A student chooses to make a mirror as a class project.

She goes to a lumber warehouse for advice and buys a framed mirror at Home Depot.

Then she tears out the mirror and creates her own customized framed mirror.

"At Big Picture School, students learn base on their interest," said Jeff Blunt, an advisor at Big Picture School in Burien.

"Anything that a student learns revolves around their career choice or current interest."

For example, when this student wanted to make a mirror for a class project, her work in class math was related to mirror making, as was her research in science class.

Big Picture School, which opened in September 2005, accepts a variety of students who feel the need to start their high school life in a non-traditional way. This year, the school has moved to the Sunnydale site.

Many of them struggled in middle school.

Daniel Pasillas, 15, didn't like his classes at Cascade Middle School in North Highline. He felt neglected by his teachers and was bored at times during lectures.

When Pasillas found out about Big Picture School, he decided right away to register and attend the school.

"I like this school," said Pasillas. "I don't have to sit down and be lectured. Instead I choose what I want to do."

During the academic year that ended recently, the school consisted of 34 freshmen students and two advisors/teachers.

Each advisor takes responsibility for 17 students, not only teach them but also to give personal attention to each student's needs.

Advisors at Big Picture School are education generalists, which means they teach multiple subjects.

School at Big Picture begins when all 34 students gather to play an early morning game - a 30-minute activity called Pick-Me-Up.

In Pick-Me-Up, students get involved in basketball games, hackie sack or a game of "Seat Switch," also known as Musical Chairs.

The exercise not only gets students energized and enthused, but students also get to know each other a little more.

During most of their time in class, students focus on literacy and also analyze and study social problems. They sometimes have class seminars based on the topic of the day, and participate in debates.

Angie Thomas, an advisor, noted, "Students learn from one another. Students learn to interact which solves a lot of issues."

These ninth graders spent three days of the week in class and two days doing internships with adults who share the same interests.

Travis Brewer, 15, spent two days of his school week at the Des Moines Marina where he pressure washed and painted boats. Sometimes he also helped fix boat engines.

When Brewer was younger, he had been around boats and developed a love for boats.

"It's what I like to do," said Brewer. So he decided to give the marina a try.

"I called them up and asked if I can have an interview. Then I was interviewed for about 15 minutes. Then I called again and ask if I can have a job shadow day. Then I asked if I could be their intern."

Brewer, who was an intern at the marina during spring semester, plans to continue doing what he loves.

Principal Jeff Petty previously worked with a Big Picture School in Rhode Island and a school associated with Big Picture School in Federal Way.

Petty believes that students are motivated to do internships because they are not pre-arranged. Students come up with their own internship ideas and are guided to success.

Petty also believes that college is another motivation for students to participate in internships.

Students work backwards, he noted. When they think of college, they think of what they have to do to get into college. When they think of what to do, they think of internships. Then they take action.

"We are shifting their expectation about college," said Petty. "Projects based learning and internships are the most powerful learning experiences"

So far Big Picture School has been successful. Almost every student is involved with internships or has done job shadowing.

Petty hopes this fall semester will be even better.

Editor's note: Thao Nguyen, who will be an Evergreen High School senior this fall, was a Times/News student intern during spring semester.