Learning Through Her Lens: How Monika's Independent Study Blends History and Film
- Stuart Murray
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
When Kairos senior Monika McDuffie sat down with her history teacher, Brianna Willis, to talk about senior year, she wasn’t looking for another standard class. She wanted a chance to design something of her own.
“I’ve always loved history and film,” Monika explained. “So the independent study that I’m doing is called History Through the Lens of Film. We’ve been watching different films and researching the real historical events behind them–and then comparing how each tells the story.”
Her project, which began in August, explores how movies portray historical events both as they happen and in retrospect–from films made during the Great Depression or the space race to modern retellings made decades later.
A Classroom That Starts With Curiosity
For Brianna, the project fit naturally into what she wanted history learning at Kairos to be: flexible, student-driven, and deeply connected to curiosity.
“From the very beginning of the high school history department, we wanted to create space for student input–for courses to evolve around their interests,” Brianna said. “We started developing a set of ‘History Through…’ electives–History through Film, through Art, through Literature–that would let students go deep into what excites them.”
When only two students expressed interest in the film course, Brianna proposed turning it into a true independent study, with the students leading their own research and film analysis.
Monika agreed immediately. The topic aligned not only with her academic interests but also with her future goals. “I want to go into film,” she said, “so I thought this would be really helpful and useful–especially to get that experience of doing a research project before college.”
Independence With a Safety Net
For Brianna, saying yes was easy–not because it would be simple, but because she trusted her students to lead.
“Monika is someone who can balance her time, advocate for herself, and manage a challenge,” Brianna said. “I knew they could handle this level of independence. My job would be to make sure they had the resources, structure, and access they needed to succeed.”
That mentorship has taken many forms–from one-on-one planning meetings to field trips that brought the study to life.
“We took a trip to Memphis to meet filmmakers and historians who tell real stories through film,” Brianna said. “They got to have real conversations–not just Q&A sessions–with people who’ve made Sundance-winning documentaries. That’s the kind of access I want our students to have.”
Monika said that kind of support makes all the difference. “I meet with Brianna two or three times a week,” she explained. “Some days we’re talking through research, other days I’m watching or analyzing films. She helps me stay focused, but she also gives me space to explore.”
Discovering the Power of Story
At the heart of Monika’s project is a question: How do people tell history as it’s happening–and how does that story change over time?
To explore it, she’s studying films across decades and continents–from postwar Germany to mid-century Japan to Cold War-era America.
“I like to look at how different countries tell their own stories,” she said. “Movies teach history all the time–they shape how people understand what happened.”
One of her biggest surprises came while watching a 1950s sci-fi film, Missile to the Moon. “I’d always thought Americans were skeptical of the space race–that most people thought it was unnecessary,” Monika said. “But this movie made it seem exciting and heroic. It made me realize that film doesn’t just reflect history–it can reshape it.”
The Mentor’s View
Brianna sees the project as more than a research exercise. It’s a model for how Kairos helps students learn how to learn.
“I want my students to leave with curiosity and a love of learning–not just the ability to memorize content,” she said. “The content is just the shell. What matters most is the skill inside: how to ask good questions, how to seek information, how to take ownership.”
That philosophy runs through everything she does. Whether she’s teaching a full class or mentoring two students, Brianna tries to balance rigor with joy.
“I never want classwork to feel like a punishment,” she said. “If students are curious and feel trusted to explore, they’ll do amazing things. Monika’s project is proof of that.”
Growth That Lasts
For Monika, the independence of this project has been transformative.
“It’s made me more confident in doing research and managing my own work,” she said. “I think it’s prepared me for college–where you have to take on big projects and figure things out on your own.”
She also credits the broader Kairos model for helping her build those skills.
“The whole structure of Kairos–the projects and mentoring–it’s what made this possible,” she said. “If I went to a school that was just tests and worksheets, I don’t think I’d be ready for something like this.”
Brianna agrees. “When students have trust and autonomy, they see themselves as participants in their own lives,” she said. “Our role as teachers is to create boundaries, offer support, and believe that they can do hard things. Because once they believe it too–anything is possible.”
Looking Ahead
As the semester wraps up, Monika is finishing her research paper and preparing to present her findings this spring. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in film–one that tells stories rooted in history.
“I want to make movies that help people see history differently,” she said. “This project has shown me how powerful film can be–not just to entertain, but to teach.”
Brianna smiles when she hears that. “That’s the goal,” she said. “Not to turn every student into a historian–but to help them find their own way of exploring the world.”
About Kairos Academies: Kairos is a free public charter school focused on student ownership, strong relationships, and real-world learning. With personalized support through one-on-one mentoring, Kairos prepares students to thrive in high school, college, and beyond. Families can apply now for grades 5-12.
