The MYP Personal Project is a milestone in the Middle Years Programme. It allows students to embark on a self-directed learning journey that reflects their interests, passions, and creativity. Through this process, they develop essential skills such as research, communication, and self- management while exploring meaningful topics. The Personal Project challenges students to think critically, apply ATL skills, and embody the IB Learner Profile attributes as they work towards creating a final product that represents their learning.
In this Personal Project series, we will be sharing the unique journeys of our MYP5/Grade 10 students as they present their projects. Each story highlights their inspiration, learning process, and achievements.
We begin with Aseye Torkornoo, Grade 10, whose project, Mirror to Blues, explores the art of lyric writing and self-expression through music. Her song is a reflection on self-love, resilience, and identity.
Let’s support and celebrate Aseye’s creativity by liking, sharing, and subscribing to her YouTube channel!
MYP Personal Project – Mirror to Blues
Name: Aseye Torkornoo
Learning Goal: Learn the art of lyric writing
Product Goal: Create a song on self-love
Project Supervisor: Mrs Cecilia Oppan
Listen to my song on YouTube! https://youtu.be/-8hY8Uj2U6s?si=X8s_CpTJe6D8nWfn
Writing Mirror to Blues was a deeply personal and creative journey that stemmed from my desire to explore themes of self-identity, resilience, and empowerment. I was inspired by the idea of self- reflection and how people often struggle to see their own strengths. Through this song, I wanted to send a message of encouragement, reminding individuals to embrace who they are and recognise their own worth. The title itself represents the contrast between self-doubt (Blues) and self-acceptance (Mirror), symbolising the transformation one undergoes when one learns to see one’s true value.
Throughout the songwriting process, several Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills played a crucial role in shaping my work. One of the most significant skills I utilised was communication. Expressing emotions and messages effectively through lyrics required me to carefully choose my words and structure the song in a way that resonated with listeners. I also applied creative thinking, experimenting with different melodies and lyrical styles to create a meaningful and musically engaging song.
The IB Learner Profile attributes also influenced my journey. The attribute of reflective was particularly important because writing Mirror to Blues required me to think deeply about personal experiences and emotions, as well as consider how my message would impact others. Additionally, open-mindedness helped me explore different musical influences and perspectives, ensuring that my song was authentic and relatable.
Overall, writing Mirror to Blues was an enlightening experience that allowed me to express my thoughts creatively while developing key skills that align with both the ATL and IB Learner Profile. It reinforced the power of music as a tool for self-expression and inspired me to continue using my voice to uplift and motivate others.
Mirror to Blues By: Aseye.Torks
I woke up this morning, mirror catchin’ my eye
thought I was someone different, guess it was a lie
Now I’m sad that ones no surprise
Now I’m feeling low, got the blues but listen to the news and it says
You’re amazing you are strong You can’t go wrong
Look in the mirror see a star, you’ve come so far
Embrace yourself and love who you are
Shine your light don’t hide your fire You’re the dream that you inspire
Every mark, every trace, holds a story that I embrace
I’ll cherish every part of me for who I am and who I’ll be
With the strength I’ve found inside
I’ll take on life with open eyes My heart and soul will both show
You’re amazing you are strong You can’t go wrong
Look in the mirror and see a star, you’ve come so far Embrace yourself and love who you are
Shine your light, don’t hide your fire You’re the dream that you inspire
My Personal Project: Kisetsu Reincarnation
Hello everyone!
My name is Charis Kudiabor and I recently completed my Personal Project.
When the lockdown began in 2020, I had just turned 11 years old with a new Netflix subscription. I spent my immense free time watching Netflix shows and came across my favourite one to this day: Hilda. It was an animated series about a brave and adventurous girl who moves from the wilderness to the city and her journey of adaptation. I loved the concept of Hilda’s story and it inspired me to create a similar story. That was how I wrote my first novel. I immediately fell in love with writing and the power it gave me through creativity. I worked hard on my stories and wrote at least one story each year.
This love for storytelling continued over the years, and when the time came to choose a project for 2024, I knew my story would be the perfect fit for my Personal Project: Kisetsu Reincarnation.
I came up with the name after much contemplation. The story idea had come in late 2023 but I knew I needed a name before making the project official.
The name contains aspects of Japanese culture (a culture I had always found interesting) with Kisetsu (季節) meaning season and Reincarnation being the continuous cycle of life. The title reflected the forever changing seasons of life and how people may also change with them.
In Kisetsu Reincarnation, Ryouma, a determined high school student, is committed to earning a prestigious university scholarship to alleviate his family’s financial burdens. Once an average student, he evolves into a leading contender through sheer dedication and rivalry with the brilliant Seishiro. However, his relentless pursuit of success is disrupted when he encounters Naomi, a transfer student whose warmth and support introduce him to a world beyond academics. As Ryouma navigates intense competition, personal struggles, and unexpected love, he discovers that true success isn’t solely about rankings – it’s about growth, passion, and the people who shape us along the way.
Ryouma is initially apathetic and unserious about his education until he sets that goal for himself. It was unlikely that he would succeed, given his prior academic abilities, but one attitude he developed gave him a terrific head start in achieving it. This was effort. After he began putting effort into his studies, along with support from his peers, things started turning around positively for him at school, and he rose significantly in his class rankings. In the end, he was awarded the scholarship. Ryouma’s story reflects my struggles and triumphs in academia. I realised that if one is intelligent but does not invest effort in their studies, they will not achieve good results. Therefore, effort distinguishes good students from bad ones and the successful from the unsuccessful. We must all remember This valuable life lesson throughout our education and beyond.
The ATL skills were instrumental in the writing of Kisetsu Reincarnation. Not only were communication skills helpful in allowing me to convey my ideas on paper elegantly and suitably, but also allowed me to receive feedback on my story, which helped me improve it even more. I demonstrated the IB learner Profile of a Communicator. I want to thank all my friends and my supervisor, Mr Ato Bentum, who made this story possible.
There were some times when I thought that I would not be able to finish my story. I was initially laidback when I started writing Kisetsu Reincarnation because I believed I had more than enough time over the break to start and finish such a short story. However, I forgot to account
that I would be travelling a lot during the summer break, first on the France Trip and then vacation with my family. This left me with less time than I expected, and before I knew it, the deadline to submit my project was in a few days. I was in London when I finally got serious and spent the two nights before the deadline finishing the story. My family was very supportive during this time, and I owe them a huge part of Kisetsu Reincarnation’s success.
Looking back, I realise that Kisetsu Reincarnation isn’t just a story about Ryouma – it reflects my own growth as a writer and a student. Through this project, I learned that success isn’t just about natural talent but the effort we put in every step of the way. I hope readers find inspiration in Ryouma’s journey, as I did while writing it.
My story is now available to read on Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/story/375109234-kisetsu-reincarnation Please look forward to my exhibition next Saturday!
My Personal Project – Enhancing Tennis Performance
N
ame: Daniela Ndukaire
Learning Goal: To execute the basic skills of tennis through daily practice, focusing on the serve, backhand, and footwork, within three months.
Product Goal: To create a short video that will serve as a guide to beginners in the sport who wish to play tennis at a competition level.
Project Supervisor: Mr Callistus Sullo
For my MYP Personal Project, I focused on improving my tennis performance by applying Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills. Inspired by my love for sports, I wanted to challenge myself, refine my abilities, and grow as a learner and an athlete. Tennis requires discipline, strategy, and resilience, making it the perfect challenge for my personal project.
Developing Essential ATL Skills
Throughout this journey, I developed key ATL skills that helped me stay focused and overcome challenges.
Communication Skills – Regular collaboration with my supervisor, coach, and parents played a significant role in my progress. My supervisor helped me structure my project and refine my goals, while my coach guided me in improving my technique. My parents supported me by helping me balance my schedule and stay motivated.
Planning and Time Management – Balancing training and school was not easy, so I created a structured plan to stay on track. I divided my practice into phases, focusing on improving my grip, footwork, serve accuracy, and game strategy. Using a planner helped me manage my time efficiently, ensuring I dedicated enough hours to both academics and sports.
Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving – I regularly assessed my performance by reviewing practice videos, identifying weaknesses, and making adjustments. Researching training methods and applying different techniques allowed me to refine my skills and develop a more strategic approach to the game.
Social and Collaboration Skills – Even though tennis is an individual sport, teamwork played a crucial role in my progress. Practising with a training partner and receiving feedback from my coach helped me improve my game. I learned to embrace constructive criticism and use it to refine my techniques.
Overcoming Challenges and Growth – One of my biggest successes was improving my footwork and serve accuracy. Documenting my progress through videos and photos gave me a clear picture of my growth.
This project not only enhanced my tennis skills but also taught me valuable lessons in perseverance, organisation, and self-discipline. Looking back, I am proud of how far I have come and eager to continue improving both on and off the court.
My Personal Project: Exploring The Theme of Positivity Through Designs
Name: Nana Adjoa Nhyra Asante
Learning Goal: To learn graphic design for clothing
Product Goal: To produce a wide range of designed socks that is affordable and attractive
Project Supervisor: Janet Enning
My name is Nana Adjoa Nhyira Asante and I designed socks as my personal project. Socks, because I wanted to see how much of the theme of positivity I could put on something as little.
What Inspired Me?
For over two years, I watched my mother bring designs to life through printing on various materials. She is a woman of many talents, but I admire her for her ability to transform simple garments with creative prints. Seeing her work with different materials, hearing her use technical terms like vinyl and screen printing, and watching
her navigate software like SignMaster and CorelDRAW sparked my curiosity.
What Did I Learn?
Throughout this project, I developed several important skills that align with the Approaches To Learning (ATL) Skills:
- Communication Skills: My project involved extensive interaction between an expert in graphic design and me. I gathered primary information by communicating and learning how to use CorelDRAW. For the process of designing, cutting, printing and weeding as well as the process of using machinery like the ‘Yinghe Plotting Machine’, I had to ensure that communication ran smoothly. I also had to be thoughtful about the questions I asked to receive effective feedback subsequently.
- Research Skills: Media literacy is key in shaping I recall exploring current teenage fashion trends through platforms like Pinterest, analysing different themes and styles that would resonate with my target audience. Additionally, I researched for simple quotes that exhibited optimism and the theme of positivity. Watching teen shows like Geek Girl, informed me about how clothing choices often reflect mood and personality.
Self-Management and Collaboration:
Managing my time and balancing different aspects such as relationships and studies, required strong self-discipline. Consistently collaborating with my mother and the other professionals in the industry taught me that it is important to seek guidance and learn from the experiences of others. Not only did I seek support from the elders, but I also encouraged my younger siblings to help, especially after recognising my younger brother’s skills in colour theory as it is something he loves to do.
Challenges and Successes:
Like any creative journey, mine was filled with both obstacles and achievements. One major challenge was self-doubt. While my designs looked great on paper, making them a reality was harder than expected. Consequently, I questioned my abilities and felt discouraged by my technical limitations. Instead of facing defeat, I revisited the advice and feedback from my mother, the expert, friends and family. From the notes I had, I engaged in ‘What makes a good design?’ which helped me refine my work and understand that perfection was not the goal.
This personal project allowed me to be more creative with a different medium while conveying a meaningful message. This experience has taught me perseverance and the use of embracing feedback. Most importantly, it has taught me that even the smallest designs–like that of a pair of socks–can bring positivity to a person’s life.
