text: Although detractors may argue that teacher designed summer projects connect the student to the curriculum better than student designed summer projects can, this is false. Students learn best when they are able to connect their own ideas to the curriculum, explore the curriculum by themselves, and conduct self-learning, all of which are only possible via student designed summer projects. Psychology teaches us the value of peg words, or words that are associated with a concept in order to improve memory function. Similar to how peg words stimulate memory by associating two concepts, student designed summer assignments associate the student's interests with the curriculum, thereby enhancing the student's retention. Not only do such summer assignments enhance retention by associating their interests, but they also do so by developing their own interest in the topic. When students are able to explore the topic by themselves, they develop an intrinsic liking for the topic, as opposed to the topic being forced upon them. Self learning, according to reputable sources, is among the best ways to connect the students to what they are learning. By initiating self-learning, teachers are able to evoke a sense of independence which positively impacts the student by creating interest in the subject.