1 October 2019

Andrea Fritz

William Fremd High School

1000 S. Quentin Road

Palatine, Illinois 60107

abfritz@d211.org

224-653-2485

To Whom it May Concern:

Sanjana Patel was a student of mine in AP Research. She benefitted from her

experience in that class so much (due to the effort that she put into it) that she also chose

to work as an intern in ​this​ year’s AP Research class. Through these different experiences

that she and I have shared, Sanjana has continually displayed her enthusiasm, creativity,

personal responsibility, and drive.

AP Research is a course that is part of a two-year sequence where students have

the second school year to complete what is very similar to a Master’s thesis: A student

develops a research gap of interest, and then shes uses appropriate research methods to

try to answer the research question. The project is the only purpose of the course, and a

student spends the entire year researching, surveying, and experimenting. Finally, she

writes a 5,000 word paper outlining her work and completes an oral defense of her work

with a panel of qualified adults.

Sanjana’s research topic involved the perception of color to the genders. She

came to class every single day ready to work hard and to be creative in the ways in which

she was going to address her research gap. The research process, due to its recursive

nature, can be frustrating at times, as it requires researchers to stay determined. Sanjana

was admirable in her approach, and she set such a strong example for her peers in the grit

with which she approached her work. When she faced challenges, she remained positive

in her attitude that even if she was thrown off course or didn’t receive the answer for

which she was hoping. She was always sure there would be another method or approach

she could take. She never let a set-back inhibit her work; rather, she allowed it to

strengthen her work and lead her to become extremely successful. She not only worked

hard to keep making her own research process stronger, but she also was crucial to

helping provide insightful peer feedback to her classmates. Her advice was feasible, and

it helped to inform the work that some of her classmates were completing.

That same good advice is still evident this year in her work as an intern. Sanjana

serves as an asset in this year’s AP Research classroom where she displays her

enthusiasm and insight every day. She has helped enhance the course curriculum by using

her personal experience to help present lessons that she would have found to be helpful in

her quest last year. I have absolutely no hesitation to have my current students seek

Sanjana’s advice, and I consider her to be a peer educator due to her maturity and ability

to provide useful help. She also has a strong rapport with the students, and she has built

positive relationships with them with ease. She values making everyone feel welcome,

and she encourages them on their journeys when they are struggling. Sanjana is a natural

teacher, and her maturity, insight, and ingenuity are impressive. Even as a senior in high

school, I can see her working as a professor’s TA without problem.

Above all, I’d like to add that she is funny and very personable. She tells great

stories, and she receives people’s attention just with her easy-going attitude and sense of

humor. She relates to people so well and is compassionate and understanding; I love

seeing her cheery face in first period every day. I am so glad to work with Sanjana, and I
know that she will continue to be an asset to any group she is part of in the future. Thank

you for your time and for considering Sanjana for a position in your school.

Sincerely,

Andrea Fritz