MSMS is known for providing a large selection of classes including opportunities for independent study. This semester more than fifteen students are involved in MSMS Quandaries, a newly created independent study course that is based on the Math Modeling course. In this project-based class, teams of 2-5 students pick a relevant issue faced by students, faculty, and administrators at MSMS and work for a semester to create a solution.

Mrs. Lauren Zarandona, or Ms. Z, is the primary sponsor for this course. She was inspired to come up with this idea after the dual enrollment Intro to Engineering class with Mississippi State University was cancelled. Ms. Z says, “I really felt that students needed to replace the engineering class with an opportunity that also involved real-world math and would provide them with something meaningful.” She says that she suggested the idea to Mrs. Brown and within two days they came up with MSMS Quandaries.

The class requires that students collaborate to identify and solve an academic or student life-related problem at MSMS while also doing a great amount of research including interviews with appropriate resources. Ms. Z adds, “On many different levels, this project is about giving back to MSMS and looking at ways the students can make a difference.”

One of these projects revolves around MSMS scheduling and improving class flexibility for students. Seniors Haley Hsu and Maggie Ford are members of a team working on this subject. Hsu says, “The concept is really cool. It’s important that we can see and recognize issues but also that we address them.”

Ford agrees with these sentiments, saying, “I think the class is an awesome opportunity to improve or fix the issues that we have at MSMS while also using skills and reasoning to solve a problem. It really hits home because we’re not solving a fake problem but something that we actually notice.”

Ford adds that their specific project can help future MSMS students in being able to take all the courses they would like. Hsu says, “With scheduling students have issues and complaints every year. If we can come up with a basis or a standard schedule to go by, that could help the school a lot.”

Another project is to create a common collaborative space within budget for the MSMS campus where students can develop new and innovative ideas. The third project is about improving the MSMS application process and admissions criteria.

Senior Tia Wilson is working on this third project on a team of five. Wilson says, “MSMS quandaries is truly a quandary because we’re very uncertain about the outcome. We’re hoping though that by recreating the application we will change the school for the better, allowing it to give more opportunities to diverse students all over Mississippi.”

With two teams working on scheduling and a team for each of the other subjects, Ms. Z hopes to have working solutions in time for next year and also to continue the class in coming years. Ms. Z says that she would “like to see the problem extend into the community at large. If a business were to approach us with an issue, having student groups address those problems would be amazing.”