Recalling the Past – Juniors Give Advice about OHP to Sophomores

April 14, 2010 • Matt Adams, Staff Writer  
Filed under News

“It’s Over.” The class of 2011 cheered and clapped, knowing that all the hard work that they had put into their final Oral History Projects had finally come to a close. The months that they had put into researching, writing papers, interviewing people that participated in historical events, and transcribing the interviews was accomplished.

After about five months of hard work and persistence, the current juniors displayed their final work on posters, which filled MacDonald Hall at the Oral History Coffee House on March 2.

Juniors advise:

Julia Karron, who interviewed Mike Eruzione (coach of 1980 winter Olympics American hockey team that beat the Soviet Union), stated, “Pick something you’re passionate about or really love. This sounds like something really obvious, but it helps so much. If you meet the deadlines, I almost guarantee you your life will be a billion times easier.”

David Taboh, stated, “The context paper, in my opinion, is one of the hardest parts. The more research you do the easier it will be. Pace yourself well. And for the interview, it should be most enjoyable part of project and it should be very interesting. Ask good questions and be relaxed during interview.”

The advice that was mentioned the most for rising juniors, class of 2012, was to choose a topic that you are interested in or what to know more about and to keep on the schedule and make sure you stick to the given deadlines for each part of the project.

It is a tradition that when the current juniors are done with the OHP that they tell the sophomores how difficult the Oral History Project has been for them. (I certainly experienced this when I was a sophomore.) Some current sophomores share what they heard and thought of having to start their own Oral History Project next fall.

Sophomores anticipate:

A main concern among current sophomores seems to be that the Oral History Project will be very time consuming and will take much effort on their part.

Jaclyn Rales said, “I’ve heard that it requires a lot of hard work as well as the will and ability to put countless hours into a topic. I know it will demand strenuous efforts as well as a large portion of time, but I am looking forward to studying a topic or event in great depth.”

There were mixed reactions to having to do the OHP as juniors. Some looked forward to it.

Melanie Slosser stated, “I have heard that the Oral history project is a very time consuming project. But in the end the project really pays off. I am looking forward to working on the project because I think that learning about a topic, I wouldn’t have other wise of studied, will pay off at some point in my life.”

While others are not…

Justin Pugrant states, “Everyone has said its very time consuming as well as taking up most of the percentage of your second trimester grade. The research paper took a fair amount of time.”

“I’ve heard that it’s terrible,” stated Matt Oberdorfer, a rising junior. “I’ve heard that it’s not too bad though if you pick a topic that interests you. I am not looking forward to it in the slightest!”

And the final word:

Another junior gives the final words to a rewarding, but difficult and long project. The Oral History Project is and will be a long standing tradition at St. Andrew’s that is full of the history of the past, which could be forgotten to time.

“The oral history was a great learning experience and my favorite part was sitting at the Silver Diner with a bound copy of the project in the middle of the table…being done,” said Krissia Rivera.

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