By Kendra Joyce
 
I graduated from Big Sky High School in Missoula, Montana, last June. Each year the graduating class is required to do a Senior Project with an activity component and a written research paper that relates to the activity field work. 
 
The process of this project was a year long journey that I will never forget. I began brain storming what I would do the summer before. I knew I wanted it to be special and to help someone out in a tremendous way. Because my mom has stuttered her whole life I wanted to help people with speaking disorders. I decided an exciting benefit opportunity would be to hold a poetry reading and call it Speak Your Beauty
 
I thought about my experiences reading poetry in front of people, and public speaking in general, and how scary and hard it can be to speak in front of people. People with speaking disorders go through this almost every time they speak. I think it is important for everyone to know that anything that they have to say, no matter what sound, shape, form, or speed it comes out, is beautiful if it means something to them. 
 
For the project, students are required to perform 15 hours of service related to their activity field. The research paper requirements include three to five pages, referencing a minimum of five sources, and including three direct quotes.
 
Students are also required to document the whole process and, on Senior Project Presentation Day, make a visual presentation and speak to community panel members about their project. The panel, consisting of three members of the Missoula community and one Big Sky High School teacher, score the presentations. 
 
My mom has always supported me in everything I have done, and the amount of support she gave me in this was very familiar. This project was not only special to me, but also very special to my mom. She was there any time I had questions about anything and listened to me present my project countless times, as practice for presentation day. My mom and I have always been very close, but we became even closer through this project. The main support that my mom gave me was being my inspiration. I have seen her struggles and the ignorance people often have towards those with speech impediments, so my main goal was to eliminate as much of that ignorance as I could. 
 
I learned so much through writing my paper and enjoyed every minute, but the poetry reading was by far the highlight of my experience. We had a smaller turnout but a very generous group at the reading. In addition to being able to make a contribution to the Foundation through the “Speak Your Beauty” benefit, everyone involved also learned about communication and giving on many levels. This experience is one of the things I will remember most about high school and I can hardly explain how incredibly special it was to me. I am looking forward to attending Montana State University this fall, deciding on a major, and competing on the MSU rodeo team. I know this project will benefit me in school and in life in general.
 
My mom and I, and everyone involved in this project, appreciate what the Stuttering Foundation does. We plan to continue to spread the word about the generosity and help people can find there. Thanks again for what you do and I hope that through my project I have made a difference in someone’s life.
 
Editor: Kendra’s school project raised $453 for the Stuttering Foundation. Thank you Kendra!
 
From the Fall 2014 Newsletter