On April 16-17, Middle Years Programme (MYP) Year 5 students showcased the results of their Personal Projects through the International Baccalaureate (IB) Exhibition held at the Preschool Gym.

This school year, the student-led initiatives spanned across disciplines. The projects covered sports training, engineering and computer science, music, visual and culinary arts, filmmaking and literature, and community engagement and advocacy.

Despite the Personal Project being a requirement, the Year 5 students viewed the process as meaningful as the final output. In her testimony, Angelica Lu reflected on how her experience in volunteering for animal welfare pushed her beyond her comfort zone. “If I [stayed] afraid, I won’t be able to see their situation and find ways to help these animals,” she said. Angelica also shared that she became a risk-taker and a more knowledgeable and caring person through this project.

Sharing the same sentiments about animal welfare, Kate De Guzman noted that the Personal Project was an opportunity for her to express her advocacy in a meaningful way. “This project gave me the chance to finally act on that feeling and turn it into something meaningful,” she stressed. During the exhibition, Kate set up a booth for animal adoption.

Meanwhile, Iñigo De Guzman described his Personal Project process as something that revealed his true capabilities. As he focused on designing his product, he encountered challenges and problems that he overcame through hard work and perseverance. “This helped develop my skills, and this experience significantly shaped my outlook on work and learning,” Iñigo shared.

The Personal Project is a year-long requirement of the IB Framework for the MYP Year 5 students, which aims to develop the students’ self-management skills. All throughout the process, supervisors and mentors support the students in planning, conducting, and presenting their projects.