--- title: On a Personal Note… Journeys in the Distinguished Scholar Diploma description: At CH-CH, the Distinguished Scholar Diploma allows students to test themselves academically while engaging with material that they are passionate about. image: https://blog.chch.org/hubfs/Distinguished%20Scholars-1.png --- - [Login](https://www.chch.org/app) Search - [Parent/Guardian](https://www.chch.org/parentguardian) - [Alumni](https://www.chch.org/page/alumni) - [Summer](https://www.runningbrook.org/) - [Calendar](https://www.chch.org/page/ch-ch-calendar) - [Contact](https://www.chch.org/page/contact) - [Apply](https://www.chch.org/admissions/apply) - [myCH-CH](https://chch.myschoolapp.com/app#login) [![CHCH](https://blog.chch.org/hubfs/ChapelHill_September2018%20Theme/Images/Main-Banner-Logo.png)](https://www.chch.org/Page) - [Admissions](https://www.chch.org/admissions) - [About](https://www.chch.org/page/about) - [Academics](https://www.chch.org/page/academics) - [Student Life](https://www.chch.org/page/student-life) - 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Students create a self-guided curriculum, beginning the summer before senior year and culminating in a defense of their diploma for a panel of faculty and staff. We had the chance to sit down with three seniors this spring and learn about their quest for the DSD. Avery Peterson ‘26 chose to pursue the DSD in Writing/English, but with his lifelong passion for music, he knew he wanted to turn his attention to songwriting rather than traditional prose. His inspiration for his lyrics was his great-uncle Robert, who tragically lost his life to suicide; Avery drew on Robert’s story to craft songs around themes of acceptance and letting love live on. It “became a way to write a story” through lyrics, Avery explains. The culminating work - an album titled *Robert’s Waltz* - [is now available on Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/4AQO1Hfo4kcNwLo3VqsSBY). ![55057305128_89bd593982_o](https://blog.chch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/55057305128_89bd593982_o.jpg?width=2048&height=1365&name=55057305128_89bd593982_o.jpg) When asked about the biggest challenge, Avery cites his own internal critic: “I didn’t realize how much I would change,” he notes, in the year between composing his songs and presenting his work. Avery was in charge of every aspect of production, not only composing the music and lyrics but also performing and mixing the album. “It made me learn you can’t do everything yourself,” he concedes, perhaps the most valuable lesson to carry forward into his college journey. “When you perform, it’s all from your perspective. You need other people to touch your work, sometimes.” Jordan Martin ‘26 likewise brought his personal passions to not one but two distinguished scholar diplomas. His first is a DSD in STEM/Architecture. Jordan attended a summer program at Boston Architectural College and interned at an architecture firm on Martha’s Vineyard, where they designed spec houses, topography, and more. His second DSD is in Music (a first for the school!), which has been part of his life since he was a kid - including early lessons in recorder and ukulele before moving on to drums at age 8 - but he knew he wanted to push himself further. “Growing up,” Jordan reflects, “I was allowed to listen to gospel, Beyoncé, and jazz. I’ve loved discovering music… and exploring different genres.” As his culminating project, he learned and recorded the drum line to every song in Beyoncé’s *B’Day* album. Although the fields of architecture and music might seem dissimilar, Jordan sees multiple intersections between the two. His real passion is to design bar and club venues - places to listen to music, in other words: “How I can make someone’s life more enjoyable, even in the back of a concert hall,” he wonders, for example. Similarly, he finds that the genre of music he listens to as he designs impacts the structures. Finally, there is repetition to both architecture and melody: “The same way melody repeats throughout songs, the same in architecture.” ![55307505386_405ab0e3eb_o](https://blog.chch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/55307505386_405ab0e3eb_o.jpg?width=5336&height=3557&name=55307505386_405ab0e3eb_o.jpg) The biggest challenge, Jordan notes, was not juggling the workload of two DSDs (“These are things I enjoy, so it didn’t feel like work!” he enthuses), but actually selecting the album *B’Day* for the final project. He knew the album would have to be manageable to learn, but also something to which he would feel connected *and* be able to listen to over and over again. Much as the rhythms of a song repeat, or the repeating columns on a portico, Jordan doesn’t see himself tiring of either passion any time soon. Finally, Elena Garcia brought her passion for (and personal struggles with) writing to her DSD in English. Although Elena chose to base her diploma around poetry, she openly admits that it is not an intuitive genre for her: “I always found poetry to be a challenge,” she explains during her presentation. “One time it even moved me to tears in class!” She credits teachers at CH-CH with finally making the genre approachable, which solidified her decision to frame her DSD around poetry. The capstone project, a neat compendium entitled *Elements of Poetry,* includes 42 poems, two works for each of 21 elements of style (such as Rhyme, Motif, and Anaphora). Not only was the project a way for Elena to explore and understand poetry and herself as a writer, but she’s created a mini manual of style for students who follow in her footsteps. ![55307743959_3b6cda0817_o](https://blog.chch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/55307743959_3b6cda0817_o.jpg?width=4988&height=3325&name=55307743959_3b6cda0817_o.jpg) Elena’s curriculum included a six-week writing course through Gotham Writers, and a community presentation during Community Day, discussing issues currently facing literature such as censorship. When asked what the most rewarding part of her DSD was, Elena cites seeing her work in physical form, a manifestation of how much she had learned. ![IMG_2387](https://blog.chch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_2387.jpg?width=300&height=400&name=IMG_2387.jpg) What came through, talking to all three seniors, was their deeply personal and individualized journeys, as they crafted the diploma around their passions and skills. Best of luck to all three scholars as they pursue their path in college this fall!   Avery will enter Tulane in fall 2026 and plans to major in Music. Jordan will enter George Tech in fall 2026 and plans to major in Architecture. 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