Letter from the Editors: Rethink & Relearn

As our world changes, we need to learn to change and progress with it.

We are now entering the final stretch — fourth quarter has begun. We have endured constant Zoom meetings, uncertain schedules and global chaos, as well as personal tragedies and tensions. We have persevered through managing tests and school assignments on top of living through a pandemic. We have made it this far, and now it’s time to keep pushing until we reach the end.

For many students, this quarter has changed with hybrid now being all in-person, evoking an array of emotions. Having those days at home had truly become a new normal. Many of us are used to the extra freedom and time we have on our “off” days that give us the energy to come to school. Now, going to school five days a week feels almost overbearing. On top of this change in mindset, we need to adjust to full classrooms, crowded hallways and limited parking spaces.

However, the switch to in-person has also been reenergizing. We are able to reconnect with friends and peers who have only existed on a screen for the past year. Our classrooms are more talkative; there are less awkward and dull moments. We are able to feed off each other’s energy and experience living through such a difficult time together.

The past month has consisted of many tragedies. Recently, anti-Asian hate crimes have come to the top of social justice discussions. Only now are we acknowledging a situation that has been occurring for decades globally, nationally and even within our own classrooms. Although the pandemic has heightened these instances with increased racism shown toward the Asian community and false accusations being thrown, it is important for us to look more closely at the smaller instances of racism and prejudice we observe on a daily basis.

Everything from trending facial features to namecalling to making fun of peers for their food, clothing and culture — these are moments we need to call out. This is a time to step back and reconsider our actions. We need to realize that each action and each word has an effect on the people around us. Many minority communities are frequently described as “disadvantaged,” “slow,” “smart,” etcetera. Labels are placed on communities before people have lived long enough to fully understand who they are. Being fed these labels psychologically has an effect on mindset and on potential. Even with the same surface-level opportunities, we need to acknowledge that background and identity create hidden roadblocks and carve paths without giving people the chance to carve them for themselves.

So what can we do to prevent this?

We can start by looking internally and taking note of our own actions and biases. We can take the time to have conversations and learn about communities outside our own in order to expand our perspective and be more understanding.

Now is the time to look inwardly and raise awareness for the hardships faced by so many people, not only when it is trending, but always. It is time to rethink events and actions we have been conditioned to view as “normal” and understand why they shouldn’t be. Seeking out resources and becoming educated on culture and current events is never a waste of time and is something essential to our daily lives.

As we fight through this last quarter, we must be aware of our actions and how we carry ourselves. We must be aware that we are future doctors, artists, scientists, musicians, and more. We are the next generation’s leaders, and in order to move society forward, we need to rethink and relearn the teachings of the past to create a better future.

- Yasmeen Saadi and Ellianna Cierpiot, Editors-in-Chief