Senior leaders Walker Edens ’25 and Nolan Miller ’25 will present their findings at this year’s Independent Study Symposium, May 1 from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. in the Stolz Dining Hall’s Bradshaw Room.
Thank you to the Academic Office for this information regarding their studies and backgrounds:
The Patriot, the Statesman, and the Reformer
Walker Edens ’25
Advisor: Mr. William Ballenger
In his independent study, “The Patriot, the Statesman, and the Reformer,” Walker has examined how the reputations of three pivotal South Carolina governors from Charleston –William Moultrie, William Aiken Jr., and Burnet Maybank Sr. – have shifted over time. Through deeply researched biographical essays and analysis of cultural memory, Walker has explored how each of these figures was remembered in their time, how they were invoked during later moments of political need, and ultimately how changing historical perspectives have reshaped their reputations.
From Revolutionary War heroism to Civil War Unionism to New Deal reform, Walker’s book and documentary film show how the historical reputations of these Charlestonian leaders have been shaped by contemporary values, public memory, and selective remembrance. Engaging with recent debates over monuments and memory, Walker has explored complex questions about how societies evaluate details of the past and why historical figures have been celebrated, overlooked, and reassessed. After researching this topic for the full year, Walker has created his “Cultural Exemplar Theory,” a clear standard to guide the evaluation of historical figures.
A resident of Charlotte, NC, Walker has distinguished himself in his five years at Christ School as the Prefect in South Carolina House, a co-founder of the Finance & Investment Club, an internationally ranked whitewater kayaker, an Advancement Liaison, a member of the National Honor Society, and a consistent presence on the Head of School High Honor Roll. In the fall, Walker will be attending Hampden-Sydney College.
A Literary and Scientific View of Anxiety
Nolan Miller ’25
Advisors: Ms. Mary Dillon and Dr. Lisa Garner
Nolan’s interdisciplinary independent study explored aspects of mental health, with special emphasis on anxiety. For Nolan, the choice of this topic was deeply personal since he has struggled with intense anxiety since the sixth grade. “In my experience,” Nolan explains, “anxiety is a sort of enigmatic condition in that it is hard to describe and difficult to deal with, partially because, as I have discovered over the course of this study, it is an integral part of the human experience.”
Given his love for reading and his skill as a literary analyst and writer, Nolan chose to spend the first semester investigating how literature might inform our understanding of mental illness. He read several novels and short stories to identify how authors use literary devices to depict different mental illnesses to develop character and propel plot. For the second semester, Nolan shaped a unit he called “The Philosophy of Anxiety” to bridge the gap between literature and a more scientific approach. Nolan read Kierkegaard’s The Concept of Anxiety, by Kierkegaard, and excerpts from “The Myth of Sisyphus,” and parsed how well-known philosophers regard the absurd nature of anxiety and human life. From there, he researched neurotransmitters, chemical imbalance, and habitual thought patterns, as well as the most effective treatments for anxiety and related mental health conditions.
During his three years at Christ School, Nolan, a resident of Chapel Hill, N.C., has been a Proctor in Cuningham House, an AP Scholar with Honor, a member of the National Honor Society, a member of the Christ School Honor Council, and a strong leader on the Varsity Lacrosse team. Nolan also received the Edward E. Ford Foundation for Excellence in Writing Award at the end of his junior year. Nolan will be attending Washington & Lee University in the fall.