to learn. She said, “The dangers of unchecked human innovation and desires? It’s very hard for decisions to just affect yourself and careless actions can hurt others.”

This is a very valuable lesson for teenagers indeed, as they are known risk takers! Without proper guidance, these urges can lead to negative outcomes. Moreno said, “People are more than just the sum of their parts and social-emotional neglect can have dire consequences.”

The projects were an amazing opportunity for students to show their creativity, and to learn a valuable lesson about ambition and selfishness. Not only did they gain valuable experience in working together, but they also got to step into Frankenstein’s shoes and truly gain an understanding of Mary Shelley’s novel.