Allen County-Scottsville senior James Fisher enjoyed five weeks over summer break, challenged to deepen his learning and expand his growth as a participant in the prestigious Kentucky Governor’s Scholar Program.
Fisher’s GSP experience took place at Centre College in Danville. The young man is quick to note that GSP was unique.
“GSP was completely different from any classes or academic programs I've attended, which makes it really hard to explain to those not involved with the program,” Fisher said. “It was very focused on community and pushed scholars to meet and build relationships with new people from a variety of walks of life. GSP also used different teaching methods than traditional classes, almost like Socratic seminars, that really broadened each scholar's perspective on so many big topics.”
Fisher was assigned with a Focus Area and General Studies class. In his case, Psychology and Birding were his Focus Area and General Studies.
“Focus area classes were centered more on the topic, while general studies was more philosophical and all-encompassing, but still tied back to birds,” Fisher added. “My favorite part of Psychology was definitely when our class created our own psychological maturity survey, which we gave to all scholars, recorded the data, and presented it at the end of the summer. Because we had so many good discussions, General Studies was definitely my favorite class.”
Students in General Studies embarked upon a hands-on project that quickly caught Fisher’s eye.
“A key experience of general studies was creating our own bird nests from scratch,” Fisher explained. “We divided ourselves into groups of three, went outside, and scoured the campus for our materials. A couple buddies and myself gathered pine needles and cut grass, and then went to the natural spring, using moss and copious amounts of mud to build our nest. The product was fantastic, and we definitely had the best nest in the class, so I'm very proud of our work.”
Reflecting on GSP as a whole, Fisher struggled to share the extent of his time at Centre.
“The overall GSP experience was beyond phenomenal,” Fisher shared. “I truly do not have words to describe how much I love GSP. I made lifelong friends, learned valuable social skills, got a taste of college life, took so many opportunities to broaden my horizons, and got to make memories you couldn't reproduce anywhere else. GSP is one of the greatest and most impactful events in my life, and I believe it will be for as long as I live.”
Fisher added that GSP not only broadened his mind academically but also helped him grow as a high school senior.
“As I said earlier, GSP pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to learn how to make new friends and get along with everyone,” Fisher said. “The environment was totally different from typical high school life. No one had enemies, there were no exclusive groups, there was no hatred among the scholars---we were a family, and we treated each other with respect and compassion. I think that GSP prepared me for more than my senior year, I think it has helped prepare me for life. I hope to build connections with people as I did at GSP, instead of being awkward and closed off as I have before. I highly recommend GSP to anyone who will listen; it is more than well worth your time.”
As with all GSP attendees, Fisher found plenty of activities to engage in when classes were not in session.
“I had so much fun outside of class,” Fisher pointed out. “We scholars had so much free time and facilities available, and we used everything to our best ability. Whether we were playing cards, talking about our lives, playing tennis, hitting around a volleyball, playing ultimate Frisbee, or at one of the many clubs, we were always having fun together. There was never a dull moment at GSP, I always enjoyed my time there.”
Any AC-SH junior interested in GSP or needing more information can contact the high school guidance department.