Benilde-St. Margaret’s offers classes that are focused on developing certain skills that are often used in professional careers, and these classes have inspired many different students to take what they learn and apply it to their own lives and futures. For example, classes such as photography, graphic design, and biomed all help students develop skills that can be applied in future careers.
Photography is a class at BSM that is offered to every student in grades 9-12 with three different levels. Through taking these classes, students learn different skills and techniques that are used while taking photos. Photography I is centered on old-school photography, which uses a resource called the dark room to develop film onto sheets of paper. The second level of photography is called Photography Studio, which focuses on digital photos that are taken with a camera then edited online. AP 2D Art is the third level of photography that gives the option to pick a certain niche in photography and pursue that by making a portfolio that can receive college credit. Zach Moonan, a BSM senior taking AP 2D Art, has brought his skills outside of the classroom and has been pursuing photography for about a year. “I’ve started my own photography business, where I like [to] shoot for people that I know and also for companies,” Moonan said.
I’ve started my own photography business, where I like [to] shoot for people that I know and also for companies
— Zach Moonan
Graphic design is also a skill that can be translated to the workplace. Jack Jacobsen, a senior at BSM, has been taking graphic design for three years. He is currently in AP 2D art, and is pursuing his passion of graphic design through a business he created: Lumpys. He started his clothing business last school year, and the designs he used were from his class. Taking graphic design at BSM inspired this passion and allowed Jack to learn the essential skills he needed to start designing tee shirts and sweatshirts. “[I studied] the use of typography with shapes and different ways to manipulate words [to] make like kind of posters almost, but I put them on T-shirts,” Jacobsen said.
Biomed is a popular class at BSM among people who are intrigued by medicine. The class discusses biomedical sciences, which are responsible for creating modern day medicine and all the research that goes into medicine. Claire Hennen, who currently attends the University of Wisconsin Madison and is a Benilde St. Margaret’s alum, took all levels of Biomed. She took what she was learning and turned it into her passion. “Since attending UW Madison, I have joined a medical research lab in which I am able to participate in my own research as well as learn more about the real world implications and importance of medical research,” Hennen said.
Since attending UW Madison, I have joined a medical research lab in which I am able to participate in my own research as well as learn more about the real world implications and importance of medical research
— Claire Hennen
Furthermore, the specific teacher you have in a class can be very telling of what and how much you learn from the class. In these skill-based classes, there are teachers that have the skill mastered, and they are the reason these young kids are finding their passion. “The two teachers that I have had are Miss Rahn and Mr. Zinn. I would say both of them inspired me in like some different ways like Miss Rahn had my original inspiration, because she pushed me to keep shooting and keep creating. Mr. Zinn inspired me through AP photography, where the class is set up a little bit differently. You have to pursue an investigation and the investigation has really inspired me to try new things and keep pushing my investigation to discover different forms of photography, and different ways to shoot,” Moonan said.
The students that have taken these classes in the past have great things to say about them, but when asked if they would change anything they all have similar opinions. “For photography studio, I think that there could be more assignments driven on like more of a business aspect. for example, you could do a product photography shoot, or you could go shoot a sports team [that usually you would get] hired to do it, but just do it for free. So just create your own business, but end up doing it for free through the classroom assignments,” Moonan said.
The idea of creating a business revolving around something you love is something that can be very beneficial. Lots of people who try and start small businesses struggle and end up failing. By offering different skill based classes that can lead into businesses that students can start at any age, BSM gives its students a huge advantage. In these classes you may be starting something that you could be doing for the rest of your life, and that is something that should be implemented in other ways throughout BSM and other schools.