On Tuesday May 5, Anthony Commons was transformed into a showcase of student voices, perspectives, and research as students in the senior Rutgers dual-credit College Writing class presented projects centered around issues they personally cared about.
Set up like a symposium, the showcase featured research posters arranged throughout the cafeteria while students stood beside their work explaining their findings to classmates, teachers, and visitors. Attendees walked from presentation to presentation, asked questions about the research, and voted for the projects they found most impactful.
While each topic differed, many of the projects shared a common theme: students using research to better understand issues that affect people both locally and globally.
For senior Miley Le, her project focused on the “model minority myth” and the harmful stereotypes often associated with Asian Americans.
“A lot of peers and family support the model minority myth,” Le said. “It defines Asian Americans as passive individuals, and there are a lot of racist undertones in it. I wanted to clear that up.”
Through her research, Le explored how the stereotype shapes expectations surrounding Asian Americans and influences broader conversations about race in America. She also connected the topic to movements such as Black Lives Matter, examining how racial narratives can sometimes be used to divide minority communities against one another.
Le said one of the most interesting parts of the project was realizing how deeply internalized the stereotype has become.
“It was interesting to find out how people internalize the model minority myth in events and situations we don’t even think it plays into,” she said.
Another student, Ayush Desai, chose to research the humanitarian crisis in Palestine after seeing a video online that changed the way he viewed privilege and everyday life.
“I was scrolling and saw a video asking people, ‘If you could wish for one thing, what would it be?’” Desai said. “Americans were asking for consumerist things, while Palestinian children were asking for basic needs.”
The contrast motivated Desai to look deeper into the effects of war, displacement, and international silence surrounding the crisis.
His research explored topics ranging from the psychological effects of conflict on children to the impact of blockades on access to necessities such as hygiene products and medical care.
Desai said researching the topic pushed him outside of his comfort zone and forced him to confront issues he believes are often overlooked.
“There’s silence from global powers,” Desai said. “No one says anything.”
College Writing teacher Ms. Kays said the showcase was created to give students the opportunity to research issues they genuinely cared about while also allowing them to share their perspectives publicly.
“Our students care so much about all these different topics and spent a long time researching things that mattered to them,” Kays said. “They wanted to make their voices heard and share their perspectives.”
According to Kays, one of the most rewarding parts of the event was seeing students become deeply invested in topics that extended beyond the classroom.
“I like seeing students care about things,” she said.
Throughout the showcase, students moved between presentations discussing topics ranging from race and identity to humanitarian issues and social justice. The atmosphere resembled a college-level symposium, with presenters answering questions, explaining evidence, and engaging in conversations about the significance of their work.
More than just a research assignment, the showcase shared how students can use writing and research as a way to explore personal interests, challenge assumptions, and bring attention to issues they believe deserve greater awareness.
By the end of the event, Anthony Commons had become more than just a cafeteria filled with poster boards. It became a space where students were able to turn curiosity into conversation and research into something meaningful for the wider school community.
