Student Success: Connections Academy Student Emery Allen Sings About DNA
byConnections Academy
2 min to readStudents enrolled in a Connections Academy-supported school are encouraged to take on their assignments with diligence and creativity. In high school student Emery Allen’s case, her biology teacher asked the students to modify the lyrics of an existing song for an assignment. With a love of music, Emery decided to take it one step further and picked up her guitar to write a song she called “Genetics.”
According to Emery, writing the song gave her the opportunity to do something she adores and combine it with an assignment. “I was beyond thrilled because songwriting is one of my favorite things to do.”
In the intro of her video, recalling the opportunity her online class gave her, she explains to her teacher that her hobby of writing songs is the reason she chose to take the assignment in this direction. Emery says she “got a little carried away,” but the end result is really something special to her.
Her song explains the way genetics works and how it makes up what you look like. Her lyrics are a fun way to explain how dominant and recessive genes work when combining to create a unique person. With catchy lyrics that explain that DNA is the reason her “eyes are brown” and “her brothers’ [are] green,” even though they came from the same set of parents.
She sings that without the variation in genetics, everyone would be the same.
The chance to get creative with assignments like this is really what makes Connections Academy so special. Bright, creative students are given the opportunity to express themselves in truly unique ways while working on the appropriate subject matter. Traditional classroom settings often limit creative expression, but online learning frequently allows students to integrate their interests into their coursework, like Emery did with her song.
Since the pandemic, Emery has spent a lot of her time creating music and finding opportunities to perform. Her non-traditional schooling ensures that she has time to pursue her passions, and her family seems thrilled by the situation.
Her mother made sure to tell us as much, thankful that Connections Academy is allowing her daughter to do the things she loves, unhindered by a traditional school schedule.
“Indiana Connections Academy has been a blessing to us,” she said, “We are so thankful for the flexible schedules and great teachers. Thank you all.”