IBChangemakers: Exploring fitness and business through real projects

In the IB MYP curriculum, the PHE e-Portfolio and Personal Project (PP) play an important role in helping students apply learning beyond the classroom. They encourage self-reflection, research, goal setting and real-world problem-solving while allowing students to explore personal interests and demonstrate growth, independence and practical skills.

At Apeejay’s IB School, Apeejay School International, Panchsheel Park, Arjun Sharma, an MYP-5 student, engaged with these components through his PHE e-Portfolio on weight training and his PP, where he built an e-commerce website exploring the fundamentals of online business.

In a candid interview, he shares the details.

Walk us through what your PHE e-Portfolio involved.

For my PHE e-Portfolio, I chose weight training as my sport and selected a client to train. The first task involved a detailed interview covering the client’s lifestyle, nutrition and past injuries. I also conducted benchmark tests to assess their prior knowledge, current ability and where they stood within their age bracket.

What was your role as a coach during the project?

As the coach, I designed a five-week training plan based on the client’s ability and benchmark results. The aim was to gradually improve their strength through structured sessions and realistic progression. It required careful planning, selecting appropriate exercises and making sure the training remained practical and effective for the client.

What was the purpose of the credibility video in your portfolio?

One task required creating a three-minute credibility video focusing on me as a coach. In it, I showed my own experience with weight training and highlighted my progress over time, such as improvements in the bench press. The idea was to demonstrate that I understand the training process through personal practice.

How did you evaluate the success of your training plan?

The final task involved reflection. I compared the results from the first benchmark test with another test conducted after the training period to measure improvement. This helped evaluate how much the client had progressed within their age group and allowed me to reflect on my effectiveness as a coach.

Tell us about your PP and what inspired it.

I created an e-commerce website, Gamored, to explore how a profitable online business works. My father runs a business, and since I was about five years old, I have often been involved in conversations about marketing ideas and strategies, which inspired my interest in entrepreneurship.

How did you decide on the products and target audience for your website?

My website focuses mainly on gaming accessories. I conducted a survey targeting people aged 15 to 25 who are actively interested in gaming. Realising that major brands already dominate this space, I expanded the range to include laptop accessories for people who regularly use laptops for work or study.