1st Place, Feature Writing – Student Life
2021-22, Division 1, Yearbook Verbal
By Joseph Grieme & Sabrina Seldon
Gladiator
Troy HS
A Call for Change
Increase in Anti-Asian American hate crimes has made an impact on Asian American community
The sudden shutdown of the world because of the COVID- 19 pandemic caused many people to quickly want to know where to put the blame for the cause, and with the origin of the virus being in China, the country was quickly targeted. Disturbing footage and stories capture how horrible many people of the Asian communities were treated, but there is only so much a community can take before it decides to stand up for itself.
“I wasn’t surprised that protests started happening since tension started to build up after terms like ‘Kung-flu’ started to arise, but it’s still unfortunate. I’m glad people are fighting for causes they believe are important, and I hope people start to learn that words are actually quite impactful in how we perceive each other. It’s time to learn that not everyone is bound to what they look like or where they came from,” junior Brandon Nguyen said.
Nguyen is one of the many Asian-American students among Troy High and is able to give an inside perspective. Fortunately, because of the diverse and safe city he lives in. Nguyen and his family have been able to stay safe and have not had to endure the abuse people in other parts of the country have faced.
“I’m not sure about my family or friends, but I haven’t really experienced that much discrimination that has stood out to me. I kind of remember in elementary school I’d get made fun of because of my appearance, but I honestly don’t care. THS has a pretty heavy Asian population compared to other high schools, so I’d say I’m not as much of an outlier like before,” Nguyen said. “Just (remember to) be nice and understanding of others. I think almost everything regarding this issue could be solved if people were more open and understanding.”
Loud and Clear
Social discrimination and inequality ultimately sparked the movement to speak out and take action
With news coverage already flooded with disturbing stories brought on by the COVlD-19 pandemic, the common thought was that things couldn’t get any worse. The summer months brought even more grim sights and stories, primarily across the U.S. when demonstrations and protests, caused by the killing of George Floyd and several other members of the black community who were unlawfully killed, sparked around the country. Although some of the demonstrations ended peacefully, many ended with horrific violence that broadcasted on televisions for several nights. Along with the many cities that put on these demonstrations, students across the Troy School District put it upon themselves to help and organize Troy’s very own demonstration that took place on June 5, the route beginning at Athens and marching all the way down Big Beaver to end at the Troy City Hall. For many students, their participation in the event was only just the beginning of making a difference.
“It feels like I have so much more to do and learn moving forward. I want to see more anti-racist curriculum and policies in schools, workplaces (and) medical institutions,” senior Katherine Austin, one of the organizers of the Troy demonstration, said. “The most rewarding part of participating in the protest was being able to support the collective power of the movement,” Austin said.
For senior Ridaa Khan, the lesson of coming together for a unified reason resonated with her at the demonstration.
“One of the many messages that I believe should come out of the general social justice uprisings and our local one is that of people’s power. The atmosphere at the protest was energetic and welcoming. I saw all sorts of community members banding together and chanting with sincerity and holding up posters,” Khan said.
Celebrities also took to social media platforms to inspire and voice their thoughts on the matters in the summer. Senior Allison Wei shares a quote that she saw that gave her a new perspective and passion for participating in the organization of the demonstrations.
“I saw this one quote from Lizzo, and I feel it’s pretty true: ‘Protests are not the end of progress, it is the beginning.’ I think this signifies the idea that protests are necessary and meaningful, but also, there is still work to be done. To create lasting change we must be dedicated in our efforts so that black lives will truly matter,” Wei said.
Perhaps one of the biggest challenges of organizing these events was doing it during the middle of a pandemic, a time where communication was already hard enough. Senior Kennedy Singleton who was in charge of online communication shares how she and other organizers overcame the obstacle.
“(Because of) the pandemic, the planning happened online. Advertising and promoting was done on social media, and the coordinators talked on GroupMe and Zoom. I was in charge of sending emails to participants, so it was interesting seeing how all technology helped us achieve this goal,” Singleton said.
Despite just beginning. changes and recognition on the matter have been made by businesses and organizations, one of these organizations being the Troy School District, focusing on changes that can be made in the English department.
“During our summer professional training in August we attended a district session on systemic racism and anti-racist teaching practices. At this time, the TSO Teaching and Learning team also discussed an increased commitment to equality and inclusion,” Ms. Katelyn Carroll, a ninth and twelfth grade English teacher, said.
For Ms. Carroll, she has had experiences outside of the TSD training that have helped open her perspective on racial issues.
“During the summer months, I’m a part of an antiracist book club. As the only white person in that group, it has been particularly eye-opening to hear my friends of color’s stories and firsthand experiences with racism, which has in turn guided my thinking,” Carroll said.
With an already taxing year involving the quick transition to virtual school, teachers have also had the additional job of learning how to handle matters such as racial issues that go beyond the job description.
“It is not so much as how ‘I’ handle issues, it’s more along the lines of how ‘we’ handle’ issues beyond ‘our’ job description. Here at Troy High, we work as a team,” Ms. Suria Ali-Ahmed, a ninth grade English teacher, said.
“Teachers, counselors, social workers, psychologists, administrators and other staff members collaborate with one another to create a culture of safety and acceptance. We train one another on how to handle situations, and when we need to learn about specific issues, like mental health or racism, the district links us to professionals who train us how to approach situations to ensure positive outcomes, which is why the English Department met with the experts in teaching literature in an anti-racist way,” Ali-Ahmed said.
Besides the daily grading and planning all teachers have to do, Ms. Ali-Ahmed finds time to focus on goals that will help her improve on being a teacher who is equipped to handle social issues.
“Personally, I have made it a goal of mine to read more young adult novels that focus on social issues to provide my students with the most current and up to date literature on topics such as race,” Ali-Ahmed said. “I think the power of fiction allows readers to not only understand race or social issues, but to empathize with people and situations on a deeper level, as well as understanding the world a little better. These books can also serve as a catalyst to have discussions about the issues our society is facing and provide students with teachable moments.”
Y-01. Feature Writing – Student Life
A single story about issues and activities representative of or affecting student life in the school or community. Feature coverage emphasizes human-interest angles (who, why and how) over traditional hard news elements (what, when). Student life topics might include homecoming, prom, current events, trends, work and other issues affecting the daily student experience. Coverage emphasizing sports, academics or organizations should be entered into the respective category.
Judging Criteria
- Clear, relevant, engaging human-interest angle
- Solid lead that draws reader into story
- The conclusion ties back to the central point of the story and leaves an impression on the reader by using a powerful quote, vivid anecdote or important point that acts as a “kicker.”
- Meaningful student quotes that enrich story and reflect effective interviewing
- Evidence of adequate research
- Adheres to rules of good journalism including: short paragraphs, effective transitions and use of active voice, freedom from editorial comment, careful editing and proofreading to eliminate mechanical errors, correct use of grammar