"Hi, my name is Sheryl Anayas and I am currently a third-year student at the University of California in Davis. I am here to share with you some of my personal experiences that I have had with project-based learning and the impact it has made on my life, academically and personally.

When I was a junior in high school, I was really interested in learning about broadcasting in a hands-on manner. Working for the school newspaper would have been a prospective outlet in helping me get this experience, but I didn't have one at my high school. So, I decided to intern somewhere.

Fortunately, I began an internship working for a dynamic project-based learning organization called Science Interchange that broadcasts science news via the Internet and by radio. While here, I was part of their Teen Environmental Media Network which offers high school students a real world experience working in environmental journalism. I learned how to write text news pieces, interview scientists and research on topics of my choosing. Also, I had the opportunity to step in front of the microphone and record my own pieces for Internet broadcast. All of these accomplishments that I've had have been tremendously rewarding for me because I was engaged in a task I really wanted to do. And, because it was project-based, I felt free to ask questions, make decisions on my own, and collaborate with others which really helped me to develop my critical thinking skills. Plus, I've definitely gained more confidence as a communicator - a skill that was not something that my high school classes seemed to really focus on. Yet, it's a skill that I have found to be so incredibly essential in the workplace and in my everyday life.

More importantly, by interning for an organization that was project-based, I discovered how significant the learning process is and how it really needs to be engaging in order for students to be able to apply the information they learn. Plus, the fact that I was learning about environmental issues raised this whole new level of environmental consciousness for me. This is something that students need to learn early on in their lives. And, I think that project-based learning in the classrooms can provide that along with helping students to build real-world skills."

"I was very nervous getting recorded for the first time. I thought that I looked stupid trying to speak with an active voice. But then all of that went away. It is a good feeling to experience. It's like you're the star."

"I recently published an article on Earth Day, and felt a sense of accomplishment in seeing my work featured in EarthScope, Science Interchange's local environmental newspaper column. It was like looking at the beginning of my career in journalism."

"TEMN changed my opinions about the media. After this program, I think anybody could sound like a professional reporter in a 2-minute program."

"My favorite day was the narration recording day. I felt like I'd done something by myself. Although I was nervous, I was having a great time learning and opening up myself. They won't ever teach you how to make a good presentation or speech confidently at school. But I've learned it in this project."

"I just wanted to let you know that I am at school right now in Oberlin! It is so awesome and I wanted to say thank you because the internship played an important role in my acceptance here."

"I'm so happy I got to spend the summer working with SI. It was a memorable experience that I will always keep with me. I can't believe how much I've learned from you and all the people I encountered through interviews...It sounds corny, but this experience has really changed my life...You guys have shown me the light — now I have to let it guide me."