Ethan Allen

10800 Highway 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
843-650-5600
ethanallen@g.horrycountyschools.net

30 November 2017

Senior Digital Exploration Judges

10800 Highway 707
Murrells Inlet, SC 29577

Dear Judges:

I am Ethan Allen and I am a senior at St. James High School. I began attending St. James my
ninth grade year and have loved every part of it. I love the challenge of this school and the
people I have met along the way. However, my journey throughout high school is about to reach
its end as I am graduating on June 4th. To describe my feelings of anticipation and sadness is
difficult, my emotions are a mixture of excitement and nostalgia as I reminisce about the
experiences I have been through at St James. But, as the old saying goes, all good things must
come to an end.

My Senior Project topic has to do with the modern, societal concept of white privilege. I chose
the subject because I wanted to talk about something I have personally felt. When I first began
research, I knew what the concept was but I did not know an exact definition. Once I had found a
sufficient definition, I would use it as my thesis. But the definition of white privilege not only
provided me a thesis, it gave me insight into parts of our society that are not spoken up about
enough. For me, the Senior Project gave something that one can never get enough of, which is
knowledge.

The Senior Project is difficult if one is not willing to put in the work provided, this much is true.
When one does put in effort for their project, they still face obstacles. For me, obstacles such as
reliability and bias appeared frequently when I was doing my research. Often, sources were
heavily politically conservative or liberal. I worked hard to provide papers that were unbiased
and my efforts taught me something that one must do when their opinions are attacked or they
are offended. That is, of course, to speak up when ones opinions are met with backlash or anger.

Lastly, I would like to thank you judges for your attendance and participation in the Senior
Project. I would also like to thank you for giving the time to listen to the events that have
partaken in my life in the past year.
Sincerely,
Ethan Allen
Ethan Allen