SUMMER 2015
VOL. 22, ISSUE 6
V0X VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS VoxTeenCommunications.org
GEN ? GEN NOW GEN Y
T S E T A E GR ATION? R E N GE GEN X BABY BOOMERS
ABOUT THIS ISSUE VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMMER 2015
As spring comes to an end and summer is just around the corner, VOX is proud to present the last issue of this school year on The Greatest Generation! It has been a major problem for us teenagers when it comes to giving this generation a label. From Generation X, Y, and Z, each group has their own set definition. (For a great illustration of what millennials are doing now, go to http://bit.ly/genyvox and see what new studies have to say about us!) Others call our generation many things — among them selfish, technology-focused and broke — but rarely the “greatest.” This generalization of our generation is unfounded, as we haven’t yet had a chance to prove ourselves. Our greatness lies in our potential and the amazing things we’ve not already done, but will do. In this issue, we’ll hear from teen writers on topics that cast a negative and positive light on this generation. Melody’s article focuses on the age of sensitivity and not making the terms “offensive” and “culturally insensitive” synonymous. We go into how technology affects our relationships with Arlena’s story “Shielded by the Screen.” Michael’s story shines a spotlight on whether or not our generation has brought forth the most technological advances. He touches on how our generation has revolved around touch screen phones, voice-activated devices and social media. But is that the highest level we will reach? You have to read his intriguing article to find out the perspectives of Georgia teengers. Margaret shares her fascinating look at the tech tornado we find ourselves in, and how technology can help teens become more global citizens. We go into the loss of religion in this generation in Sharah’s story as she focuses on teenagers looking for salvation in the secular age. She highlights how this generation is pushing toward a more progressive era that can still be morally responsible without the religion of previous generations. Avid cosplayer Mac gives insight on his journey of cosplaying and how you can cosplay as well. We’re also sharing the stories of teens who are already killing it in this generation, with their incredible entrepreneurship recognized by 21st Century Leaders Georgia Youth Leadership Awards and a few teen artists who were recently honored as the top artists in our metro area by the Atlanta High School Art Exhibition awards at the 79th annual Dogwood Arts Festival. While we dive into what makes this generation great, we’ll leave it up to you, the reader, to decide whether or not this the greatest generation. Either way, the future looks bright!
SHARAH HUTSON, BENJAMIN E. MAYS ARLENA MCCLENTON, DEKALB SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
SUMMER EDITION VOX CONTRIBUTORS JORDAN BROWN, SOUTHWEST DEKALB THALIA BUTTS, DEKALB SCHOOL OF THE ARTS ALEXIS COHEN, NORTH ATLANTA MICHAEL FOSTER, GRACE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY ALEXES HARRIS, SOUTH ATLANTA LAW AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASJAH JOHNSON, NORTH ATLANTA MARGARET MELLER, PAIDEIA SAFIYA MILLER, GEORGIA STATE MANUEL PORTILLO, NORTH ATLANTA MAC ROWE, ACADEME OF THE OAKS SARIKA TEMME-BAPAT, NORTHVIEW MIKAEL TRENCH, WHEELER VICTORIA WALKER, HOMESCHOOL ALEXANDRIA WILSON, NORTH ATLANTA MELODY YOU, JOHNS CREEK
THE REST OF THE TEEN STAFF AGUSTIN JIMENEZ, AHKILLAH JOHNSON, AIYA KADI, ALEXIS WINFREY, ALIYAH WINFREY, AMARIS ANDERSON-RAMEY, AMARIYAH CALLENDER, AMY PAN, ANITA ROLLINS, ASSATA MUHAMMAD, CARRIE FULLER, CHRISTA HEARD, CHRISTIAN STALLWORTH, CHRISTINA LUCAS, D’ALBREY ALLISON, DALLAS GORDON, DAWIT TRENCH, DERRIONE MOBLEY, FAITH LUCAS, HALLIE HARTLEY, HOLLY SUMMERS, HUNTER TYSON, ILANA ANDER, INDIA ANDERSON, JALIL SHAREEF, JELANI HARRIS, JESSICA THOMPSON, JOLISA BROWN, JUANASIA YOUNG, KALEB
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EXTRAS
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VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMER 2015
HOT ON THE STREETS
EXTRA, EXTRA
What’s coming up in Atlanta that teens need to know!
News bits in the space that fits
Virginia Highlands Summerfest Do you like music, food and fun? Well then the Virginia HIghlands Summerfest is a great way to jumpstart your summer! You can enjoy various activities including a 5k Road Race, an artist market and an acoustic stage. And if you have to bring your younger sibling along, there’s something for them too: a Tot Trot race and Kidfest Band Stage. Registration is required for certain events. Where: Virginia-Highland neighborhood When: June 5-9 Cost: Free Visit: vahi.org/summerfest/
of the best as you become electrified by the post game fireworks show. It offers a great outing for the family! Where: Turner Field Cost: as low as $13 Visit: ticketmaster.com or atlanta.braves.mlb.com
Decatur Arts Festival Are you interested in viewing some aesthetically pleasing art? This event features displays from many up and coming artists. Each year there are over 70,000 attendees who are able to volunteer at the event, eat from the food trucks, and watch artists perform.
Atlanta Ice Cream Festival Ice cream: it’s good when you’re happy and best when you’re sad. Why not join the largest ice cream social of the summer at Piedmont Park July 25 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., indulging in one of America’s favorite desserts? And while you’re chowing down on a delicious scoop of heaven, walk around and learn about wellness, health and fitness initiatives. There are also awesome competitions. You don’t want to miss out! Where: Piedmont Park When: July 25, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit: atlantaicecreamfestival.com
Braves Game Whether sitting right above home plate or flying with the angels in the outfield, you don’t want to miss an opportunity to experience the Atlanta Braves in action. Throughout the summer at the historic Turner Field you can enjoy the Braves playing while eating some good ‘ol boiled peanuts! Friday night home games are some
WEB TIME WASTERS By Arlena McClenton, VOX Staff
Where: Downtown Decatur When: May 23-24 Cost: Free Visit: decaturartsfestival.com
Georgia Renaissance Festival
Old Fourth Ward Park Arts Festival The Old Fourth Ward Arts Festival at the Historic Fourth Ward Park is an annual event that honors Atlanta’s art history. This event is definitely for everyone as it features local food, beverages, art, and acoustic entertainment. Where: Old Fourth Ward Park When: June 27 (10 a.m. - 6 p.m.) and 28 (11 a.m. - 6 p.m.) Cost: Free Visit: OldFourthWardParkArtsFestival.com
Zine Festival Murmur Media presents the Zine Festival! This event allows for participators to create cheap and self- published zines. The 2015 theme is centered on supporting, celebrating and challenging the queer identity in relation to zines. Where: 88 Forsyth St. (downtown) When: July 18 Cost: Free Visit: MurmurMedia.org
Gov. Deal signs bill authorizing state takeover of failing schools Governor Deal signed an Opportunity School District bill April 23
that aims to help failing schools, according to the Atlanta JournalConstitution. The bill would will allow the state to take over failing schools to either convert them into charter schools or close them. Before the plan can be implemented, it must be approved by voters in November 2016.
Tuition increases approved for Georgia colleges and universities The state’s Board of Regents approved
Hip-Hop platinum-selling artist J. Cole has joined forces with Big Sean, YG, and Jeremih for the Forest Hill Drive Tour. Each artist brings a unique perspective to the hip-hop realm, essentially creating a great concert to see, making it one of the biggest concerts of the year, so don’t miss this one! Where: Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood When: August 15 at 6:30 PM Cost: $25-$110 Visit: jcolemusic.com
a tuition increase on April 14 for colleges and universities in the public University System of Georgia, according to Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Research universities will see the biggest jump in tuition with a nine percent increase at Georgia Tech, 9 percent increase at the University of Georgia and 5.5 percent increase at Georgia State University. The remaining schools will have a 2.5 percent tuition increase. As state funding has diminished, universities have increasingly relied on tuition raises to fill the gap. This is the fourth consecutive year the Board of Regents has approved a tuition increase.
By Alexis Cohen and Sharah Hutson, VOX Staff
By Arlena McClenton, VOX Staff
Join the Georgia Renaissance Festival for its 30-year anniversary of celebrating the medieval era. This event features circus-style entertainment, arts, and craft making for people of all ages. All events are set within a realm that upholds the 16th-Century European Village lifestyle. There are over 150 artisans that will be set up at vending booths to display their creations. Where: 6905 Virlyn B. Smith Road Fairburn, GA 30213 When: June 6-7 Cost: Adults ($22), Seniors of 60+ ($20), Children ages 6-12 ($10), and Children under 5 are free. Vist: GaRenFest.com
Forest Hills Drive Tour
Websites
Apps
YouTube Channels
MicroBusinessForTeens.com: Ever dreamed of starting your own business but were discouraged by your age? This website offers podcasts, videos, and blog posts geared toward teen entrepreneurship. Teenink.com: The website of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, by teens for teens.
Quest: This handy-dandy app gamifies to do lists. Every time you complete a task on your list, you get closer to leveling up. Whenever you level up, you get new gear. It makes things like homework and daily chores fun. Buzzfeed: This website and app combo has everything from news articles to fun personality quizzes.
SmartGirls: This channel is for girls to bond and gain inspiration, is sponsored by comedian Amy Poehler. Button Poetry: This is a spoken word channel where poets speak about relevant issues in the world. Even if you don’t like spoken word, these performances can be moving.
REVIEWS
THE JUNGLE The classic novel by Upton Sinclair gets analyzed in a modern-day light By Alexes Harris VOX Staff
W
hen reading a book such as “The Jungle,” one has to extend beyond the notable elements of Upton Sinclair’s writing. The book may be famous for highlighting the filthiness of the meatpacking industry, but this book is much more than that. Told in third person, “The Jungle” is a narrative with a message. It shows the tests and trials that Lithuanian immigrants Jurgis Rudkus and his family experienced when migrating to Packingtown, Chicago’s slaughterhouse district. They all arrive with hopes of achieving the so-called American Dream, but with capitalism as the running force in the early 20th century, this thought remains only a dream for them. The book was published in 1906, which is why it was set during that time.. While the book is generally known for highlighting working conditions within the meatpacking industry, Sinclair also exposes the effects of capitalism, inequality, death, abuse and sickness that Rudkus’s family experiences. He exhibits positivity in his first few years in the U.S., failing to comprehend the anger of others and why labor unions and strikes were formed. But the more Rudkus and his family realize that social mobility is only gained by the pain and suffering of others, they too become like those in the unions: angry, tired and hopeless immigrants. Whenever something good transpires, evil is right around the corner waiting to snatch up our protagonist and his family into an abyss of darkness, sadness, hunger and
imprisonment. Throughout this heartbreaking story, Sinclair shows the ups and downs of being an immigrant in capitalist America. He makes comparisons between capitalist greed and the meatpacking industry, in an effort to show readers how America’s exploitive habits are similar to the brutal conditions and processes found in the meat factories. Although “The Jungle” is a hard read (it is difficult to get through the beginning phases due to lack of dialogue, but once you get into the story and more dialogue is included, you become fully immersed in the novel), it will send readers through a whirlwind of emotions and surprises as they travel with Rudkus and his family. From the first page to almost the end, Sinclair shows the plethora of obstacles and few joys immigrants gained from trying to achieve the so-called American Dream. Through the eyes of Jurgis, readers see how trying to obtain this dream makes humans destructive, as they are devoured by the capitalist system in the U.S. Sinclair has a way of showing readers these important deeper social constructions they may have once overlooked, and he leaves a lasting impression through his metaphors. Some Americans tend to overlook immigrant life, but through this book you get to see all aspects of it. You see death, poverty, politics and love in a whole new light, which opens readers’ eyes to the realities of what immigrants have been through — and are still dealing with in 2015. Alexes, 17, is a junior at South Atlanta School of Law and Social Justice.
LOCAL RESOURCES FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES
VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMMER 2015
GET HELP
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VoxTeenCommunications.org
1. TAPESTRI An organization committed to serving and sewing together the many communities of color in the Atlanta area who are affected by violence and abuse as immigrants and refugees. More info: tapestri.org Call: 404-299-2185
2. INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE The IRC provides low cost, high quality immigration case management services to refugees, asylees, and immigrants. More info: rescue.org/us-program/us-atlanta-ga Call: 404-292-7731
3. WORLD RELIEF ATLANTA World Relief Atlanta provides legal support to refugees to help them gain access to economic and educational opportunities, with help regarding status services, naturalization services and family reunification services, among others. More info: worldreliefatlanta.org/immigration-services Call: 404-294-4352
ART BY MELODY YOU, VOX STAFF
CULTURE
VoxTeenCommunications.org
VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMER 2015
SO YOU WANT TO COSPLAY?
Mac explains what cosplaying does for you By Mac Rowe VOX Staff
D
ressing up as someone other than yourself is something that most of us have all done before. It can be fun to be something you aren’t for a little while. So what happens when it becomes a hobby? It can only be defined as one word: cosplaying. Cosplaying is simply the dressing up as a character, real or fake. It has been around at conventions since International Comic Con first emerged in 1970 in California, but only more recently has it flourished. As the idea of anime conventions (events where cosplayers and other fans meet to rejoice over anime) emerged, many people became intrigued. Now, conventions like Anime Expo get 80,000 con-goers, according to the Anime News Network. Animecons.com shares that Atlanta anime conventions Anime Weekend Atlanta and Momocon have ranked 8th and 13th as the largest attended conventions in 2014. (Note that Atlanta-based Dragon Con is much larger than both of these conventions, but it is not an anime convention, therefore it is not on the list). Cosplaying and conventions are becoming massively popular.
Cosplay comfort My journey with cosplay started in 2011 when I first attended Anime Weekend Atlanta convention in the fall. I was confused why people were dressed up in costumes. I didn’t know people could dress up as characters
when it wasn’t Halloween, but I was fascinated by it. I went because it seemed like an interesting event, and I wanted to do something different for a change. I didn’t think that, just two years later, I would be cosplaying at the same convention. Presently, I have a lot of other conventions that I’ve attended in the last few years. Recently, I went to one in Atlanta called SukoshiCon, a brand new anime convention in Atlanta. I enjoyed going to it, and it was my first convention of the year. I went as Finnian from “Black Butler,” an anime about a boy who makes a contract with a demon in the form of a butler to take revenge for the death of his parents.
Cosplay creativity It feels weird to cosplay sometimes; I’m so new to it. I know I get judged for it a lot
by both people I know and people I don’t know, but it makes me happy to cosplay. I always remember that everyone starts out somewhere. I spoke with Zak Sideris, a 17-year old from DeKalb School of the Arts. He is a seasoned cosplayer, who began cosplaying in 2009. “My mom was driving me around downtown during Dragon Con,” he told VOX. “She forgot it was Dragon Con ... And I had my face pressed up against the window shouting all the names of the characters I recognized. I asked my mom why people were dressed up and she told me about cons and what they are. That’s why I am a cosplayer.” Another cosplayer Ian Hueston, a 19-yearold from Brevard College, went to his first convention, Banzai Con in Columbia, S.C., in 2013. “My favorite part of it, by far, was seeing all of the cosplayers.” The great thing about cosplaying is that even if it’s your first cosplay, people aren’t
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going to mock you as if your cosplay is not up to standards. Hueston explains that you really don’t need to worry about it. “I’ve been to four conventions so far, and not once have I heard anyone say anything negative about another person’s cosplay,” he said. Another awesome benefit to cosplaying is that you get to be a completely different person in a safe way. Sideris and his cosplay group, Red World Con Casting, put on panels at conventions, where they cosplay and act in-character. “I love acting, so improv turned out to be something I’m really good at,” Sideris said. “And being different kinds of characters lets me exercise different kinds of personalities. I don’t talk to strangers outside of character unless they start asking me questions like, ‘What’s your name’ or ‘Where’d you get your wig?’”
Cosplay community It’s important to me to cosplay because it’s a way to make new friends. When you go to a convention, you already most likely have the common interest, so it’s easy to make new friends. “Everyone who approached me during that convention to ask for a picture or a hug, or just to say that they liked the costume or makeup or character, shared something in common with me,” said Hueston. For me, it’s about being immersed in the cosplay community because it welcomes you with warm, open arms. I love cosplaying. People may say bad things about it, but at the end of the day, it makes me happy. And I don’t think you should ever stop doing something. Just as Hueston said: “Never stop. Never stop creating, never stop thinking, never stop being part of this beautiful community, and most importantly, never ever stop having fun.” Mac, 17, attends Academe of the Oaks and is looking forward to MomoCon in May. He is pictured above left as Near from Death Note at TaigaCon (top) and as Finnian from Black Butler at SukoshiCon (bottom).
GREATEST GENERATION PAGE 6
VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMMER 2015
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INTERVIEW LIKE A BOSS. GET THE JOB. MAKE MONEY. WIN. Six important tips to help you land that coveted spot
By Arlena McClenton VOX Staff
I
t’s the big day. You’re in the lobby, with sweaty palms and a hopeful smile. You look and feel sharp in your suit, and you’ve recited your resume under your breath three times, “just in case.” You hope you don’t look nearly as nervous as you feel, but your tapping fingers betray you. The door opens and the interviewer walks in. You shake hands. You make a witty comment and try to maintain eye contact. Then you step inside, eager to meet your destiny. Most interviews aren’t nearly that dramatic. Even so, anxiety can make it feel like a life-or-death situation. I’ve soldiered through interviews for college, scholarships, and internships, and I’ve created a personal checklist to help me along the way. My method even helped me land an internship at Turner Broadcasting this summer. These tips will help make sure you shine
when your time comes.
1) Do your research This one’s obvious. Know what you’re applying for. If you’re being interviewed, the organization is interested in you. Don’t lessen your chances of being chosen because you didn’t prep adequately. Make sure you also look up common interview questions. If you’re an interview veteran, think about past questions that threw you for a loop, like when I was asked “if your life was a book, what would be the beginning, middle and end?” (real question!). You never want to sound scripted, but you also don’t want to sound unprepared. Think of the interview as a conversation rather than as a test.
2) Know thyself Don’t just research the company. Refresh yourself on everything you’re currently doing, too. For example, if you’re engaged in any long-term projects or you’re planning an event, make sure you keep them in mind.
Sometimes things seem mundane because you’ve been doing them so often, but these things might pique your interviewer’s interest. If there are things you couldn’t include on your resume, don’t forget them. Your interviewer might ask about them. Think about how to make your accomplishments appealing to the organization you’re applying for.
3) Know how to market yourself What you decide to emphasize should depend on what kind of interview it is. College interviews are all about you. The overarching questions (which may or may not explicitly be asked) are “What can you bring to this college campus?” and “Do you fit into the college’s atmosphere?” Every question you answer about your goals, extracurriculars, and interests indirectly answers these larger questions. I like to think of this kind of interview as part personality quiz and part first date. Both you and the interviewer are checking for compatibility,
and the interview helps you showcase your personality and anything you couldn’t squeeze into your application. Feel free to talk about yourself, but also mention how you’d fit in on campus. Talking about campus organizations you’d like to join, your academic and extracurricular interests, and what you’re passionate about are subtle ways to emphasize your interest. The second kind of interview I’ve experienced is the internship/job interview. This interview is less about specific activities and more about specific skills. Make sure you can explain how your extracurriculars have reinforced certain skills. For example, instead of just talking about your love for debate, mention how debate has sharpened your ability to think creatively on your feet. The third type is the scholarship interview. It’s a blend of the previous two. Scholarship sponsors want to know about you as a person and how you’ll help your community if you receive the award. Think about your future plans and try not to sound cliche.
4) Be friendly to everyone This includes the receptionist, the security guards, the other interviewees, and anyone else you may come across. You don’t have to become instant besties, but you shouldn’t let nerves make you impolite. Also, you never know who’s watching or when they’re watching.
5) Ask questions At the end of the interview, the interviewer usually asks if you have any questions. You do. Even if it’s a simple one, asking a question shows that you’ve thought deeply about what you’re doing. Ask the questions you came across during your research. Don’t plan to come up with one spontaneously. Nerves might get to you. On the other hand, if more questions arise than you previously planned, go ahead and ask them. You’ll seem genuinely curious about whatever you’re applying for. It can also be OK to have them written down if you’re nervous.
6) Don’t be too hard on yourself Sometimes we say things without thinking. It’s okay if this happens during an interview. Brush it off and keep going. Once the interview is over, send your interviewer a thank you note and occupy yourself with something else. It’s not helpful to lie awake at night wondering if you were chosen. Instead of fretting about the future, do things that’ll get you more interviews later on. No matter how many you’ve done, interviews can be a nerve-racking experience. Use these tips to help you with your first one or as a refresher for your next one. Above all, don’t worry and good luck! Arlena is a senior at DeKalb School of the Arts who will be attending Barnard College in New York this fall.
GREATEST GENERATION VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMER 2015
TOPFIVETEEN-MADEFILMS
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By Mikael Trench VOX Staff
Filmmakers span far and wide from all corners of the globe. The techniques and styles of these filmmakers have awed audiences for more than 100 years, since the medium grew into popular use. With technology becoming more accessible, filmmakers have the opportunity to start off young and perfect their talent early in life. Many of these young filmmakers are teens with a love of this art who hope to pursue a career in the film industry as adults. The talent of these teens has been so well-appreciated, that major festivals have been made specifically for high school students to present their work. The biggest festival is The All-American High School Film Festival, held in New York City. This festival presents the best of teen artists and their hard work. To give you a taste of the amazing talent possessed by these teens, here is a list of my personal top five best teen-made films, all of which come from recent All-American High School Film Festivals and can be found on their YouTube pages, linked below.
5. “Pip The Cup” (2014) by Adam McArthur This winner of the animation category at the 2014 AAHSFF follows the story of a cup thrown in the trash and his surprisingly touching adventures in a landfill. This unique little film does a very good job at making the audience feel sympathetic toward something as simple as trash and develops a well-rounded story around this little cup. Highly recommended. WATCH it: http://bit.ly/1JoXtb0
4. “Dinner with the Woodburns” (2013) by Stephen Boyer This Stephen Boyer short film was the winner of the comedy category at the 2013 AAHSFF, and it shows. The film is about a boy who comes to his friend’s house one night for dinner to try and help him reveal to his parents that he’s gay. But once he admits his secret, it turns out that the family has some hidden surprises as well. The awkward tension throughout the entire dinner is hilarious on its own. Combined with vibrant writing and comedic dialogue that never becomes stupid, the film is a well-made comedy. WATCH it: http://bit.ly/1JoYcsz
3. “Losing Luke” (2013) by Michael Clark The 2013 winner for best documentary, “Losing Luke” is an eye-opening experience into the world of a transgender girl, named Katie, who was born a boy named Luke. This documentary is a unique insight to the emotional turmoil transgender people experience. The film does a good job at showing the points of view of those close to Katie, and makes the viewer truly feel empathetic toward transgender people. WATCH it: http://bit.ly/1brFDpl
2. “We’re Okay” (2014) by Kira Bursky Winner of the best overall film at the 2014 AAHSFF, this film tells the visually stunning story of a girl who is completely unhappy with herself and her appearance and her mental battle to find out what people really think about her. This entry has a unique visual style, with some animated sequences to show the inside of the girl’s mind that has an eeriness to it. The live action sequences are just as good, containing expert writing, very good acting, and a beautiful tale that will have you feeling very warm inside by the end. WATCH it: http://bit.ly/1I9bd80
1. “Shakespeare and Tacos” (2013) by Maribel Castillo and Jennifer Norihiro A funny title for undeniably one of the sweetest and most touching films made by any teen. This winner of the best screenplay category at the 2013 AAHSFF is about two unlikely high school teens who fall in love and go through many troubles throughout their relationship. It may sound like a simple plot, especially compared to some of the other entries on this list, but “Shakespeare and Tacos” does a simple plot completely right. Without being overcomplicated, the film contains enough story and conflict to make us love these characters and root for them. The acting is very realistic, and this helps make the chemistry between the two main characters very believable. It’s a sympathetic tale and a well-made production with likeable characters, fantastic writing, and one of the most well-executed stories ever made by teens. WATCH it: http://bit.ly/1GtaQTU Mikael Trench, 16, is a junior at Wheeler High School, and is a filmmaker who specializes in creating animated short sci-fi, horror, and monster films.
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VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMMER 2015
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HER-STORY
Teen girls explore careers and passions
The HERstory event for teen girls was held at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights downtown on April 4. It was a chance for teen girls from metro Atlanta to learn about and from the women who made history in civil and human rights and to explore their own passions for their future careers. This was my first time going to the center. I walked in with all the commonly known facts about the civil rights movement. I knew about Rosa Parks’ and Martin Luther King’s contributions to the civil rights movement. I didn’t know about Claudette Colvin, who was only 15 when she refused to give up her bus seat before Rosa Parks became famous for it. At the Center, I learned about the unsung female heroes and their contributions. Claudette Colvin decided to stay out of the spotlight under her mother’s advisement, because she did not lead the same wholesome life as Parks. She was angry and young and wasn’t as well-liked. She later had a teenage pregnancy. Colvin was just one of the people who contributed to civil rights movement that very few people know about but who had an important place nonetheless. The Center also has a simulation of what the lunch counter at a sit-in was like during the movement. I went through the simulation, and my mind was blown. Knowing that it was only a simulation, and there were no people behind me whispering (then shouting) threats to my life, I still felt fear and worry. I was amazed, and I gained a new respect for every person to ever participate in a sit-in. The civil rights movement exhibit not only provided information about what happened in the past, but what is also happening currently in our country and how far we still have to go in both civil and human rights spaces. The center and event were eye-opening and extremely powerful. On this page, you’ll find images from both our tour of the center and of the vision board activities VOX facilitated with the teen girl participants after their tour of the center and a career fair to explore their passions. Want to know which type of career you should explore? Take the quiz! bit.ly/HERstory (case sensitive and remember, it’s geared toward the ladies!). By Safiya Miller (photos by Safiya Miller and Jordan Brown), VOX Staff
PICTURED ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: VISITORS AT THE CENTER FOR CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERIENCE A SIMULATED LUNCH COUNTER SIT-IN OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. FORMER ATLANTA MAYOR SHIRLEY FRANKLIN SHARES CLOSING REMARKS TO TEEN GIRLS. TEENS SHARE THEIR VISION BOARDS AND GROUND RULES AT THE END OF THE DAY. PICTURED BELOW ARE COMPLETED VISION BOARDS FROM A FEW OF THE TEEN GIRLS AT THE EVENT. FOR MORE PHOTOS, VISIT VOXTEENCOMMUNICATIONS.ORG/GIRLSGROUP.ASPX
GREATEST GENERATION
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VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMER 2015
20 UNDER 20
By Alexes Harris VOX Staff
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wenty under 20. That is what youth awardees were known as on Thursday, February 26. 21st Century Leaders hosted their seventh annual Georgia Youth Leadership Awards (GYLA) at the Omni Hotel located in the CNN Center in Atlanta. The awards ceremony was started to celebrate and recognize outstanding high school leaders in Georgia. According to the 21st Century website, the GYLA is a fundraising event that honors and celebrates the achievements of 20 high school students across Georgia. “All students are nominated for the Georgia Youth Leadership Awards either from a teacher, counselor, mentor or friend,” said Kate Hewitt, the organization’s communications and marketing manager, in an email interview with VOX. “When nominations are being reviewed, the selection committee accepts students who exemplify the five leadership qualities that truly embody a 21st century leader: passionate, forward-thinking, leverage diversity, resourceful and service-oriented.” VOX’s own Sania Chandrani, a senior at Parkview High School and 21st Century GYLA honoree, found out about this organization through VOX. “Katie (VOX Staff) nominated me for the award a couple of months ago, and I heard about it through that. And when I won I got
Georgia’s top entrepreneurial and activist teens awarded at annual youth leadership awards ceremony in February
an email from 21st Century that I was an awardee,” she said. Being a 20 under 20 recipient means that each student selected has done something extraordinary in or out of school. Chandrani’s biggest involvement, she said, was in politics. “During the 2014 election cycle, I interned with Michelle Nunn’s senatorial campaign,” she said. “I did learn a lot through the process of the campaign as one of the first and youngest people who were volunteering with the campaign as a high schooler. It was a great opportunity for me to get into the political realm.” Although not mentioned in Chandrani’s nomination, she also used her interest in politics to create a club with her school friends called Global Activists. The goal of the club is to raise international awareness about different cultures around the world and about the international place the U.S. really is. Her passion for politics comes from being an immigrant to the U.S. when she was 4. “Being involved in politics has allowed me to get people like me to get involved, so that they feel like they do have a voice,” she said. Each student who won the award was also presented with a $250 mini grant toward their organization, and one student, Ima Christian, went home with the Turner Voices award and a $500 grant to continue their work. Christian is the co-founder and CEO of Pinetart, Inc, where she and her two younger siblings created a mobile app called Five-O, that she said, “allows citizens to rate, review, and track their interactions with law
enforcement, both good and bad.” Within the first two weeks of its release on Google Play, Five-O had more than 10,000 downloads, and Christian has spoken with both CNN and Business Insider about the app. “Because of the media content that we’ve been getting and the stories that are picking up...we’re in the process of making Five-O 2.O,” Christian told VOX. There’s more to this Parkview High School senior than Five-O. Christian also extends her outreach by partnering with elementary schools to create Community Tech days, which introduce computer science to children. Another 21st Century Leaders honoree Chad Carrodus founded a non-profit organization called Atlanta Children’s Charity. Knowing that there were barriers and limitations for teens to volunteer, Carrodus, a junior at George Walton High School, says he wanted to make volunteering more accessible for students. Founded in his sophomore year with more than 140 student members, Carrodus works with Ronald McDonald House and Mercy Care. “We make it really easy for students to volunteer; that’s the whole platform [of this organization],” Carrodus said. Aside from his nonprofit work, Carrodus also sells private jets for a private aviation company. With his aviation job, community service and academics, Carrodus wants to continue his passions while majoring in finance in college. Romeo Henderson and a couple of his
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friends created a game designing company, Division Zero, which they started a few months ago. Henderson, CEO and creative director of the company, said they are currently working on a mobile game for iOS and Android. Henderson said that the club was made “to help other students learn how to code and things of that sort.” His grant is going to support his club, so they can get better equipment for their team. “We have extensive knowledge on game design,” he said. Like her peers, Chandrani was excited for her award that symbolized one of her greatest accomplishments. “This award is my biggest win.” Alexes is a junior at South Atlanta School of Law and Social Justice.
2015’s 20 Under 20 GYLA winners: Timber Anderson, Gordon Central High School Evan Barnard, Johns Creek High School Rosa Borja Martinez, Marion County High School Chad Carrodus, George Walton High School Sania Chandrani, Parkview High School Ima Christian, Parkview High School Reaganne Coile, North Oconee High School Lily Katherine Conneff, St. Vincent’s Academy Uwezo Flewellen II, Maynard Jackson High School Connor Ford, Mount Pisgah Christian School Meionne Harvey, Crisp County High School Romeo Henderson, Lovejoy High School Furichous John Gene Jones IV, Central High School Sara Knighton, Valwood School Chirag Manyapu, Northview High School Clay Milling, Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School Paul Serrato, Apalachee High School Aditya Sood, Alpharetta High School Morgan Taylor, Gordon Lee High School D’Khorvillyn Tyus, Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School For more info, visit 21stCenturyLeaders.org
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VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMMER 2015
THE AGE OF SENSITIVITY
Is our constitutional freedom of expression really free? By Melody You VOX Staff
Freedom of speech — what a futile, indefinable phrase nowadays. People are barely able to get out a single form of self-expression without being attacked by critics for being “offensive” or “culturally insensitive.” The society in which we live preaches the fundamental importance of freedom of expression, yet this ostensible right that is given to American citizens is constantly being suppressed by the gatekeepers of censorship, in particular, the government figures, private organizations and rather contentious individuals, who restrain creative individuals from practicing their first amendment rights. It has been more than two centuries since the Constitution established the right to free speech, but journalists, public speakers, artists, comedians, teachers and students are still being muzzled by the fetters of hypersensitivity. In light of recent events, including the shooting at France’s Charlie Hebdo satirical publication and the fraternity video of racist slurs from the University of Oklahoma, the topic of free speech and censorship has provoked many ongoing discussions and disagreements both domestically and abroad. While some believe that free speech, however derogatory or inappropriate it may be, is a right that all citizens have, others disagree by claiming that individuals or groups should avoid expressing certain opinions that may cause possible danger or offense to themselves and others. This is what our generation has become — and a constricting, hypersensitive generation it is indeed. So much so that the irony in writing this article is that it will most likely receive backlash from offended readers.
Censoring comedy Comedy has a very complex relationship with censorship as well. Since the early days of comedy in America, there have been innumerable conflicts involving the censorship of it. From satirical author Mark Twain to sketch comedy show “Saturday Night Live,” controversy in comedy is rampant. It can also have life-changing consequences. On January 7, 2015, 12 people were shot and killed at a French satirical magazine, “Charlie Hebdo” by two gunmen in Paris, due to the magazine’s satirical depictions of the prophet Mohammed. Although this is not the first time that “Hebdo” has come under attack (it was firebombed in 2011, also for its satirical cartoons), the magazine has always stirred up controversy for its manifestations of strongly secularist and left-wing cartoons and reports. The recent attack has raised many questions regarding the ethics of freedom of speech and expression. How can the line between free speech and cultural sensitivity be established because cultural sensitivity and censorship might be the same thing, depending on the interpreter? “Here in America, we encourage the freedom of expression of ideas, and I think some of that can definitely be construed as hate speech,” said Marvin Lim, a lobbyist for the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia. “I think that because of this, it shows that in America, we are less willing to draw the line between pure hate speech and constructive speech.” From a legal perspective, Lim told VOX, speech that is incitement to violence or breaking the law is not protected. “When speech is a true threat, such as threatening someone [with] bodily harm, that is not protected by the first amendment,” he says. “So in those types of cases, when you start to see what is considered by some as hate speech, those are the types of circumstances that the first amendment doesn’t protect.” The issue with Charlie Hebdo, and many
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cases that are similar, is that there is no objective line between satire and hate speech. Many may deem the magazine’s cartoons as deplorable and racist, but others may praise the illustrations for honesty and candor. So whether these satirical cartoons are offensive or not all depend solely on the eye of the beholder.
Freedom of the press In the news industry, journalists are constantly faced with the issue of censorship. Writers, reporters, photographers and cartoonists, from all forms of communication outlets, typically go through an editorial process to ensure their work meets journalistic standards without offending someone. Because of this process, there may be a limitation on creative expression. Although censorship in media is reasonable when used to safeguard an individual’s privacy, restriction of speech can still be kept in moderation to ensure that freedom of the press is still preserved. High school journalism is even stricter on what is acceptable or not acceptable to publish. In 1988, in the Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier U.S. Supreme Court case, a school newspaper called the “Spectrum” in Hazelwood East High School in St. Louis, Missouri featured stories on teen pregnancy and divorce. The heavy subject matter led the school’s principal to delete the stories without letting the students know because he considered the subject matter inappropriate for school. So the students decided to take their case to court, believing it was their right to know why the principal considered the issue too offensive and to have an opportunity to edit the articles. Ultimately, the Supreme Court ruled that the school had the jurisdiction to censor the articles as part of the school’s curriculum, and since 1988, public schools have been allowed to censor students and limit expression if their speech disturbs school policies and activities. Basically, administrators and school
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officials have the final say in what can be approved or disapproved in student publications. “I think it sends the messages that ‘I need to submit to authority’, and ‘I can’t think for myself, so I need to believe what’s being told to me,’” said Joe Dennis, an instructor at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at UGA and director of the Georgia Scholastic Press Association. “That is a detriment to the student and a detriment to democracy in general.” Dennis also states that censorship in high school journalism is conditioning students to disengage in expressing their beliefs and creativity. “At the high school level, students are really getting interested in certain areas, forming their own opinions, and learning how to practice their skills,” Dennis told VOX. “If [students] put factual based reasoning and logic behind [their] arguments … if students already have a very logically based, clever, or satirical piece or editorial cartoon … and it’s still being censored, then [society] is teaching them that it doesn’t matter how well their thinking or how well their reporting is, [they] just can’t do it. And that sends the wrong message to students.” Jessica Ma, a 16-year-old junior at Northview High School, says that her school’s administration has the power to censor their monthly news magazine whenever they decide to do so. “Whenever we do want to cover a more sensitive issue, we’ll usually notify our school’s principal and give him a heads-up about what we want to publish, so if he has any objections he can let us know,” she said. “But we’ve never really had any problems with censorship, at least since I’ve been on staff. We do have to step really carefully around controversial topics in order to avoid angering the administration or parents, since they could shut down our publication if they wanted to.” Lian Feng, a 17-year-old senior at Chattahoochee High School, said her school newspaper goes through a similar process. “Generally, there hasn’t been a problem
GREATEST GENERATION VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMER 2015
Censorship of private speech
with censorship in [my school’s] paper,” she said. “Even when writing about more controversial issues like police brutality or racism, the staff is generally allowed to continue writing about it.” However, the paper goes through a hierarchy and eventually reaches the principal, who has the final say about what’s put in the paper. “If there is a particular article that is openly or overly negative about the school, [the principal] pulls
Print publications are not the only ones affected by censorship. There is a Supreme Court case taking place on free speech after The Sons of Confederate Veterans, a Southern association of male descendants of Confederate Veterans, were denied a request for a special license plate displaying a Confederate flag in Texas. The association claims the flag is used to pay respect to the Civil War veterans in the South, but many are angered because they believe the Confederate
Administrators and school officials have the final say in what can be approved or disapproved in student publications.
Student Press Law Resources 1. Student Press Law Center: SPLC.org 2. American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia: ACLUGA.org 3. Georgia Scholastic Press Association: GSPA.squarespace.com 4. The Constitution: archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html
it out,” she told VOX. “In his defense, the school paper is the representative of the school image as he frequently shows the paper to prospective students and other important people who may visit.”
flag promotes racism and honors slavery, according to an NPR report in March. This, and many other cases, give rise to the issue of whether states should eradicate certain messages on license plates that might offend people without trying to disobey our freedom of speech law. Another bone
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of contention in this matter is whether the messages that license plates display are an example of private speech or public speech by the government. Defenders of the Constitution argue that if license plates are a form of private speech by the individual, then the messages they carry should not be rejected by the government since it does not follow the constitutional rights. “In general, when you suppress speech, you suppress ideas,” Lim said. “Our founding fathers believed that when you have a free discussion of ideas, you will arrive at the truth. And I think that in our postmodern society, we no longer believe that there is some sort of objective truth. “But whether you believe that or not, you are harming people because you are harming them from getting information … if you are restricting what can be said in school, when you’re restricting the viewpoints of students, then that is something that leads to the harm of expression and exchange of ideas,” said Lim.
Respect the speech As our country continues censoring the ideas of creative individuals, our society will probably continue negatively reacting to others’ thoughts and beliefs. By doing that, we are discouraging each other from expressing what we each believe in. Censorship has never really left the United States, and it is important to understand that since the government has had some control over censorship, it can still limit and suppress creative expression and speech. We are allowing someone else to take away our right to express our moral values and beliefs and by doing that, our country is violating its own founding principle of the Constitution — the true freedom and liberty of creative expression. Melody, 17, is a junior at Johns Creek High School. She is an avid coffee drinker and huge Kanye West enthusiast. She created the art above.
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VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMMER 2015
LOSING MY RELIGION With increased societal stresses, teens turn to atheism in the 21st century By Sharah Hutson VOX Staff
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ithin the 21st century, religion continues to be a focal point in America, especially concerning LGBTQA rights and government policies. Oftentimes, the most pious individuals attack teenagers who continue to search for salvation in the secular space. Growing up in a more progressive era may have made people more comfortable in abandoning religion, feeding into a nihilistic lifestyle. This has opened the door for teenagers to either slowly move toward atheism, become more accepting of the concept, or proudly wear the badge of atheism on their chest. Atheism is generally conceived as the lack of faith or disbelief in the existence of a higher deity or deities. Religion plays a large role within a teenager’s life, as it often sets the tone for our values and, sometimes, the behaviors we carry out. It is as important as choosing who you form friendships with or where you want to live. But for some teens, religion is on the way out. “Religion does not play a large or important role in my life. I don’t often think about my religion until other people bring it up to me,” Zabrina Corrales, 15, a sophomore at Starr Mills High School told VOX. “I tend to get many questions regarding my religion from other people at my school.”
Going atheist Nonbelievers, or atheists, are a minority group within the U.S. that consist of 15 to 20
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“Golden Rule:” Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Tian Lu, a teenage atheist for five years, agrees. “Of course I do believe in a moral life without religion,” said Lu, 17, a junior at Benjamin E. Mays High School. “Moral isn’t defined as ‘believing in God.’ Moral means doing the right thing. People shouldn’t use God as a crutch for their morality. I believe that religion can definitely teach morality, but I don’t think they are one and the same.”
Coming out of the closet percent of the adult population, according to the Pew Research Center. This accounts for more than 36 million people, outnumbering Methodists, Lutherans and Presbyterians combined. Many of these nonbelievers are young adults, and the numbers are only increasing. Atheists still dwell in areas that have been saturated with religion. It’s likely Georgia or other southeastern states may not ever make the list of the top 10 atheist states, considering many states in the so-called Bible Belt are still highly religious. According to a Gallup poll conducted in 2014, Georgia is the seventh most religious
understanding of morals, I do not feel as if I need it. Sure, I don’t believe in God, but that does not mean I am terrible person.”
Leading a moral -“less” life Atheists admit the concept for modern day morality is derived from religion. For some, religions have been able to persuade people into thinking what truly embodies morality. Contrary to common belief, the United States’ laws were not based on the Christian faith (though we do say “One nation under God” in our Pledge of Allegiance, among other deist references). The laws created were centered around the perspectives of
“Moral means doing the right thing. People shouldn’t use God as a crutch for their morality. I believe that religion can definitely teach morality, but I don’t think they are one and the same.” - Tian Lu, 17 state, with 52 percent stating they are selfproclaimed theists, or people who believe in a higher power. Despite living in the Bible Belt, Connor Reish, an 18-year-old, said he has selfidentified as atheist for seven years. “There is no problem believing I am something or not having faith,” Reish said. “If [faith is] what you need to have an
our Founding Fathers. Although they were Christians, the concept of a deist, or Godfocused, philosophy was still upheld. So what does atheism say about morality? “Nothing. Since unbelief isn’t a religion but a lack of religion, it doesn’t impose moral commandments,” remarked David Seidman in his 2015 book “What If I’m An Atheist?”. Many atheists believe in following the
There are various reactions from parents when their child comes out as an atheist. “My parents honestly don’t care about my religion,” Lu said. “But for people who are born into a religious home, it’s pretty much worse than being a satanist. I feel pretty bad for them.” Once a teenager reveals that they are a unbeliever, they may feel as if a weight has been lifted. “I have not told my mom about my unbelief, but she might know,” said Judah Paul, an atheist for five years. “I don’t really have any weight on my shoulders, and I am not really pressured to do anything religious.” Some parents may not always be on the same page with the route their child has taken. But for others, it’s no big deal. For Reish, telling his parents was easy. “I didn’t really know any religion and wasn’t really exposed to many religions,” he said. “So I just went to Christianity because that seemed to be the easiest. I did not have to come out of the closet as an atheist. It’s not that big of a deal because I do not live in a very religious household.” When it comes to his father deserting faith as well, Reish told VOX, “My dad still believes in a higher being. He is not very religious and does not attend church.” When some abandon a faith they were raised in, those around them still involved in that faith sometimes push religion on the unbeliever, this may push the atheist further away. Some atheists find this method to be condescending.
Trouble at school Despite identifying as agnostic (neither confirming or denying the existence of a higher power) and yearning to believe in a divine being that died for her eternal life, Corrales has faced hardships regarding her unbelief at school. “There are days when a whole class of mine will start to raise their voices about my religion,” she said. “Most of the people at my school are Christian, and most of them try to shove God down my throat because ‘He will save me’ or ‘If I don’t believe Him I’ll go to hell.’” “Some people judge me for my religion before ever actually talking to me,” she said. “People should open their minds before thinking I can’t be a good person for not believing in their religion.” While some parents may not demand religious observance from their nonbelieving child, other parents might require the teenager to attend church functions for a sense of family unity. “My parents still want me to attend church.” said Isaac Albrecht, a 15-year-old agnostic student at Pickens County High School. “[I would believe in God if] I had viable and realistic proof of a God worth worshiping.”
So what’s next for young unbelievers? According to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, more than half of all people raised as atheists are likely to revert to a religion. While some have admitted to feeling a splash of enlightenment by praying or simply attending church service, there still exists discomfort for a teenger who wants to unveil their nonbelief due to a lack of support. “I never changed from being atheist because I never believed I needed support from God,” said Lu. “My godless life is complete. I was pretty much the only atheist in the room until high school.” Sharah, 17, is a junior at Mays High School, who thanks e.e. cummings for preventing any existential crises.
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VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMER 2015
Confessions from Atheists, Theists, and Agnostics around the Globe
Atheist: “I don't see myself related to any religion. I was born in a Hindu family, and my parents believe and worship ‘God.’ As a child I used to visit temples and worship to ‘God’ just like others did. I did what people told me. They told me that there exists a God, who cares about us and listens to our prayers. I thought they might be true, but at the age of 5, I started questioning everybody, especially my father. He told me that God isn't something that we can see; it's just there in the space around us. We worship and go to the temples only because for the peace of mind. Religion doesn't play any big role in my life; morality does.” - Deepak Kamat (18) Pandu College, India
“This is a valid and complex question which I would like to address in a couple of ways. Firstly, let's consider the question in relation to Abrahamic faiths or other well-known belief systems. If the question is whether I could or would develop newfound belief in one or more gods of which a human religion is based around, the answer is one hundred percent yes. If I was shown concrete and irrefutable proof of their existence, I would be a fool to deny fact. When the question becomes whether or not I would worship them, things get a little more complicated. If I liked them, I would, and if I didn't, I just don't know. If there was something unknown to humanity which could accurately be described as a god and you showed me proof of it, I would begin believing in it and by definition become a theist.” - Matthew Gleason (16) Huntington, West Virginia. “I became an atheist from questioning Christianity. I did not find enough evidence to support a higher being. I found that Christianity did not make sense to me, and my rational thought has led me to my atheism. My mother believes I will someday go back to being a Christian, but I have tried to explain that I cannot go back.” - Brad Hughes (17) Atlanta “I am an atheist and therefore don't subscribe to any religion, but I notice flaws in atheism. The global community of atheists tends to lean toward having a superiority complex. We often base our choice to be atheist on simple logic, but some people seem to think their acknowledgement of such simple logic makes them more intelligent than theists. Atheism is most open and functional on the Internet and in online communities. The Internet has a habit of housing more introverted and often strange individuals who often argue that the fact they are "different" and "smart enough" to not believe in a god, which makes them better people. Which obviously isn't true because radical atheists are shi**y and irritating people, just like any other kind of passionate radical.” - Wyatt Crotts (17) Post Falls, Idaho Theist: “My perspective of people who are atheist is that they feel superior to other religions. I do not feel as though I'm greater than them, though. I would not convert someone unwillingly, but I'd probably start with showing the Quran and answering any questions they might have.” - Hawo Mohamed (14) Buffalo, New York Agnostic: “I believe that the flaws in religion generally come not from the religion itself, but rather from how it is practiced. I see many flaws in the way Orthodox Judaism is practiced. I am a Reconstructionist Jew, and I see very few flaws with this branch of Judaism. The only reason I usually don't tell people is because I am also a practicing Jew, and many people find this to be a contradiction.” - Leila (15) New York “My path of faith is a rocky one, and yes, I have been a nonbeliever before. In fact, I have tried to force myself to become atheist before, realizing it was easier and made more sense. However, faith doesn't work like that. There is no way you can force faith to grow; it just does. Doubt is faith by another name, as you can't have faith without it. Doubt is often times looked at negatively; however, it is key to forming a strong faith. Blind following doesn't do anything to help you grow; however, questioning yourself and finding answers ... that is what helps you become closer in your relationship with God.” - Grace Ferris (16) Port Perry, Ontario “Right now I'm sort of questioning God, so I guess I'm an on-and-off Christian and Atheist. There are tons of flaws in Christianity, like not allowing gays, premarital sex and women rights. I feel like the Bible is in favor in men.” - Joanna Keil (15), Westwood High School “I am currently deciding between being a non-denominational pagan and wiccan. Non-denominational pagans are people that do not follow the Abrahamic religion, but do not identify with a certain tradition in paganism. I am no longer Christian because of the most unsavory people who who sit in the pews every Sunday. They are the nicest yet most judgemental people.” - Dustin Carr (16) Richmond, Ohio Compiled by Sharah Hutson, VOX Staff
GREATEST GENERATION PAGE 14 By Margaret Meller VOX Staff
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ids these days are attached at the hip to their mobile devices.
Where’s the passion, the drive, the human connection? They’re lost in toneless texts and glazed eyes, so say previous generations of the burgeoning Millennials. The phone goes on, the earbuds go in and we tune out. But are we really so clear-cut? Or is there something to be gained from staring at screens? Though maybe unengaged with their immediate surroundings, a teen on an iPhone is not necessarily unaware. Technology allows a new kind of awareness: global awareness. According to the Pew Research Center, 93 percent of teens use or have access to a computer and 81 percent use social media sites. This provides easy access not only to the problems posed by news and current events, but the solutions generated by nonprofit organizations, including projects like #HashtagLunchbag, which began as a band of friends in Los Angeles aiming to deliver meals to the homeless in their community. The hashtag went viral when the group posted about their activities on social media. Housing a world’s worth of knowledge and news stories, all easily accessible and with amazing rapidity, a phone acts as a door onto the international stage. The natural reaction to the discovery of a global network is the wish to be involved, too. For some, this wish extends beyond mere conversation.
Teens are taking action Technology is said to be rewiring our brains, and with this rewiring come new techniques and expectations. According to the Pew Research Center, technologically linked communities aimed at solving global issues are already an established custom. Such communities are referred to as “the global brain.” This joint activism is the result of our brains’ adaptation to a fast-paced, information-rich way of life. In the future,
VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMMER 2015 experts say, the most highly valued skills will be networking, technological experience and ingenuity, as these will promote tackling modern problems with creative solutions. Katie Radulovacki, a senior at The Paideia School, is applying these very skills in her school club on TED Talks. Inspired by talks she viewed online, Radulovacki began creating her TED Talk on manipulation in advertising last year. Hoping to share this experience with her peers, she created TED Talks Club to allow other teens attending Paideia the opportunity to research a modern issue of their choice and present their findings at Emory University at the end of the year. “The most compelling part of a TED talk is the ‘and so,’” says Radulovacki. This, she says, is the part of the presentation during which the presenter introduces their solution and the ways in which that solution can apply to the lives of the audience members. While based on extensive research, each TED Talk is largely steered by the opinion and innovation of the individual presenting it. “You aren’t only rehashing other people’s ideas. You use data or ideas that you find, and then you put your own spin on them,” Radulovacki says. Teens in TED Talks Club take an active role in the issue they research and present, and technology plays an integral role in this process, as it’s a valuable tool for spreading the message. “Once we’ve presented [the projects], technology is a great way to spread that message because you can post the TED Talks online, you can put them on YouTube, you can send links to your friends,” says Radulovacki. “Even though you only presented once at a certain venue, you can use that one presentation and get a lot of other people involved.” Rebecca Schapiro, also a Paideia senior, agrees with Radulovacki about the benefits of technology. Schapiro, a volunteer at Refugee Family Services, started a Saturday morning program to tutor refugee children with the help of an RFS after-school teacher. Unlike
Radulovacki, technology took a backseat to interpersonal interactions in the creation and maintenance of her program. “There were some online resources that [the teacher] used to help plan lessons, but for the most part, not very much technology was used,” she says. “We did most of our recruiting of kids for the program by going door to door in the community, and I got volunteers by word of mouth around school and friends in the community.” Though Schapiro reached the desired number of tutors, there were drawbacks to her tech-free approach. She explains that technology could have facilitated the program in the creation of lesson plans, access to online games and communication with other volunteers. “I would use more forms of social media to bring in more teens, if I were to do this again,” Schapiro says.
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TEC TORN
Technology is you are the d
Activism benefits from technology The Internet, cellphones, and social media can be used for more than online games and social banter. Technology is a useful tool for involved teens. Paideia School recently exhibited its faith in the benefits of technology by distributing iPads to all of its high school students. Current Directors of Technology Tami Oliver and Brian Meeks defined a few of those benefits. Oliver cited “increased efficiency and organization,” while Meeks pointed to technology’s ability to rapidly disseminate information. Carmen Leandra, a junior at North Atlanta High School, agrees with Meeks. “It’s easier to communicate,” she says, “and [the message] gets out faster.” A volunteer at the YMCA and Planned Parenthood, Leandra frequently uses technology to reach out to her friends about getting involved with her. “I send out mass text messages,” she tells me. “And I do emails, and I do social media posts.” And Leandra is not the only teen taking advantage of technology’s networking value. Letty Leach, a sophomore at Atlanta Girls’ School, and former volunteer at Genesis Shelter (a local organization addressing family homelessness), used social media to attract attention to her work at the Shelter. “One night I was there, and this little girl braided
my hair into seven different braids,” Leach says. “So I posted a picture on Facebook saying ‘This is what my nights are like. While other kids are doing homework or out with their friends, I’m here doing what I love most,’ and a bunch of people were like ‘How can I help?’” Teens using social media to promote activism isn’t uncommon. “Starting grassroots movements is easier,” Meeks says. “You have Facebook pages that support this cause, you have Twitter feeds that support that cause, and you can subscribe to those and get information [from them] while also putting information into [them].” A major route by which teens get involved are advocacy-oriented hashtags. Both Leach and Leandra chorused their approval of hashtags as a means of getting involved. “If I’m scrolling on my Instagram
GREATEST GENERATION
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CH NADO
s the tool, but driving force!
feed and I see a hashtag that says ‘social advocacy,’ immediately I’ll click on it to try to see what I can do,” Leach says. “It’s a way of seeing what’s trending, what’s going on in the world and how I can help.” Quinton Walker, Paideia’s Internship Coordinator, has started using hashtags in his efforts to match students with internships. In addition, the teens Walker works with often conduct their own research on the side. He says a great advantage of the Millennials’ use of technology is the informality. “One thing I’m starting to see
VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMER 2015 students do as a result of technology is they’re willing to research and cold call people, so they will find someone they want to work with, and they will email them right away,” Walker says. Technology facilitates contacting organizations, but also staying connected to them. John Stanfield, a sophomore at Chamblee Charter High School, says technology provides a quick and easy mode of communication in both of his internships. Stanfield leads Sunday school at his church and volunteers with the Civil Air Patrol. “When I do Sunday school, we have a scheduling system where it’s all online. It’s communicated through email, so I’ll get emails each week asking if I’m going to be there and I’ll get emails with the lesson plans,” Stanfield says. “And for Civil Air Patrol, we will use email to communicate and plan the events.” His brother, Harper Stanfield, a senior at Chamblee Charter High School, agrees on the utility of technology. Harper, an intern with Altamaha Riverkeeper, is designing an app that river visitors can use to send pictures of debris to the organization. He hopes the app will help the Riverkeepers prioritize cleanup efforts. “Technology is the crux of what I’ve been doing for the past year,” Harper says. “Without it, obviously, none of this would be possible.”
generations: for teens, technology provides a quick and easy method of communication, but for those adults who don’t understand how to navigate mobile devices, it can overcomplicate the process. Similarly, disparities in access to technology can affect communication. “A lot of the younger cadets [in Civil Air Patrol] don’t have smartphones, so they don’t have constant access to their emails,” John says. Oliver and Meeks note that false or opinionated information is easy to post on social media and spreads quickly online. And, the all-time favorite drawback: it’s distracting. “I probably waste a good 25 percent of my time … just because I have access to a computer and a phone and there’s so much else I can do on there besides work,” Harper says. So, how do we combat the cons? “The codes of conduct that emerge around [technology] are really murky right now,” Walker says. Technology is evolving rapidly, and, in order to use it properly, the rules that govern its usage must evolve with it. “Don’t rely so much on communication [via technological devices] that you stop relying on interpersonal skills,” Radulovacki advises. “Be a person, not a robot.”
Technology’s drawbacks
Used properly, technology is a very effective means of taking action for the average, civic-minded modern teen. “Teens have a huge stake in what happens in the world because they will soon be the ones running it, so getting involved early is very beneficial,” says Schapiro. Technology abounds in opportunities for teens to drive change. Social media platforms allow users to direct the attention of the masses and promote their causes on an international scale. Fundraising sites facilitate advocacy group projects by rapidly amassing the necessary funds. “Social media — Twitter, Instagram, Facebook — are great ways to spread awareness, and it’s something as simple as using a hashtag to stand for something greater than just the words,” Harper says.
Of course, if used improperly, technology can be more of a hindrance than a help. Written or typed words lack body language and intonation, thus their messages can easily be misconstrued. “It can be harder to genuinely connect with someone over the Internet,” says Radulovacki. “It can be harder to sense where they’re coming from, especially if you’re having a dialogue or a discussion, then you don’t have those body language clues, you don’t have the inflection of their voice; you only have the words that are written down, so some things can get lost in translation.” Multitasking, Radulovacki points out, is also a major issue when information abounds. “Some of your attention is going to be divided, and you will probably be less productive,” she says. Walker cites the gap in understanding between the
Using tech for a better world
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However, as Oliver reminds us, it’s important to keep in mind that technologybased interactions are just the first step towards advocacy: “[Words] do have power, but they don’t always translate into action.” Sharing a post on Facebook promoting social responsibility may be enough to soothe your conscience, but is not enough to solve the problem. “I think that being engaged and active in what you read is a good way to combat the easiness of inaction,” Schapiro says. You can’t rely too heavily on devices to get the job done; technology is the tool, but you are the driving force. So, how can you use technology to get involved? Reach out to a like-minded group of people through social media platforms. Search service learning hashtags and “follow” nonprofit organizations’ social media pages (follow VOX while you’re at it on Twitter and Instagram @VoxRoxAtl). And of course, there is always the age-old tactic of reading credible news sites. The Freechild Project, an organization aimed at providing teens the same opportunities and power to affect their communities as adults, is a good source for current projects operating throughout the nation that teens can be a part of. The evolution of technology seems not only to have increased the ability to make a difference, but the responsibility to do so. Pamela Rutledge, director of the Media Psychology Research Center at Fielding Graduate University, said in an interview with the Pew Research Center that there is a “new assumption about participation.” “It is not just the expectation to participate that we talk about in convergence culture,” she says. “It is the belief that each person can participate in a meaningful way.” Making that difference starts with you. Margaret, 18, is a senior at Paideia with a penchant for nineteenth-century British literature and Ultimate Frisbee.
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The so-called greatest generation’s quest for information By Asjah Johnson VOX Staff
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earch engines are making you stupid. Yes, you read that correctly, but here it is again: Search engines are making you stupid! Search engines, including Google, Bing and their counterparts, are hampering our ability to recall information. We don’t entirely lose our ability to remember things, but it changes the way we remember things. According to a study by Betsy Sparrow, a Columbia University researcher, people are recalling the information itself less, instead remembering where to find the information they had forgotten. “Since the advent of search engines, we are reorganizing the way we remember things,” Sparrow said in her report. “Our brains rely on the Internet for memory in much the same way they rely on the memory of a friend, family member or co-worker. We remember less through knowing information itself than by knowing where the information can be found.” We now live in an era of copy and paste. Don’t believe me? Maybe some high school teachers can convince you. When I asked North Atlanta High School’s Blaine Harris, a biology and physical science teacher, if he agrees with Sparrow’s study about search engines and recalling information, he said, “Why memorize anything when you can look it up?” And his views aren’t unfounded; a 2012 Pew Internet Project reported that 94 percent of all teens
use Internet search engines for research, but only three percent of teachers rated those teens “excellent” in knowing how to properly assess the quality and accuracy of information they find online. Emily Galloway, a 9th and 12th grade English teacher at North Atlanta, worries this could lead to teens using their brains less
constantly on their mobile devices and tablets. These are the places where we get the latest gossip, communicate with friends and even research. A 2015 Pew Research Center stated nearly 75 percent of youth aged 12 to 17 now have or have access to smartphones, which is up from 45 percent in 2004. Many
We have become dependent on short answers and quick results, weakening our ability to think critically. We are in an age where everyone wants answers as soon as possible. and less. “I’m wondering if the part of your brain used for memory is going to shrivel up for your generation because y’all barely use it,” she told VOX.“That’s what comes with the Internet, because a lot of times with Google we type a phrase in and then copy and paste the information without ever reading the whole thing.” Millennials are
3 Tips to Effective Search: 1. Make very descriptive searches. For example, if you’re looking for a Starbucks, type in “Where is the nearest Starbucks?” 2. Make sure to choose your words carefully. Instead of saying “my stomach hurts” to the search engine, you could use “stomachache” because that’s the word a medical site would use. 3. When searching, use quotation marks. The search engine can locate entire strings of words and not bits and pieces.
teens use mobile devices as a method of communication. Pew’s study further states 91 percent of teens access the Internet on their mobile devices at least occasionally. Also, we use Google and its contemporaries often as a way to get information faster, but in reality, as search engines improve, we become lazier. We have to type less accurately because we can put
something in that’s completely wrong, but it’ll correct it for the user anyway. I believe this is the reason some teens, including myself, feel like everything should just happen instantaneously with little to no effort. We have become dependent on these short answers and quick results, and we are weakening our ability to think critically. We are currently in an age where everyone wants answers as soon as possible. People think that Google and its fellow search engines are amazing innovations, and they are. They allow us to gain access to what feels like infinite amounts of information in less than a second. “I think Google is an incredible tool if you know how to use it properly,” Harris said. “I think unfortunately, now with education, we aren’t teaching students how to research. So they don’t necessarily know how to use it to their advantage.” Galloway says search engines are a catch-22. “I think it makes [teens] very trusting of the Internet,” Galloway said. “They feel like they can find anything they want. That can be a very dangerous thing, because they don’t always look at what they find on Google critically. But on the other hand, why would I have kids learn all these facts when they can just Google them at any minute?” Asjah, 15, is a freshman at North Atlanta High School.
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VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMER 2015
GREATEST IN TECH? The students at Grace Christian Academy in Fayetteville have complex thoughts about that By Michael Foster VOX Staff
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rom the inventions of the light bulb to the Internet, each generation has had a contribution to the many technological advances of this world. Some of the most noticeable technological developments have come during this generation, also known as Generation Y or the Millennial generation. Some of these advancements include touch screen phones, voice-activated devices and social media. But do all of these developments make us the greatest generation when it comes to technology? A simple question was given to some high school students at Grace Christian Academy in Fayetteville: "Do you believe this generation is the greatest generation when it comes to technology?" Of those asked in my very unscientific and informal polling, more of the students believed that this generation was indeed the greatest when it comes to technology, whereas fewer students either didn't believe this was the greatest generation or had mixed feelings.
But it was time to look deeper and figure out why they felt the way they did, starting with the majority.
Majority rules For some members of the majority, the technological advances have been beneficial to their everyday productivity. "I most definitely believe that this generation is the greatest generation when it comes to technology,and for good reason, too,” says Miguel Vila, a 16-year-old junior. “One reason is because I feel the people of this generation have more resources available to them, which in return provide us with more ability. Our advancements have also caused us to strive for more. For example, Apple has already broken barriers with technology that other companies weren't doing in previous generations." Vila’s response may come as no surprise, as technology has helped save his life. "One way technology has had an impact on me is that it saved my eye," Vila says. A few years ago, doctors found a corneal ulcer on one of Miguel's eyes. With the use of technology, such as microscopic cameras, doctors were able to find where the infection
was, and after a few treatments, get rid of the corneal ulcer. "I personally feel that doctors might not have been able to do the things they did with me a generation or two ago because of the lack of technology," Vila says. Emily Williams, another junior, agrees. “This generation is the greatest when it comes to technology. Our generation is more 'up to date,’ we have the most knowledge about technology, and can use our knowledge to create new things," she says. But Williams does note there are downsides. "Technology has had an impact on my life in both a positive and negative way,” she says. “The positives are that it's easier to look things up, and I am able to use it to my advantage, such as when I'm doing my homework. But I feel that technology has made our generation lazier and can sometimes be a huge distraction." Williams made a solid point about distractions. According to GenerationY. com, 80 percent of the Generation Y population use two or more devices while watching television every day. What was even more surprising was that 90 percent of millennials across the world check their emails, texts and social media accounts on their smartphones before getting out of bed, according to the Connected World Technology Report released by Cisco in 2012. Talk about being distracted.
Strong minority
While Williams thought this was the greatest generation technology-wise, for her it wasn’t for the better. "I have mixed feelings about this generation being the greatest when it comes to technology," says senior Marcus Jones. While he is aware of the many positives of technology’s effect on this generation, such as providing social environments and being familiar with technology at a younger age, he compares them to the negative aspects of tech, such as hacking, cyberbullying and distractions.
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According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, six percent of high school students reported being bullied in school within the last year, while nearly 15 percent reported being bullied online. “It just gives us easier ways to put ourselves in danger as young people,"Jones says. Technology has made Jones’ life easier, but it has given him many distractions, just like it has for Williams. Daniel Moss, another junior, was pretty clear about his opinion, believing this is not the greatest generation when it comes to technology. “I just feel that we have had greater leaps in technological advances during the 1900 to 1920s time period,” he says. Some of the technological advances Moss was referencing were the automobile, the telegraph, and the creation of the assembly line. He feels technology has had a positive impact on his life though, using the automobile as an example. Moss loves racing tractors, and he says that without the technological advances that have already come, he wouldn’t be able to enjoy his hobby as much as he does now. So is this generation the greatest generation when it comes to technology? That’s the question we want you, our teen audience to answer! You've heard from the youth of this generation, what do you think? Tweet us your thoughts @VOXROXATL using the hashtag #VOXGreatestGeneration. We’d love to hear from you, so give us a shout. Michael, 17, is a junior at Grace Christian Academy.
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SHIELDED BY THE SCREEN How does technology affect our relationships?
By Arlena McClenton VOX Staff
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ur generation has a reputation for being especially tech savvy. Our parents and grandparents believe that everyone under the age of 30 has an intimate knowledge of how everything with a touchscreen works. While this may not be entirely true, our generation also faces the stereotype of being narcissistic and too consumed by our handheld devices. Is this true? Older generations forever complain about the ubiquity of texting and how no one really talks to each other anymore. I can see where they’re coming from. According to Mashable, the average teenager sends 3,339 texts a month. It seems teens prefer the written word rather than face-to-face interactions. The thought of calling someone and leaving a voicemail makes me nervous. When I’m bored, it’s becoming a reflex to whip out my phone instead of engaging the person next to me. I remember being at a meeting once when a lull occurred. I quickly made the goal of getting to know someone new. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen since everyone was already on their cellphone.
How social is social media? Social media makes it easier to keep up with everyone, but it has its downsides. It makes people think shallow social interactions are more meaningful than they actually are. Consider birthday wishes on Facebook for example. There’s a big difference between a distant friend posting “hbd” to your wall and your best friend writing a dissertation analyzing your friendship since first grade. There’s a middle
ground, but most people choose the path of least interaction. People are less responsible when they’re shielded by a computer screen. Pure text, without voice inflection or facial expressions, can transform a sarcastic observation into a mean-spirited accusation. “Students are more able to share their feelings, and it helps people get to know each other better. I like that aspect of it,” said James Yawn, a literature teacher at
the people you know. It’s expected that everyone these days owns a cellphone, even if it’s a simple flip phone. Claire Ofotokun, 17, a student at Brookwood High School, says that technology has really improved her relationships with her peers. “Before, you’d have to send a letter to ask if they wanted to hang out,” she says. “Now I can just text them. It’s simple and easy.” Mary Catherine Kelly, an 18-year-old
Pure text, without voice inflection or facial expressions, can transform a sarcastic observation into a mean-spirited accusation. DeKalb School of the Arts. “The negative thing is that [texting] can become insular. You’re not really communicating with the person. It’s distant, and you can’t read the other person’s nonverbal cues, which are important.” These mixups have become more common since people text more often and in less casual circumstances than email. Elizabeth Kiefer, 18, has experienced this personally. “One time, I sent a Snap to my friend, jokingly saying ‘I don’t like you,’ and he was like, ‘Wait, really?’ and I said, ‘Oh, no, I was just joking.’ It was a little bit awkward.”
Can cellphones be used for good? Although cellphones might not aid in forming close relationships or getting to know other people better, they do help you communicate more efficiently with
home-school student, concurs. “I’m home-schooled, so I don’t get to see my peers at school,” she says. “Technology has improved my connection with my peers because now I can just text them.”
Should we talk, text or snap? Phones and social media have made it easier to connect with others on a practical level but rarely facilitate deep relationships. Apps like Tinder allow you to judge potential significant others purely by their appearance. Some of my friends have had my phone number for years, yet we’ve always relied on text messages and have never called each other. We see each other’s photos and try to lead the seemingly happy lives that our friends do. Candace Allison, a senior at DeKalb School of the Arts, sums up this entire situation. “When I’m home alone, and my
friends are on Snapchat or Instagram posting about all the fun things they’re doing, it makes me think I need to have more of a social life, even though I was perfectly happy before.”
Instagram isn’t instant -- it’s manufactured The situation Allison describes above is a common scenario. Yet part of fixing the problem is realizing there is one. We use social media to build a happy, perfect online world that we rarely sully with negativity or meaningful conversations. What if we all spent a day actually enjoying our food instead of trying to get a perfect shot of it for Instagram? What if we didn’t care about how many Facebook likes or retweets we had? What if we simply lived in the moment rather than trying to save every moment for our friends to see? In trying to make every moment special, we turn them into mindless photo ops. Social media shows only one dimension of a whole person. If we want to make our relationships more meaningful in this modern age, maybe we should turn our cellphones off for a few hours and actually talk to each other. Arlena, 17, has a love/hate relationship with both Facebook and Twitter. She’s currently a senior at DeKalb School of the Arts.
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GREATEST GENERATION VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMER 2015
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VOX asked teens in our community: What’s something today’s teens have expertise to talk about in our communities? What would you say if you had the microphone and the opportunity to share your thoughts and opinions about today’s teen generation? Success is something everyone can attain. Whether it is educational, social, spiritual or anything, all you need is a goal. Once you have a goal, there is nothing that is necessarily untouchable. Our generation is filled with so much opportunity that we aren’t aware of. Some kids say they aren’t smart enough, or they’re too shy, but all those [things] can be turned into a strength. Education is something everyone can have. Disabilities, finances or even home trouble should be able to stop. Those scholarships are available for the nitty gritty to even the broadest subjects. There should never be an excuse because everyone has a goal – whether to make money or gain an education. There are so many resources available designed to enable your goals and dreams to become reality. — Toju Pessu, 16, Archer High School, in partnership with GUIDE Teens are 100 percent experts when it comes to stress. Every day, we are bombarded with homework and projects, when in reality, all we want to do is sleep for hours. The amount of all-nighters I have had throughout my high school career is beyond belief. The whole objective of working hard every single day is for the future. Peers simply say to give up or rest. However, my future is priceless, and I hope to reach goals that my immigrant parents dreamed of me
achieving. I want to make a difference in this world no matter how much I sacrifice now. Sometimes the stress is overwhelming and adults won’t understand, but it will all be worth it. — Patricia Granda-Malaver, 16, Collins Hill High School, in partnership with GUIDE The teens of today are faced with problems that lots of times go unnoticed. One big problem is drug abuse and violence. While this has been happening for a long time and is nothing new, it does seem to get worse and worse each and every day. For example, drugs are easier to come by each day, and they become more powerful, addictive, cheaper and all around more popular. To add on, violence has been more and more common. It seems like every day a fight breaks out at my school. Even worse, they start over smaller things each time. — Lucio Ruiz, 15, Monroe Area High, in partnership with GUIDE There are actually more people than we realize who have been kicked out or are on their own. Even if they have a “home,” there isn’t always the best support there; they are left to fend for themselves. [I] recently heard stories of students who didn’t have places to shower or others who have to live with [best friends] because they were kicked out. They need people there who are about grades and
their future, even if it isn’t a parent. [This] leads to drugs/alcohol, etc. — Meredith Calhoun, 17, Loganville High School, in partnership with GUIDE Today, in my Spanish class, my eyes were opened to a big issue facing my high school. Loganville High School is diverse, but we haven’t really been celebrating diversity. My classmate said, “Look around the cafeteria, and you will see that everyone sits in separate groups, usually divided by race and ethnicity.” It’s amazing to me that even though we aren’t forced to do this, we do it anyway. My school has put labels and placed identity on what we look like. It’s time to change the community and create a place of cultural competency. — Cassie McBee, 16, Loganville High School, in partnership with GUIDE I believe that it is important to encourage teens to follow their passion regarding any career choice they plan to make. Each of us has our own way of learning, our one way of expressing ourselves and our own values that make us who we are. When we learn to accept our talents, our innate talents, then we will be able to use this passion to help mold our communities in a positive way. I speak from experience. All my life I have convinced myself that a science career is the best route to take because of all the benefits
it has. I have forced myself to study hard and give it my all, and it was only when I got to Emory University that I found that my talent in the sciences wasn’t my passion. I realized my passion [is] in the visual arts and that I can use this to help make change in my community. So now, I am following my passion and transferring to an art school. In conclusion, in order to make a positive and long-lasting change in our community, teens have to learn to accept themselves and integrate their passions into their community work. — Josselyn Garcia, 19, Emory University, in partnership with GUIDE
MORE COMMUNITY STORIES ON THE NEXT PAGE!
GREATEST GENERATION PAGE 20 MORE STORIES FROM TEENS IN THE COMMUNITY ON THE NEXT THREE PAGES!
I’m autistic and had some friends since the third grade that were too, and I always felt like a leader throughout elementary school and middle school. But now, I’m in high school to feel like signing up for the Hooked program and be part of leaders and help others and make some new friends. — Nicholas, 16, Archer High School, in partnership with GUIDE It’s always hard to answer questions like this. It feels loaded and complex, and I feel pressure not to say the wrong thing. As a teen, I always feel that [pressure] on a regular basis. Adults are always asking, “Where are you going to college?” and “Where do you see yourself working?” And I’m scared to say the wrong thing. A lot of adults feel we’re passionate about the wrong thing. — Savoy Shakir, 17, Georgia Perimeter College, in partnership with GUIDE We as a society of teenagers have traveled down a road that lacks a true foundation. Continuing to journey without a clear destination, the idea is [to] learn from your mistakes, but some mistakes can be avoided with the road signs. Who are our road signs? Where are our maps? The teenage life is full of detours, which can either allow for us to slow down and appreciate the scenic route or leave us at a dead end. We must find signs and maps to promote our journey, increase our enjoyment of life and encourage a purpose. — Cayce Reese, 17, Norcross High School, in partnership with GUIDE I feel like teenagers today all have good intentions to make a difference in their community, but sometimes teens can [get] distracted. As a community, adults and other teens, our mission is to help those who have fallen off their path of success and get them back on the road of greatness and accomplishments. — Micah Carter, 16, Archer High School, in partnership with GUIDE
VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMMER 2015 Nowadays, it is so easy to take for granted what we have in our lives. It may be food, the privilege of being [able to] attend school or even a job. Many people, especially teens, don’t realize that people who live on the streets actually exist. I personally know from experience that I used to take my parents for granted and the food that we eat and the house that we live in. The first day I went to this nonprofit organization called Wandering to Nourish Atlanta to hand out food and hygiene packets was really eye-opening. There’s a difference between hearing about people living on the streets in the “Help the poor in Africa” commercials and actually seeing it. These people were like their own personal community, gathering around and trying to survive being homeless together. Also, people don’t realize that being homeless not only affects adults but also children. — Alana Aguirre, 17, Norcross High School, in partnership with GUIDE Dear Gwinnett Public Schools, I feel like our schools should offer more life-skill classes to prepare for daily life, not just standardized tests. For example, my mom is an accountant, but she works with the IRS, and she complains about how a lot of people don’t know how to do their taxes. Another example would be an electronics class to teach us how to use more advanced technology to help us with future jobs. — Tenya Buchanan, 15, in partnership with GUIDE
But Why Should I? Because if you don’t, then who will? Because this is a war and the casualties are high. This is a battle and everyday people die against an enemy who is hard to beat but we cannot accept defeat. It’s goddamn cold out there so go put on a coat and if you are warm then you mustn’t gloat. We’re in a war and our guns are pointed at ourselves. We bomb our own bases, take down our own planes. We shoot our own soldiers because it’s kill or be killed. An eye for an eye here does not apply. Take both so she cannot see you run away. We are orphans of a society that has picked its favorite child to nurture. We must be our own mothers now. We are at war but not all hope is lost. The answer to our problems lies within us. Who better to help us than ourselves? When you see one of your own struggling to carry on, do not shrug off your conscience. Now is the time to act. Carry and you will be carried. Care and we will be cared for. Take heart, my sisters,
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we are not done yet. Tell her she’s beautiful because if you don’t, who will? Tell her she is important because if you don’t, who will? Tell her you love her because if you won’t, who will? Passivity is the most pernicious of pathogens, apathy the most adverse of ailments, and indifference the most internecine of illnesses. To see but not help, to hear but not speak, to know but not act is the greatest injustice one can commit against humanity. — Jamie Fisher, 16, Landmark Christian School, in partnership with NCCHR A lot of older generations are not as open to change and ideas drastically different than what were once typical opinions when they were younger. One issue this really affects is the LGBT community. It’s harder for those who weren’t taught that a person’s sexuality is not in their control. It must be a lot harder for those who were never educated about
VoxTeenCommunications.org the subject or who have never known people who are LGBT because they have only seen the issue from the side producing the fear, hate and disgust that many people have for LGBT people. We are told to be ourselves and to love and treat one another equally, yet transgender people are labeled weird and wrong when they try and be themselves and become who they are. We are all supposedly equal, but some people are allowed to marry who they love and others are not. Many LGBT youth feel it would be better to kill themselves than be who they are. A society that judges people and hates on people to the point where they kill themselves is not one I want to live in. — Katie Jordan, 16, Pace Academy, in partnership with NCCHR Dear Parents, We are the greatest generation to walk on planet Earth. We are teens, so we are complicated. Our complicated situations make us who we are. For all the older readers, you were once teens, too, so don’t act confused. You remember all the mixed emotions and the feelings of being alone. There’s only one thing different from your generation and ours. We’re not alone. When we’re on our phones, we are engaging in great conversations with our friends. Just because we’re on the phone doesn’t mean we’re anti-social. It means we’re talking to friends, listening to music, searching the web, doing things we love. Don’t bug us because you think we are lonely. It just means we don’t want to talk to you. No offense, but remember that you are our parents, not our friends. You can stop your worrying. We’re not going to run away, but it has crossed our minds. To be honest, you are our biggest problem. Trying to impress you, live up to your standards, live by your intolerable rules, balancing school and you nagging us, it can be pretty stressful to be a teen. But hey, we can handle it. We’re the greatest generation alive. I’m not asking you to leave completely but to just fall back a little. We’re young adults who can carry
GREATEST GENERATION VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMER 2015 ourselves now. We’re not babies anymore. If you keep doing what you’re doing, we’re going to resent you. I know we are changing and it’s hard for you but it’s our lives. We’re going to change. Change is good. You just have to learn how to adapt. Yours truly, The Greatest Generation — Jabari Baker, 15, Carver Early College, in partnership with NCCHR
When I came here a few years ago, I didn’t know anything about education. I went to school and students talked, didn’t listen to the teachers. At the time, I couldn’t understand what they were saying. Because I was new and didn’t speak English. As I began to learn and speak English, I realized how important education is. It plays a huge role in my life. Our generation doesn’t take anything seriously. We just seem to want to get pregnant, smoke, take drugs and all other kinds of nonsense. We may think we’re having fun but we don’t realize that we are actually hurting ourselves. Sooner or later when it’s too late, we’re going to start regretting this. But if we start acting now there is a possible chance that
we can survive. Without education, we won’t become anything. We can’t always depend on mom and dad. Someday we will be left in this world alone with no one to help us but ourselves. We all need to change and it needs to start now. Before it’s too late. — Claudine Niyonsenga, 18, Clarkston High, in partnership with NCCHR
I often go online and see pages upon pages of people doing things. Teenagers doing great things in the world and with their lives. This often makes me stop and think about what I’m doing with my life. I’m 16 and almost done with my teenage years and yet I have done nothing special. I’ve never been published in a magazine, never won a science fair, never created a popular app. Have I done anything worth anything? In the grand scheme of the world, it’s hard to see yourself as special when all you read about are the people your age doing better things than you. You know, the ones really changing the world. It’s easy for anyone to feel small and unimportant but I challenge everyone who feels this way to think about
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this: every great leader had a team of supporters behind them. Take the president, for instance. He could not do his job without his cabinet members helping him out. Think about Google. Google wouldn’t be Google without the thousands of workers it employs. Everything big gets smaller the longer you look at it. So maybe you aren’t the star quarterback on the undefeated football. But you are definitely part of the reason the team is undefeated. If you don’t believe me, let’s challenge that quarterback to play on his own. We are all a part of something bigger, even if we don’t realize it. You are more useful than you can possibly know. You don’t have to be in the newspaper to be important. Making a difference to one person is still making a difference. Our generation is powerful. Infinitely powerful. The world is ours to change. Together, anything and everything is possible. As long as we support each other, we all have a use. A very important use. — Imani Wilson-Shabazz, 16, Atlanta Girls’ School, in partnership with NCCHR Today’s generation tried too hard to please their peers. Most of the time we get so caught up in drama, we want to be isolated from everybody. Even in the classroom we have to be this “star student” because we’re trying to give off good impressions to teachers and classmates. Truth is, we just want to be recognized and trying to fit in is like our ticket in. I am always trying to make it known that I am well educated. So fitting in honestly doesn’t matter to me. If we cool, then we cool. If not, oh well. Just be yourself and see where that road takes you. — NyQuavious French, 15, Carver Early College, in partnership with NCCHR ART ABOVE BY D’JUAN CHAMBERS, 16, CARVER SCHOOL OF THE ARTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NCCHR ART ON PAGE 20 BY QUINTON JOHNSON, 14, CARVER SCHOOL OF THE ARTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NCCHR MORE ON THE NEXT PAGE!
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VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMMER 2015
Sexual Harrassment. Many teens from our generation have gone through something like this. Many teeneagers hide what’s going on. Parents, family members and many others can be involved in these situations. Teens feel scared of what’s going on. Some would hide it; some would fight it. I hid it. I hid it deep within myself. I didn’t tell anyone until recently. I feel like I should tell you this because many of us are going through this or have gone through this. I was in the 2nd grade when this occurred. It was one of my mom’s friends who was living with us at the time. He was nice with me and my brothers and sister. My dad was always in and out of my life. One day, he started touching me inappropriately. When I tried to get away, he told me that if I ever told anyone, I’d pay the price. He continued to touch me every chance he got. I remember crying myself to sleep at times. He eventually moved away, and I never saw him until three years later. He acted as if nothing happened, and I did the same. I didn’t tell my mom until last year. She was disappointed that I had never told her. She was furious at the man and threatened him that if he ever came near us she would call the cops. We never saw or heard about [him] since then. Still, I feel sad at times and I also feel like crap. I advise teens to please immediately talk to an adult. To not keep it in. I built my walls up. I painted those walls with smiley faces. I don’t want other teens to go through what happened to me. I want teens to know that you aren’t alone. There are many teens who go through this. Don’t be afraid to let it all out. — Anonymous, 15, Cross Keys High, in partnership with Latin American Association
GET HELP
Editor’s Note: If you or someone you know is being hurt or abused by someone, it’s important to help out. Please use the following resource to report or find help for abuse.
Georgia Center for Child Advocacy georgiacenterforchildadvocacy.org 1485 B Woodland Ave, Atlanta, GA 30316 Phone: (678) 904-2880
Provides therapy services to children 3 through 18 who have been victims of sexual abuse, severe physical abuse and/or who have witnessed a violent crime. Eligibility includes children who live in Fulton or DeKalb counties or children who live elsewhere in the Atlanta area but have experienced abuse in Fulton or DeKalb. Also provides referrals for people outside these designated areas. Family advocacy services, forensic evaluations and interviews are also available. All services are free to children and families.
I remember when I was younger, I didn’t know anything about Facebook, texting or Twitter. I was so focused on playing with the mud outside, spending time with those who I called friends. Kids back then [were] so innocent. We didn’t know any of the things kids talk about now. It’s pretty amazing how society has changed in just a couple of years. How the world is changing kids’ minds, making them think that social media has it all. That it’s more important to make a Facebook “status” and worry about how many “likes” or “shares” you get. Everyone is forgetting the real world. Kids now would rather stay in to watch a screen rather than going out and enjoying the real world. It’s becoming really easy for kids to find any kind of information on social media. Kids are finding more information than what they are supposed to too. Social media and technology are becoming a huge problem. Kids are not being kids anymore. They are being trapped by our own inventions. — Sandra Apresa, 14, Cross Keys High, in partnership with Latin American Association Today’s generation knows too much about video games and stuff to do with technology. Everywhere I look, it’s “Did you hear about the new video game that just came out?” I don’t know or even care about most of these games for the most because I don’t have a game system and I like to go out. Other kids are speaking about the new phone or watch or some other new tech stuff. I like technology, but I’m not watching for the next new Apple product to come out. If I like some kind of fancy technology, I buy it. But I’m not going to brag that I stood up all night to get the next iPhone, Playstation or XBox. — Luis Monterroso-Franco, 15, Cross Keys High, in partnership with Latin American Association When I came here, it was very difficult to write or understand English. To have a better life, I want to understand English well, so I can help other people who would like to learn English. I came here to do something
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good in my life and I’m going to keep doing my best, so one day I can tell other kids how my life was and share it with them. — Elio Perez, Cross Keys High, in partnership with Latin American Association Today’s generation knows a lot about sadness and depression. Depression is one of the causes of suicide. A lot of people go through depression and don’t know what to do about it. They usually stay quiet because their friends might make fun of them or bully them. Depressed people need someone to talk to, but usually they never have a best friend or someone by their side. That’s probably why they cut or self-harm. So be that one friend or person to help the sad person. Too bad for me, depression hit me when my girlfriend broke up with me. Music was my only friend. I had to distance myself from my break up. Luckily for me, one of my friends texted me and helped me through the pain. He wasn’t too late to help me through the sadness. — Kevin Escalante, Cross Keys High, in partnership with Latin American Association Today’s generation is built on the profound basis of twerking, explicit music and poor dress. An apparent culture rises from the customs of our sophisticated media distribution. Nowadays, ask a student about derivatives, and you’ll get no answer. But then ask them about the latest dubstep beats, and they can recite entire songs. We don’t all fall under this category. But those who do are changing modern values and affecting society. For the better or worse, who’s to judge? — Salvador Martina, 16, Cross Keys High, in partnership with Latin American Association Time is something that many teens struggle with. Personally, I have struggled making time for friends, family, sleep and after-school activities. I start the day at six in the morning to take a shower and get changed. At 6:30, I usually take a nap until 6:50. At 7, I catch the bus to school only to
GREATEST GENERATION
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find myself asleep by the time we arrive at school. At 7:50, the bell rings, and we go to our classes. By the end of 4th period, it is 3:10 p.m. and I, like many others, head to an after-school activity. In the fall, I head to robotics, spending time working on robot sometimes until 11 p.m., only to find it not working and spending more time on it the next day. In the spring, I play Varsity baseball with games lasting until 8 p.m., only to get home and help my dad out at the family business. I still have homework for my AP classes. I’ll be lucky to go to sleep by 2 a.m. For some teens of this generation, they would say that’s nothing, but after days and days of it, it can really affect someone. On weekends, I find myself working at the family company. All the adults I’ve met tell me to continue my education and not to end up like them. I’m always hoping not to be disappointed. — Daniel Martinez, 16, Cross Keys High, in partnership with Latin American Association
Untitled By Julian Mason
Westminster, in partnership with NCCHR Come Together. It ain’t all about the hate. Instead Look someone in the eye and tell them, “You’re great.” All the take and irrelevant s--- isn’t worth it. Go to school, get educated and get successful. I just can’t wrap my head around why everyone can’t be real. Stay true to yourself is what I tell you. While you’re out here trying to make drug deals. Forget the haters and maybe Start listening to the motivators. The activists, the ones who want to see you succeed. But first it all starts with one word. And that’s Believe! Believe that greatness is just a step away. The doubts, the negativity
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VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMER 2015
All of that has to move out of your way. They ain’t ready. Hell, none of ‘em are ready. For how bad your success is gonna make them pay. TRUTH!
I Am
By Melody You
VOX Staff and Johns Creek High School, in partnership with NCCHR I am from Chinese New Year, Christmas, with radiant lanterns and warm fireplaces. From bookstores, subway stations and cozy coffee shops I am from untied shoelaces, tight ponytails and knee scratches from climbing trees. I am from fresh laundry, petrichor, eucalyptus leaves and gardenias. From click-clacking on cobblestones, bohemian rhapsody and ocean waves. I am from the city that rose from the ashes of prejudice and discrimination. From the state of the peach and “wisdom, justice, moderation.” I am from respect, knowledge, openmindedness and compassion. And always “treat others the way you want to be treated.” I am from keys, strings, saddle and bridge. From Debussy, Vivaldi, Yorke and Lennon. I am from self-expression through the gel of my pen. From once crumpling papers of my unfinished thoughts and dreams. I am from slouching and keeping my lead low. From fear of appearing gawky, awkward and strange in the height of others. I am from constant self-improvement, motivation and new-found confidence. I am from exploring new places and writing new stories. I am from walking long strides and sitting on roofs to see the world at a higher peak. From screaming at the top of my lungs to gasp for the invigorating taste of air. I am Melody.
Untitled
Untitled
BEST Academy High, in partnership with NCCHR
Georgia State University in partnership with Guide
By Qwantayvious Stiggers
She said it would be fine She said I can live without him She said it wasn’t the end of the world She said he will realize what he lost She said that he gave me life She said it was up to me She said don’t let it stop you She said she was sorry She said it would be fine She said she didn’t know he would miss all this time She said she would call She said just to wait She said she was sorry She said it would be fine She said I should forgive him She said she was always gonna be there for me She said she forgave my father Said said she was sorry She was my mother
By Marilyn Carias
If I had to say one thing Of what I want people to know I would stand up And let my voice flow. Drugs, alcohol, parties, That’s what adults see But just know that is not me. I might be a youth At least for now I am very different And for that I will take a bow. Uniqueness is what youth should represent But why ruin that mindset And make everyone upset? “Eww, you’re a nerd” or “Drink this and you’re kool” Are statements that should be rejected Because you are no fool. So to all the youth out there Hear my voice Not everything popular Remember, it’s your choice.
ART BY NYQUAYIOUS FRENCH, 15, CARVER EARLY COLLEGE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NCCHR
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VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMMER 2015
THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: “EVOLUTION” BY VICTORIA WATKINS, GRAYSON HIGH SCHOOL “MK” BY JESSICA WILSON, GRAYSON HIGH SCHOOL “MEXICO” BY CLEO CHANG, LOVETT HIGH SCHOOL “MAGNIFICATION” BY KAITLYN SANDERS, ATLANTA GIRLS SCHOOL OPPOSITE PAGE: “SELF-PORTRAIT” BY SANA MASUD, ATLANTA GIRLS SCHOOL TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ENTERING TEEN ARTWORK INTO THE ATLANTA HIGH SCHOOL ART EXHIBITION, PLEASE VISIT HTTP://WWW.AHSAE.INFO/OR KEEP UP YEAR-ROUND BY LIKING THEM ON FACEBOOK AT FACEBOOK.COM/ATLANTAHIGHSCHOOLARTEXHIBITION
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GREATEST GENERATION VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMER 2015
Potential By Victoria Walker VOX Staff
To generations Y and Z I bear my heart on my sleeve. Lack of commitment contradicted by our tattoos. Older generations spitting accusations of taboos. We’ve become a generation that makes our own rules. Lack of commitment debunked by our abundance of vision. Our thirst to know us is a thirst that’s relentless. The words we do or don’t speak are just words yet to be written. Maintained respect for the greatest generations that have left their mark For generations to come. A lasting influence that pulses through our veins. A standard to be upheld by the new kids in town. A mantle predestined to be passed down. Generations Y and Z, although suffocated we still breathe. The seeds sown today bear the fruits of tomorrow’s legacy. Long live us infinitely.
The Dark Girl's Lament By Suporna Chaudhuri University of Georgia
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall, Why am I not fair at all? They say I'll never know of love Who needs the crow when there's a dove? I know that women lose their lives For no one wants the coal-black wives. For nightmares born as jet-black sheep, Happiness is just skin-deep. This hue has brought me naught but shame; If life goes wrong, my skin's to blame. I've bought the lotions, used the creams, I've dealt the gods respect and screams. I've lost my faith but not this skin; I'm darker than the darkest sin. Before I slash my wrists to shreds, And join the ashes of the dead, Have you no advice to give? No reason for why I should live?" The mirror never spoke a word; He wept inside with thoughts unheard. How could he tell her all he saw, That nowhere did he note a flaw. Her hue was inky like the night; Her dusky eyes glowed like starlight. He knew the skin along her bones Would have the feel and warmth of home. He knew she loved to sing and dance, But no "real" man would take the chance To hold the hand unlike his own And see what lay beyond skin tone. The mirror knew inside her mind, A treasure trove there was to find. Under raven hair like smoke, Her brilliance wore an ebony cloak. Yet here she sat and here she wept As whitewashed masses smiled and slept. He longed to tell his midnight dream That even coal mines one day gleam, For that which has the highest worth Is buried far beneath the earth.
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But alas, the mind unread Lay inside the glass-bound head, And then he watched his dark girl fall, His love, his life, his muse, his all. So there she died, caught in a flood Of neither black nor pearly blood. They saw her, took her, spoke of hell. (Only the beautiful can die well.)
Beauty is as beauty does, Yet fairness is, will be, and was A blessing and the saving grace For the blackest heart with palest face. But what remains the saddest part Is no one cares for golden hearts, For who would care to look within When all is known from just one's skin?
What About Us By Jessica L. Davis
Elite Scholars Academy High, in partnership with NCCHR What About Us? Everybody’s advocating for the boy coming out Or the girl who’s cutting and starving herself Yes, their problems are valid and mean something But what about us? The boy who hates sports but re-reads “War and Peace” The one who likes structure and rules The kids who have Netflix as their hot dates on Fridays The people who want to know they matter What about us? The girl who wants to say she woke up like this The person who wants to be something but doesn’t know how What about us? What about us? What about us?
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Stars By Maya Samad Home-school
Put the universe away The space around you Is cluttered Time to tidy up Sweep up the stars Pick up the planets Dust away the nebulae Tuck away the comets Gather up the moons Fill the black holes
VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMMER 2015
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ABOVE: “HAZE” BY HENRIETTA DWUMFOUR, NEW MANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL TOP RIGHT: “RHOPALOCERA” BY KAT MATHER, BEN FRANKLIN ACADEMY RIGHT: “THE COMMON MAN’S BURDEN” BY JESSICA WALSH, NORTH SPRINGS CHARTER
Put the universe away The space around you Is cluttered
The Flower By Tatiyana Sinkfield
Benjamin E. Mays High School The flower that bloomed in a dark room was just like you,
but different. It managed to be conceived from an impossible location. A place that others did not understand A place that made them worry. The flower that bloomed in a dark room was just like you, but beautiful. It managed to spawn out of the depths of darkness that only the night knew. It knew secrets that only the night knew. It found motivation in these secrets.
The flower that bloomed in a dark room was just like you, but complex. It managed to open its petals unto an unfamiliar world although it was blinded. It didn’t question the possibilities of its survival. It cherished each of the seconds it had been blessed with. The flower that bloomed in a dark room was just like you, but different, but beautiful, but complex. It shed light when it grew.
HOROSCOPES + SUPPORT
VoxTeenCommunications.org Taurus April 20 - May 20 Just like a train you are unstoppable, yet as delicate as a flower. While others find comfort in you, you have to find comfort in them. Gemini May 21 - June 20 You’re the brainchild of Einstein and Marie Curie. Everybody always turns to you to answer their questions. But who answers your questions? Cancer June 21 - July 22 Like the sorting hat from Harry Potter, you only pick the créme de la créme for your squad. Those who make it in never want to leave your side, so appreciate them. Leo July 23 - August 22 Who says Christmas is the only time for giving? Have Christmas in July and give, give, give! Good things come for those who give.
VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMER 2015
HOROSCOPES
Virgo August 23 - September 22 Nothings gets past you, not even a speck of dust. Sometimes it’s good to let your guard down and relax. Find a Taurus to lean on.
Libra September 23 - October 22 Not many people can say they know how to balance school, family, and friendship perfectly. Just because you can do it doesn’t make it easy. Sometimes you need to take a breather, and that’s A-OK.
VOX THANKS ITS DONORS
Scorpio October 23- November 21 You don’t do anything without knowing the five Ws:
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Aquarius January 20 - February 18 You are always helping others with their struggles, but when you close your eyes you are running away from your own demons. You need to stop and face them.
Why, Where, Who, What, and When. Everything you do has a purpose, but sometimes the things you want to do don’t have one. Doing the latter is good once every blue moon.
Pisces February 19- March 20 Sometimes letting your imagination run wild can be scary at times, but today is the day to let it all out!
Sagittarius November 22- December 21 Keep your head held high. Your positive outlook on life will take you places that others would never even imagine!
Aries March 21 - April 19 You are who you are, and many will try to change that. Don’t let them!
Capricorn December 22 - January 19 When you see something you want, you’ll eventually get it. You have to look at the big picture and put all the pieces of the puzzle together.
— By Manuel Portillo, VOX Staff
CORPORATE SUPERHEROES - $25,000 OR MORE
VOX Teen Communications connects diverse metro Atlanta teens to resources for building their confidence, increasing their capacity to meet life’s demands and ensure future success. Thanks to these corporate and community supporters for providing free educational opportunities for teens.
Superhero ($25,000 and up) United Way of Greater Atlanta The Atlanta Women’s Foundation Heroes ($10,000 - $24,999) AEC Trust The Atlanta Foundation Nordson Corporate Foundation Champions ($5,000 - $9,999) City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs Mary Allen Lindsey Branan Foundation In-Kind Support for VOX: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
CORPORATE HEROES - $10,000 TO $24,999
CORPORATE CHAMPIONS - $5,000 to $9,999
CORPORATE LEADER $2,500 TO $4,999
FINAL WORDS PAGE 28
VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | SUMMMER 2015
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VOX ASKED THE TEEN FELLOWS AT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS:
WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS?
TAKE THE VOX TEEN MEDIA AND HEALTH SURVEY AND WIN PRIZES!
www.surveymonkey.com/s/voxteensurvey
“I walked on the bottom of the ocean in St. Thomas.”
“I successfully jumped off a 50-foot cliff in Jamaica.” “One accomplishment that I have done would be [turning] in a paper at the last minute and [getting] a 93 on it.” “I volcano-boarded down the side of a volcano in Antigua, Guatemala last spring.”
“It took me six months to learn English.” “One accomplishment is that I hit a buzzer beater from half court and won the game.” “I was seventh in the state for the 400 in track.”
“I skipped the 2nd grade.” “I went to Morehouse College for the summer for a whole month and learned about space, engineering and math.” “I’m a published poet.” “I’ve sung the national anthem at the Braves and Hawks games.” “I’ve designed an app for Math.” “I’m the first male president at the school.” “At my old school, I was manager for a coffee corner.”
“I rode down the biggest slide in America.” “I passed my Spanish test that I was struggling on.” “I’ve written scripts for two shows that I’m either a part of or have worked on.” “I won a $250 scholarship for having the highest GPA.” “I recently started a nonprofit organization with my two best friends.” “I went to a Tyler, The Creator concert, and he pointed out to me on stage and called me crazy.” ”I was the section leader of my section for two years.”