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Volume 6 • Issue 1 www.threesixtyjournalism.org September 2015
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Minnesota Teens Report Stories & Issues That Matter
The Journey ahead @16 with
Preparing for life Byron after high school n Pages 12–17, 20–21 Buxton The Minnesota Twins rookie talks high school stardom, pressure and life after the MLB. n Page 18 COLOR
A summer to remember at ThreeSixty
5 8 9 3 6 7 ThreeSixty’s summer at a glance 1 2 4 11 12 10 13 14 • 50 high school participants from across the 15 16 Twin Cities metro area 17 18 19 20 21 22 • 71 volunteers, representing approximately 40 organizations, businesses, universities or high schools • 36 reported stories and personal essays written by summer camp students • 90 percent of students indicating interest in Graduates of 1. Razeqa Aliyi, St. Paul Central High School 12. Kaylyn Vang, St. Paul Harding Senior High School joining ThreeSixty’s school-year program the ThreeSixty 2. V. Lee, St. Paul Harding Senior High School 13. Melisa Robles Olivar, Minneapolis Southwest High School Journalism 3. Ana Freeberg, Minneapolis Roosevelt High School 14. Lucas Johnson, St. Paul Academy and Summit School 4. Yusra Abdi, Ubah Medical Academy 15. Sebastian Alfonzo, St. Paul Central High School Non-Residential 5. Chad Faust, St. Paul Central High School 16. Zekriah Chaudhry, home school Journalism Camp 6. Talia Bradley, Minneapolis Roosevelt High School 17. Renelle Mensah, Breck School About the ThreeSixty June 15-26, 7. Aaron Young, St. Paul Johnson Senior High School 18. Bayan Algazi, St. Paul Harding Senior High School Scholar Award University of 8. Aidan Berg, Minneapolis Southwest High School 19. Nesani Sabal, DeLaSalle High School Each year, high school seniors who are St. Thomas, 9. Allison Ahern, The Blake School 20. Skyler Kuczaboski, St. Paul Harding Senior High School graduates of ThreeSixty programming compete St. Paul 10. Asha Hurreh, STEP Academy 21. Michael Stiefel Alperin, St. Paul Central High School 11. Destiny Yang, St. Paul Harding Senior High School 22. Andy Moua, St. Paul Harding Senior High School for the ThreeSixty Scholar award – a full-tuition, four-year scholarship to study communication and journalism at the University of St. Thomas. Currently, there are four ThreeSixty scholars attending St. Thomas.
2 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Amira Deborah Honore, 22 23 24 Warren-Yearby, 2014 Scholar 2015 Scholar
Graduates of 1. Viky Moua, St. Paul Harding Senior High School 13. Reyna Tejada, St. Paul Harding Senior High School the ThreeSixty 2. Alejandro Hernandez, Minneapolis Roosevelt High School 14. Pa Zong Moua, St. Paul Harding Senior High School Journalism 3. Joseph Xiong, St. Paul Johnson Senior High School 15. Griselda Sanchez, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School 4. Nayni Paung, St. Paul Harding Senior High School 16. Jennifer Delgado, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Residential 5. Tsimnuj Yang, St. Paul Harding Senior High School 17. Leydi Pliego, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Journalism Camp 6. Zaid Khan, Anoka High School 18. Ann Jerry, Blaine High School July 12-23, 7. Ashtyn McKinney, Eden Prairie High School 19. Va Yang, St. Paul Johnson Senior High School University of 8. Marissa Abara, Wayzata High School 20. Autumn McKinney, Eden Prairie High School St. Thomas, 9. Cher Vang, St. Paul Harding Senior High School 21. Erianna Jiles, Como Park Senior High School Simeon Lancaster, Grace Pastoor, St. Paul 10. Louisa Akoto, Coon Rapids High School 22. Emma Vervair, Osseo Senior High School 2013 Scholar 2012 Scholar 11. Kristy Ornelas, Coon Rapids High School 23. Janie Xiong, St. Paul Harding Senior High School 12. Yoko Vue, St. Paul Central High School 24. Sher Eh Ler Tee, Roseville Area High School
2 threesixtyjournalism.org Real Students. Real Stories. Growing and improving
Take 50 metro-area high student who comes through our school students, bring them to the By Miles doors has a story to tell, and this Trump camp provided those students with University of St. Thomas for summer Program Volume 6 • Issue 1 Journalism journalism camps, and what do you Manager an outlet to do so (pages 4-7, 23-30). have? In the Residential Journalism Contributors in this issue: Razeqa Aliyi, St. Paul Central HS • V. Lee, St. Paul Harding For starters, a bigger magazine. Camp in July, pairs of students were Senior HS • Ana Freeberg, Minneapolis Roosevelt HS • Alexis Reaves, The Blake School • Daniela Garcia, Edina High School • Salma Ali, Ubah Medical Academy • Chad Faust, Inside this issue of ThreeSixty few sentences is no easy task – so, of each given a story to report under St. Paul Central HS • Talia Bradley, Minneapolis Roosevelt HS • Aaron Young, St. Paul Magazine, you’ll see more than 40 course, I’ll try to do it in one: We had the theme, “Preparing for life after Johnson Senior HS • Aidan Berg, Minneapolis Southwest HS • Allison Ahern, The Blake bylined stories and essays from grad- a lot of fun, but we worked hard, too. high school.” The 24 students in School • Asha Hurreh, STEP Academy • Destiny Yang, St. Paul Harding Senior HS • uates of this summer’s ThreeSixty Students in our summer camps the camp wrote about everything Melisa Robles Olivar, Minneapolis Southwest HS • Lucas Johnson, St. Paul Academy Non-Residential and Residential learned the fundamentals of journal- from Cristo Rey Jesuit High School’s and Summit School • Sebastian Alfonzo, St. Paul Central HS • Zekriah Chaudhry, home school • Renelle Mensah, Breck School • Bayan Algazi, St. Paul Harding Senior HS • journalism camps, as well as from ism, from interviewing to writing, unique work study program (page Nesani Sabal, DeLaSalle HS • Skyler Kuczaboski, St. Paul Harding Senior HS • Michael two promising young ThreeSixty ethics to social media. They wrote 20) to athletes making decisions on Stiefel Alperin, St. Paul Central HS • Andy Moua, St. Paul Harding Senior HS • Viky interns (also former ThreeSixty (and wrote, and wrote some more), which college to choose (page 21); Moua, St. Paul Harding Senior HS • Alejandro Hernandez, Minneapolis Roosevelt HS • campers themselves) and from each diving into a piece that had the from a feature on a local cosmetol- Joseph Xiong, St. Paul Johnson Senior HS • Nayni Paung, St. Paul Harding Senior HS • another former ThreeSixty standout. opportunity to be published. ogy school (page 15) to a story on Tsimnuj Yang, St. Paul Harding Senior HS • Zaid Khan, Anoka HS • Ashtyn McKinney, Eden Prairie HS • Marissa Abara, Wayzata HS • Cher Vang, St. Paul Harding Senior HS • For comparison’s sake, there were They interviewed others, whether how to write the best college essay Louisa Akoto, Coon HS • Kristy Ornelas, Coon Rapids HS • Yoko Vue, St. Paul Central HS 24 stories in the May-June issue. In it was a ThreeSixty camper or a (page 14). All of these stories also • Reyna Tejada, St. Paul Harding Senior HS • Pa Zong Moua, St. Paul Harding Senior HS the issue before that, 29. stranger on the UST campus; a nutri- can be found in the Sept. 5 edition of • Griselda Sanchez, Cristo Rey Jesuit HS • Jennifer Delgado, Cristo Rey Jesuit HS • Leydi Why so many more stories this tionist who could speak about the the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press. Pliego, Cristo Rey Jesuit HS • Ann Jerry, Blaine HS • Va Yang, St. Paul Johnson Senior time? It’s simple. We’re growing. ‘freshman 15’ (page 12) or a former The magazine you’re holding in HS • Autumn McKinney, Eden Prairie HS • Erianna Jiles, Como Park Senior HS • Emma Vervair, Osseo Senior HS • Janie Xiong, St. Paul Harding Senior HS • Sher Eh Ler Tee, Not only did we host two summer Division I athlete who could speak your hands (assuming you’re not read- Roseville Area HS • Maya Shelton-Davies, ThreeSixty intern • Lujain Al-Khawi, ThreeSixty journalism camps at UST in St. Paul about choosing a different path after ing this online) is the result of a beauti- intern • Simone Cazares, ThreeSixty alumna (per usual), but we also increased college (page 13). They also heard ful mixture of students’ experiences Special-use photos: Mike Dunlop • Minnesota Athletic Communications • Jill our size, nearly doubling the number from and worked with more than 40 this summer: stories and photos, Hocking/Minnesota School of Cosmetology • Hai Ngo/Genesys Works • Tree Trust of students from the previous year’s gracious volunteers, whom we can’t headlines and deadlines, ambition and YouthBuild • Courtney Perry/College Possible • Minnesota Twins • Cristo Rey • Claire camps (27 total). This rapid growth thank enough for the support. anxiety, challenges and successes. Kjome • Doug Ocar/ComedySportz Twin Cities allowed us to reach and teach more Did I mention they wrote a bunch? It also symbolizes what all of us ThreeSixty Journalism diverse teenagers than ever before. Students in the Non-Residential at ThreeSixty – from the staff to the Mail 5057, 2115 Summit Ave, St. Paul MN 55105 www.threesixtyjournalism.org About 90 percent of our summer Journalism Camp in June were students – are trying to achieve as https://www.facebook.com/threesixtyjournalism camp students were individuals of tasked with writing a “personal we move into a new school year: https://twitter.com/threesixtymn color. essay,” or a compelling narrative Growing and improving in every- Summing up the summer into a about their life. We believe each thing we do.
contents september What’s your story? In camp this summer, we challenged Preparing for life after high school: ThreeSixty
Bao Vang, Chad Caruthers, Miles Trump, our students to tell their stories – the stories that changed journalists tackle the issues and cover the stories Engagement Coordinator Executive Director Program Manager their lives, shifted their perspectives and molded them into surrounding preparing for post-high school life – the people they are now. n 4-7, 23-30 everything from how to write that pesky college essay Board of Advisors: Brian Bellmont, Bellmont Partners; Wendy Wyatt, University of to how to choose which college you should play for, St. Thomas; Mike Burbach, St. Paul Pioneer Press; Sue Campbell, Twin Cities Public Goodbye to the yellow school bus? As part of a pilot Television; David Cazares; Duchesne Drew, Bush Foundation; Doug Hennes, University from programs that help give teens a better future to program at St. Paul Johnson, students will begin riding Metro of St. Thomas; Dale Kurschner, Twin Cities Business Magazine; Scott Libin, University of individuals who are choosing the road less traveled Transit city buses this fall, as well as start school an hour later. n 8 Minnesota; Dennis McGrath, Himile Rapp & Co.; Lida Poletz, Weber Shandwick; after high school. n 12-17, 20-21 Sara Pelissero, KARE 11 Young activists: ThreeSixty looks at the ways young Ex oficio member: @16 with Byron Buxton: The Minnesota Twins Dr. Terence Langan, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, people have taken a stand with activist group Black Lives University of St. Thomas rookie – who is also the No. 1 prospect in all of Matter Minneapolis. n 9 Copyright 2015 All Rights Reserved Major League Baseball – sits down with ThreeSixty n ThreeSixty Magazine will be published three times during the 2015-16 school year. It’s OK to laugh: Metro-area teens have been sharpening to talk baseball and life. 18-19 their improv skills while competing in the ComedySportz ThreeSixty Magazine is designed by Diana Boger. Sports, religion and fashion: New athleticwear High School League. n 10 Email [email protected] with comments, letters and questions about allows Twin Cities Muslim girls to play sports participating in ThreeSixty. CVE reaction: ThreeSixty gets local Somali community comfortably while maintaining their religious ThreeSixty Journalism is a nonprofit program of the College of Arts and Sciences members’ thoughts on the Countering Violent Extremism customs. The U of M, along with local girls, helped at the University of St. Thomas. Donations from individuals like you provide a pilot program, an effort to reduce the effect of youth design the outfits. n 22 significant amount of ThreeSixty’s operating budget. To contribute, please visit n 11 http://threesixtyjournalism.org/donate. recruitment by overseas terrorist groups.
September 2015 3 walking dogs – and the lessons I Remembering learned from her are all permanently engraved in my mind. The most important thing we ever did together my aunt Maria was bird watching. Armed with a small, flimsy bird book and a child-sized pair of black Physically and emotionally binoculars, we would watch for rocked from the ride down the By Chad Faust the vast ranges of birds that dotted St. Paul Central apple orchard’s hill, I turned personal her bird feeders, in plain sight only essay Senior High around on my sled to look School feet from the dining room window. at my aunt, who had been Maria and I would look out for new, seemingly close behind me the entire intriguing birds that we hoped to see, time. magical view of the Mississippi River. and even tally the number of certain Aunt Maria was sprawled out Despite our difference in age – Maria birds we witnessed every day. across the snow, bundled in a puffy was in her late 40s and I wasn’t even We scolded the bluejays as they jacket with her New Balance running a teenager at the time of the sledding knocked the poor, helpless grackles shoes facing up and her sled slowly mishap – we were the best of friends. about the birdfeeder. We marveled sliding away from her grasp. Our friendship was cut short, at the immense talents of the red- “I think I hurt my back!” she however. bellied woodpeckers, pecking away attempted to exclaim over bouts of My aunt, Maria Faust, died of at the dozens of trees that sur- her own boisterous laughter. “I’m so ovarian cancer on Dec. 11, 2011, at rounded the house. We looked for old!” age 52. I was in eighth grade. The barn swallows and cardinals, who I could hardly contain my giggles woman who was beautiful in every brought more joy into our lives with as her dogs, Bubba and Cleo, draped single way, with a vivacious laugh, their elaborate color and spirit. Bird Photo submitted Chad Faust (right) with his aunt, Maria, in the winter of 2006 in West St. Paul. their furry bodies across ours, her lovable personality and passion for watching was special to us, in every short, dark brown hair reflecting off just about everyone and everything, aspect. of the shimmering, white snow. was no longer with us. Maria also was an active fixture Marine Art Museum and the Kitchen.” In her memory, my uncle, Each year of my life, I yearned for The times I spent with Maria in the city of Winona for more than Winona Arts Center, and supported Ted Haaland, Maria’s husband, the opportunity to visit her and my are some of the most memorable 20 years, particularly with local the Great River Shakespeare Festival. organized the annual Maria W. Faust uncle Ted’s cozy bungalow in Homer, moments of my life. The activities arts. She spent a great deal of time Maria even had her own newspaper Sonnet Contest after her death, and Minn., just outside Winona, with its we experienced – playing Scrabble, volunteering for the Minnesota column, titled “From the Seasonal Maria continued on page 31
Lakes,” while they had to stay and situation there. I am thankful to face the barrel. have grown up in the U.S., where Lessons from a broken As I boarded the plane later that I have the resources and tools to day, I was relieved to be escaping. I make a positive impact on the could be one of those children selling lives of others. Venezuelan toilet seat candy bars on the street. I could be At the same time, I’ve learned paying $80 for toilet seats. that just because I am no longer in The only thing more By Sebastian dad from a family of four, most of As that thought concluded, Venezuela doesn’t make me any less embarrassing than breaking a Alfonzo whom live in Venezuela with their a bigger part of me stepped up responsible to do something about toilet seat, is breaking a toilet personal St. Paul Central own families. We have visited a few and decided that being relieved the situation there. I need to take essay seat in a country where it Senior High times since our move. wasn’t acceptable. I was leaving it upon myself to work for change, School costs several times more than Back in the car, I noticed young the situation, but that did not because many in need don’t always it does in the U.S. children outside dressed in dirty make it any less real for any of have the tools to do so. I should not Take it from a guilty party. seat, just like I do in Minnesota. clothes, selling candy bars rather my family, or for the millions of be cynical, because that would be Our flight from the decaying A loud crack from the seat shook than sitting in a classroom. Dogs people living in Venezuela. truly ungrateful. Valencia airport was set to leave in me awake. I thought the zigzag missing patches of hair with eyes so I looked around the plane. On The perspective that trip provided a few hours. My mom had packed crack looked well done at first, like red their pupils were lost. board I saw families, men, women me is one I take into everything I for my careless 12-year-old self something you’d seen on nice pot- My cousin was once attacked on with the same exhausted look I saw do. I want to make things better for in exchange for a promise that I tery. I walked out of the bathroom a busy street for her flip phone. My on my mother’s face. I wasn’t the others, and I believe I can. would load the car. I had fulfilled as quickly as I could and left the aunt and her family were held at only one dealing with these emotions When I return to Venezuela, my end of the bargain, and the car seat broken. gunpoint for the valuables in their of hopelessness, I was just new to whether it be a year from now or a was now moving. My family left Venezuela in 2004. car. I wasn’t just leaving the danger them. decade from now, I will bring the Earlier that morning, exhausted, Being 5 years old at the time, I didn’t and the poverty, I was leaving my That’s the last time I’ve been tools necessary to make people’s I had entered the bathroom and realize what I was leaving. My mom family. I was fortunate enough to Venezuela. Since then, I’ve lives better – and a carry-on full of sat down on the plastic toilet comes from a family of six and my to leave for “The Land of 10,000 become more educated on the toilet seats.
4 threesixtyjournalism.org praised me when she found me thin, tutted if I became heavier. I was Wrestling with interrogated about my mom’s figure, which was her way of encouraging me to stay slender. womanhood I wasn’t sure how to react to this scrutiny. Never before had an adult My friend and I were walking taken such an interest in my weight. the streets of southern France By Alexis There was a time in elementary Reaves with an almost unbearable personal school when other children had. I essay The Blake heat seeping in from all School starved myself that summer. directions. We were making I sense my classmates were forced our way to the beach, burning up, under this humiliating inspection yet still happy to have each other’s situations. However, by the time I as well. There was hardly a time company. went home, I too was learned in the when a girl wasn’t dieting. A friend A loud honk startled us, and we ways of women. once showed me an inventory of turned to see an orange-looking I was 16 when I arrived in France half-naked pictures of herself in old man smiling at us in his car. for a year abroad, relatively young the mirror. She thought a space He began shouting a slew of vulgar and relatively alone. My head was between her thighs determined her things he wanted to do to us, or flushed with romantic ideas from self-worth. rather, to our bodies. too many movies and not enough Another girl’s host mother Instinctively, I grabbed onto my maturity. I was still a girl. assured her it was OK to look pretty, friend’s arm and buried my face into For me, womanhood wasn’t the so she veiled herself in makeup. her shoulder, feeling the intense first time I bled between my legs. I, too, began fixing myself. Each sting of embarrassment. Nor was it when I was introduced to day I poked my eyes with eyeliner, “What do we do?” I asked her, the piece of cloth that I’d tie around smeared foundation on my face and genuinely confused. my chest. No, my banishment from buckled in high heels. At times it felt She told me to just ignore it. Her girlhood was much more sinister. as though I was a one-dimensional eyes fixed forward, and her expres- It was, above all, my body, or creature whose value depended on
sion hardened. I couldn’t understand more precisely, the reaction to it. how much I could attract men. Photo submitted her response at the time. She had My French host mother often made They were at cocktail parties, Alexis Reaves surveys a town in the Basque Country in France in May during a put on a guise reserved for these comments about my weight. She Reaves continued on page 31 study abroad trip.
Usually with a genetic weakness, a could change the way I am. can’t walk without crutches. I see Strength can mean treatment plan and specialized care With this reality comes a daily kids who need help desperately, but and equipment are used for a per- battle and a necessity for patience there’s only so much a doctor can do. son’s entire life. But my situation was and understanding. I go to public Once I step through those slid- more than muscles thankfully not nearly as severe. I’ve pools and I get stares as my dra- ing doors covered in Blue’s Clues had no need for serious equipment, matically thin body wisps by. I play and superhero stickers, I instantly such as wheelchairs or crutches, pickup basketball and hear snickers regret complaining. In comparison, It’s recess; every kid’s favorite By Lucas to ensure my well-being, which is as I approach the court, before they I am a picture of health in that time during school. Johnson truly a blessing. However, I’ve had even know my ability. Honestly, I’m hospital – I can walk, run, jump The sun beats down on personal St. Paul Academy a number of bracing programs to just always in a tough spot. I am able and relieve myself without any aid. essay all of us as we scrape our and Summit ensure my posture and gait were not to do physical activity but at a dra- Although I may be challenged, I School knees and ruin our clothes. worsened as a result of weak core matically lower level than my peers. am constantly reminded of what I I’m 6 years old, my velcro shoes are and support muscles. I can shoot a basketball with ease, could be dealing with. covered in mud and grime, and my Since birth, I have had an undi- Naturally, I’ve had countless doc- but I can’t compete when it comes to I’m frustrated every single day school uniform is untucked and agnosed muscular deficiency, an tor’s appointments to both check my outmuscling an opponent in order of my life that I can’t compare to disheveled. extremely rare and, as far as my physical progress in terms of muscle to score. I can run, of course, but my others’ physical abilities, but in the I run over to my group of friends family and the doctors are aware, growth, and to attempt to diagnose endurance is miniscule. I can build same sense, I am incredibly grati- organizing a game of tag. The instant completely new condition. I couldn’t whatever my body’s dealing with. muscle, but the energy I exert while fied to be able to move at all. There I get to the group, I hear, “Ooh, Lucas swallow when I came home from the When each of these appointments exercising is far higher than it would are days when I get fed up, wish I is here!” Initially, I’m excited with the hospital, I stopped breathing spo- rolls around, I dread having to duck be for a normal person. And that’s could change and daydream of a response, eager to spend time with radically throughout my infancy and out of school and explain to the where I struggle. better me, but I’ve started to catch my friends. But what follows is a I couldn’t walk until age 2. Doctors teacher, or even the class, why I have But then I get to the hospital. I myself and realize that I am who I comment I have never forgotten. were unsure if I was going to be to leave. Confused faces and whis- see kids my age confined to motor- am, and there’s nothing I can do to “Lucas is ‘it’ because he’s too slow able to even lift a fork to feed myself pers generally follow. It bothers me ized wheelchairs who are forced to change that. to catch us.” when I grew older. beyond belief, and I constantly wish I breath through a tube. I see kids who Johnson continued on page 31
September 2015 5 becoming successful as a journalist And even though I didn’t enjoy it at summer and school-year program Working hard on and, later, in the field of law. first, she said I would at least learn I’m enrolled in, has helped me decide I always try to push myself to go something in the process. what I want for my future, in terms the extra step because I believe that She was right. While on the team, of education after high school, and my path forward my future will represent who I am I learned that speaking in front of has helped guide me onto a steady and will show my ambitions in life. I people is not scary. Being on the path toward journalism. Being a try to never lose motivation because speech team requires you to think on journalist requires you to think on Walking into a room full I think it can be helpful when I need your feet, and staying ahead of the the spot, which can be tricky. But of strangers is scary. Especially By Daniela it, such as in journalism. game is key to scoring a one (one is thanks to the experience I have had, I Garcia when you’re the newest and personal If I want to be successful, I need the highest ranking you can get, out am better prepared to do so. essay Edina High youngest person there. School as much support as I can get, and of five). Thanks to all these things, I feel I knew this feeling all too my mom is my No. 1 fan. She is During my summer breaks, I try to prepared for what’s next. Through well. I remember walking into a hard-working and sacrifices all she stay busy by enrolling in camps, study- networking, I have met profession- conference room at Children’s Normally, when I tell adults I has for me and my future. I feel as ing for the ACT with tutors and prac- als who have great connections and Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota volunteer, they don’t always believe though I owe it all to her, and I want tice exams, and working as an intern at want to see me succeed. And the in Minneapolis on my first day vol- me. They ask a lot of follow-up to attribute my successes to her. a law firm. Summer camps are one of best part of my journey is that all unteering about five years ago, and questions, almost like a test to see Her hard-working job, her strong the many things I do to get ahead. This the work I have done will help me feeling butterflies roaming around if I’m telling the truth. But, to their independence and her self-confi- summer, I participated in a mock trial toward my dream of becoming a in my stomach. I thought, “Why is surprise, I am telling the truth. dence have taught me that along my with students, along with a lawyer who journalist and later entering the law everybody staring at me?” As a Mexican American, I try to do journey, I need to be prepared for ran the trial. I’m hoping it helps me field. I have met students who are Now that I think about it, I laugh. everything I can to refute what people whatever is coming. Her support make the mock trial team in my senior just as enthusiastic as I am, and who I was nervous for no reason at all. perceive as the stereotypical Hispanic drives me forward. year of high school. These people, and also have a passion for hard work I was walking into a room full of girl by getting the best education, A while back, my mom encour- new activities, have brought diversity and becoming successful. people who shared the same inter- and the most out of life, that I can. aged me to join the speech team at to my life and have even changed my I look forward to my future, ests as me. People who wanted to With this education I plan on getting my high school. I didn’t think it was opinions and perceptions. knowing that every day is a baby step serve their community, just as I did. into college, starting my career and a good idea, but I joined anyway. ThreeSixty Journalism, another closer to my dream.
the world seemed to be. to find their parents. Many of the opportunities – just once. A lesson in being But, despite the amazing scenery, I children on the reservation drank But most of them won’t. Most will did not expect to see so much strife. alcohol and smoked pot. never have the opportunity to leave. Nina’s family lives in Lame Deer, At her aunt’s, the children would While there is no written restriction truly grateful Montana, a Cheyenne Indian res- sleep in a small room with one set about leaving the reservation, there ervation. I remember the old rusty of bunk beds. Every night, before is a fear of leaving home. It is scary cars without wheels just sitting near bed, each would put cotton balls in to leave a community of support and As I stared at the black streaks By Skyler the border of the town. There was their ears to avoid cockroaches from family behind. This fear likely kept of slimy, putty-like goo that Kuczaboski a group of five or six “rez-dogs” crawling in while they were sleeping. many away from jobs, a complete were thrown onto my bed- personal St. Paul Harding with big, blood-filled ticks that had There was nowhere to escape the college education and whatever else essay room ceiling during my 10th Senior High probably been on their grimy fur for heat or the boredom in between the may lie beyond the pine trees. School birthday celebration, I resented a few weeks. One dog, who caught thin walls of her house. Despite these At that point, I realized while my my living situation. my attention rather quickly, lost negative aspects of their life and life may have seemed unpleasant and I hated the fact I shared a tiny bed- Although I loved my family, his nose from sniffing an exploding Rita’s house, it was a safe haven for exhausting on the surface, I was for- room with my older sister and mother being with my autistic older sister, firecracker a few years back. a lot of children. A safe haven, with tunate. Although little has changed, in my grandparents’ basement. But, my heavily asthmatic mother, my The struggle wasn’t any better a revolving door welcoming new at age 16 I still have a roof over my because of my mother’s sickness and grandma’s home daycare children inside. children to stay for the night. head, a bed to sleep on every night inability to work, moving to our own and my arguing grandparents was We visited her aunt’s house. The reservation had patches with and a family I know is always going place was out of the question. overwhelming. Stacks of beads, magazines and other gas stations and liquor stores. Most to be home. I have had resources and And at 14 years old, I absolutely So when my best friend, Nina, various objects towered in her tiny of her family members have never multiple opportunities, for which I hated that. invited me to visit her family in house. The kitchen had stacks of been to a McDonald’s or a Walmart. am now thankful. I hated explaining my living situa- Montana for about two weeks, I old food and dirty dishes, next to an It was nothing to me, but it meant When I got home from my trip tion to other people. I felt ashamed, thought, “This is exactly what I need, empty fridge. the world to them to take a bite out from Montana, I fell into my family’s and like a charity case, compared to a getaway.” The children who sometimes of a crunchy chicken nugget, just open loving arms. I was thankful to them. While my friends were always The drive to Montana was beauti- stayed with her aunt had faces cov- once. To leave the reservation just be home, back with my crazy family moving to new houses and had their ful. I watched the landscape grow ered with purple bruises and brown once, to see what else was out there in our cramped room. own rooms, I stayed where I grew up, and mold into tall, grassy hills dust from the dirt roads. Her aunt beyond the dirt, gas stations and the Life doesn’t magically improve and always had to help. Same neigh- and huge mountains. I expected would take them in if their parents liquor stores, just once. People who when one visits a poorer area. But borhood, same house, same every- Montana to be much more beauti- never came home. One of the girls, desperately wanted to drive out of learning to be truly grateful for what thing. When I was around my friends, ful than Minnesota. It seemed the who was 14, had the obligation of Lame Deer, past the pine trees, away you have in life can really change I felt like they looked down on me. farther we drove, the more beautiful driving out to the casino or bar from the mountains and toward your perspective.
6 threesixtyjournalism.org against the wind, not talking for fear top of the mountain – was one of on the trip came from various of exerting too much energy that many events that our group partici- high schools in the U.S., and we all Climbing higher, would otherwise be used to hike pated in during our stay in Zermatt, participated in activities such as up the steep switchbacks. The wind Switzerland, as part of a fall semes- hiking, downhill skiing and rock soon became unbearable, causing ter abroad. I wanted to use Swiss climbing. Our hikes took us all over growing stronger people to stumble and fall on the Semester, sponsored in part by my Switzerland and showed us the many trail. But we all moved on, strug- school, The Blake School, to broaden different towns from Lausanne, a At an elevation of 7,290 feet, gling against the steep grade, some- my horizons as well as to make part of the French side, to Zermatt, a we – 40-some American high By Allison times slipping on ice but always myself more open. part of the German side. school students – started Ahern getting up. The hike enabled me to reflect The academics, with classes rang- personal hiking up the mountain essay The Blake Slipping once, I felt hopeless, won- proudly on my physical accomplish- ing from geology to art history, were School single file, placing one foot in dering how I would ever make it to ments as well as realize that I could difficult. We also covered traditional front of the other while we tried the top, but I got up and continued be more outgoing, both in class and subjects, including math and lan- to keep pace with the person in front on, struggling against the wind. with friends. The experience taught guage, during the semester abroad. of us. moving, with only our thoughts as One student had to drop out me that whatever I set my mind to, I Besides the tears and laughter at Around us, the cold, bleak, snow- company. when I was only halfway done, but could accomplish. the end of the program, there was capped mountains stood on either The wind whipped through the I continued and tried to keep pace Although the hike was difficult, we a sense of relief due to the end of side of the closed-in valley, with mountains, gradually growing with the other students, my legs and all grew in our own ways by realiz- finals, although students and teach- brown grass signaling the approach stronger as we gained altitude. I felt lungs burning, feet hurting. ing that we could complete the hike ers were downcast because it was the of winter. As students occasionally defenseless from the cold, despite After several hours, we all gath- with the many difficulties involved, last week before everyone went back passed each other, I would watch donning gloves and a hat, but I also ered inside the mountain-top shelter, or by improving our mental strength to their home school. them continue up switchbacks, or felt determined to finish the hike, devoid of people except the 40 of us. through overcoming adversity. Now, former students always trails, that made us doubt whether joining the others at the top. Smiling and laughing, we huddled Looking back, I was pleased with my recommend the program to rising we would ever reach the top of the My breath was deafening amid together, detailing our own personal accomplishments, from the physical freshmen with a reminiscent smile 10,825-foot Swiss mountain. the silence of the hike. Behind me, experiences during the hike. to the academic. about their adventures spent in the We had to grit our teeth and keep people hiked slowly, heads bowed This hike up to Gornergrat – the The high school sophomores mountains of Switzerland.
image of a “man” in my head. I felt weren’t as bad, but they would be the attending elementary school. like I couldn’t trust anyone anymore. first thing someone would notice if It’s a blessing to have everyone The journey I didn’t care about people leaving me. they stepped into the house. together as a family, despite the fact I lost trust in the word “forever.” He We knew we had to remodel every- my father will never be in his position had made an oath to my mother, “‘til thing. The first thing we did was install ever again, or any other man. I don’t with my mother death do us part.” For a man to break new toilets. Over time, we repainted mind it. that kind of promise made me afraid of the walls, kitchen cabinets and the I am thankful for what I have My father left on Christmas something called “love.” house. We also removed the carpet, because of where I am now. I have a 2011. By V. Lee We were moving to a temporary replacing it with wood floors. roof over my head, food to eat, educa- St. Paul Harding I kind of saw it as a present, house in Richfield. It was small, but I didn’t really help her with the hard tion and the affection of people around personal Senior High rather than a tragedy. essay School about twice as large as the apartment. work, but I did clean a lot of the mess me. But I am truly thankful for my I wouldn’t miss the colored My mother was still trying to buy her she made while she was remodeling. mother’s hard work and dedication to pencil drawings scribbled on the walls, own house, continuing a dream she This kind of made us become closer her dream. She was determined, and the smell of damp socks, mice poop was together before everything went had with my father, but now by herself. because we were creating a family her kids were her motivation. under furniture, cockroaches creeping bad. Two days after her birthday in 2012, bond – something we barely have – by Thanks to my mother, four years through the cracks and dirty dishes on We went through a lot in the next my mother finally bought a house in St. building a place to call home. after my father left, I’m finally living display the majority of the times. five years. But through watching my Paul. The same day, she also bought a Two years later, my mother’s boss in a nice home environment for once. When we were living with my father, mother struggle and succeed, I learned brand new red 2012 Toyota Camry. gave her a very special Christmas gift: The house my mother bought is still we lived in homes in poor condition. how hard work and determination can I felt proud of my mother because plane tickets to go get my siblings back our home today. It has improved so He believed, “If it works, it’s good lead to happiness. of all of her hard work. Even when we in Laos. When we went to thank him, much since the first day we arrived. enough.” My father left my mother for didn’t get along, I was still thankful she was crying tears of joy, thanking The walls are white and the floors are He was an engineer. He used to be another woman, who is now his fourth for everything she had to offer for the him in broken English. The happiness clean. When I take a step in the house, a math teacher, and he had enough wife. With my father absent, both of family. When she achieved her goal, I I felt was simply not as powerful as my I’m reminded that anyone can do any- money to travel to so many places, yet my youngest siblings had to go live felt like there was no obstacle for me to mother’s. thing if they’re dedicated to what they he chose this lifestyle. So that’s how in Laos because we were struggling reach mine. When we went to thank him, I was truly desire. This home symbolizes my we lived. financially. When we got into the house, it was speechless. I didn’t know how to react mother’s hard work. I didn’t understand why. Now it’s just my mother, brother unpleasant. The first thing I wanted because I would have never thought And my dream is to do better than “Was our family not worth more and me. We packed our bags and to do was paint the walls because someone was this generous. Also, I where I am now, because I am given than that?” I wondered. But the apart- finally moved out of the apartment we it showed evidence of misbehaved was so confused. I wondered what the opportunities my mother didn’t ment became the only place where I had lived in for more than two years. children, causing a flashback to the transition was going to be like. have. You can say I have my mother’s can clearly remember when everyone When he left, it carved a very bad apartment. The drawings on the walls My siblings are with us now and dedication.
September 2015 7 A new beginning to the school day
Pilot program at Johnson HS trades yellow buses for city buses, pushes school start time back one hour
As St. Paul Johnson moves its start time an hour later this fall, By Maya Shelton-Davies riding the classic yellow school bus ThreeSixty may become a thing of the past for intern most students. Johnson will begin a year-long pilot program in which school will system would mean elementary begin at 8:30 a.m. and, as a result of students would have to wait outside the later start time, students will ride in the dark during winter mornings, T hree S ixty Journalism D avies/ S helton- M aya A Metro Transit bus waits at a bus stop in St. Paul. This fall, students at St. Paul Johnson will be taking public transit buses city buses to school instead of yellow according to school officials. to school instead of the classic yellow bus as part of a pilot program. school buses. The school will provide When the plan was first students with Metro Transit bus fare. announced, parents generally “If you change the start time at thought the additional hour of sleep get to bed earlier, by around 11,” he ‘I believe it will work...’ the high schools, it has an impact was a good thing, according to said, “when an 8:30 a.m. start would The district coordinated an in- on all of the other yellow school bus Statum Allen, but some were uncom- make them feel like they could stay depth analysis with Metro Transit systems,” said Micheal Thompson, fortable with students using Metro awake later.” before deciding which school the Johnson Senior High School Transit busing. Sebastian Alfonzo, a junior at would use the pilot program. Buses principal. “We would have to have a “It is a change, and it’s understand- Central High School, is hopeful for all district high school students different way to get kids to and from able,” she said. “They are unfamiliar Metro Transit will be useful for stu- and specifics such as addresses, school.” with public transportation and they dents. Earlier this year, Alfonzo was routes, timing, transfers and If this pilot goes well, later start are familiar with the yellow school one of three youth leaders in the St. Young Alfonzo walking time were included in the times and city bus travel could spread bus, so that’s what they are comfort- Paul Youth Commission who coor- evaluation by school officials. to all the schools in the district, able with.” dinated a separate pilot program to students would lose their cards, “We’re a good choice for the according to Jacqueline Statum Allen, Students at Johnson will receive evaluate the use of Metro Transit in Alfonzo said. At Johnson this year, pilot because we have two major bus the school district’s assistant director all-you-can-ride cards for the school getting students to and from school. lost cards will cost $10 to replace. lines near our school on Arcade and of strategic planning and policy. It year, allowing them to travel any- “I can see it being a challenge to Riding the city bus also could Maryland,” Thompson said. would follow suit of Minneapolis’ where on buses or train lines between make [public transit] work,” Alfonzo allow Johnson students with jobs and Through this process, the district transition to public busing a few 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. each day. said. “But if they can succeed at after-school activities more freedom and administrators at Johnson years ago. “It increases the flexibility for stu- Johnson, then it’s possible to have the to get around the metropolitan area, have been paying close attention to Prompted by University of dents,” Thompson said. “I think that entire district using Metro Transit.” according to Statum Allen. On top Minneapolis and how it began using Minnesota research that says about all students should take advantage of In this pilot, Alfonzo’s group was of that, according to Thompson, it later start times and public transit. two-thirds of high school students programs at school like sports and given a $10,000 grant, which it used allows students to stay after school Thompson met with administrators aren’t getting at least eight hours of extracurriculars. And that’s more of a to buy bus cards for 11 Harding more and stay on top of academics. at Patrick Henry High School in sleep at night, the St. Paul Public possibility, since we know that they’ll students and three Central students, However, parents of 82 Johnson Minneapolis, which is demographi- Schools district decided last year to have that way to get home.” to advertise the project at the two students so far have opted-out of the cally similar to St. Paul Johnson, to start school at 8:30 a.m. instead of schools and to work with Metro Metro Transit cards with concerns figure out how the program suc- 7:30 a.m. Seeing pros and cons Transit staff. primarily regarding safety, according ceeded there. However, the district ran into a Aaron Young, an incoming senior “We found out that these cards to Thompson. “We have results from roadblock with transportation. at St. Paul Johnson, appreciates were very helpful for students, “Some parents aren’t really sup- Minneapolis saying that they started The district discovered that it that students can use cards to travel especially lower-income students,” portive of the public busing because with the pilot, and now all of their would either have to almost entirely anywhere, but he sees both pros and Alfonzo said. “It gave them more they don’t want school transporta- high schools use it,” Statum Allen rearrange its yellow bus transporta- cons with the pilot program. freedom to be independent in how tion with strangers on it,” Young said. said. “It worked really well for them, tion system, or use Metro Transit. “If school starts earlier at 7:30 they got around.” “However, my parents both don’t and I believe it will work just as well But changing the yellow busing a.m., I think people would want to The only problem was that have a big problem with it.” for our students.”
8 threesixtyjournalism.org at the Mall of America in about the Civil Rights Young people take a stand December. Movement. So I was all The Mall of America in at that point.” and the city of Through her work with Black Lives Matter Bloomington are pursu- with Black Lives Matter, ing trespass and disor- as an advisor and derly conduct charges, spokesperson, she has Editor’s note: This story was reported By Simone In May, Kaffey, then a student among others, against 11 continued to watch in the spring of 2015 and published Cazares of Benilde St.-Margaret’s School in protesters, who pleaded young people grow and on ThreeSixty Journalism’s website Recent high school Minneapolis, was among hundreds not guilty in March. Levy-Pounds stand up for what they in June. graduate and of Twin Cities high school students (Some charges have been believe in. ThreeSixty alum who walked out of school for a dropped since this article “It’s just amazing to Zeph Kaffey is haunted by rally at Martin Luther King Park was first reported and published.) see young people lay it all on the line the repeated images she has seen of “Seeing my brothers, seeing people in Minneapolis to protest charges “Instead of doing something for what they believe in and to see black men and boys dying. that could be my father on television against members of Black Lives negative about it and being danger- the level of creativity and ingenuity For months, she followed reports being slaughtered by the police has Matter Minneapolis who gathered ous and violent I just decided that that they bring to the table,” Levy- of police brutality against black really motivated me, because they protesting — and I’m a spoken word Pounds said. “And I learn so much people on the news. At first, she look like me, to get involved,” Kaffey artist — spreading the word through just from being connected to them. didn’t know how to respond. But in said. “Because it could be my brother spoken word, social media, making There are certain things that I can recent weeks, Kaffey, who will be a next. It could be my dad next. It statuses, sharing different articles add just from a legal perspective or student at DePaul University this fall, could be my friend next. And I would and educating people on this issue based on some experience that I’ve decided that enough is enough. She hate to see that happen. The fact that is going to help them become more had in dealing with government and decided to get involved with Black my people are being killed and are comfortable having a conversation the media. But they bring a lot of the Lives Matter Minneapolis to lend her being looked down upon has been about this,” Kaffey said. energy and creativity and very strong voice to the protests. hurting me a lot.” Nekima Levy-Pounds, a law organizing backgrounds to the table.” professor at the University of St. Some young people, however, “The black community obviously for years Thomas who is among the protesters say convincing others their age to who were charged and are fighting be involved in the movement is a
[has] been targeted, discriminated against and S imone Cazares/ T hree ixty Journalism the charges, is heartened by young challenge. Zeph Kaffey, 18, then a student at people fighting for what they believe “I think there are a lot of people been put down. I think it’s time we stand up.” Benilde-St. Margaret’s in Minneapolis, in. Levy-Pounds, also the newly- who are still kind of discon- attended the protest on May 1 in voted president of the Minneapolis nected,” said Abdi Ali, a member of – Zeph Kaffey, student Minneapolis. chapter of the National Association Minneapolis’ The Black Liberation for the Advancement of Colored Project, an organization made up People (NAACP), became involved of primarily black people that deals in Black Lives Matter after travel- with the reality of being black in ing to Ferguson, Mo., following the America, Ali said. “They know about death of 18-year-old Michael Brown movements but they don’t want to last fall. After a police officer killed get involved with it.” Brown, thousands took to the street Ali said that one of the reasons he in protests that captured the atten- hasn’t seen young people involved is tion of people across the country. because of time. “I thought I was an activist before “A lot of people do sports or that,” Levy-Pounds said with a laugh extracurricular activities,” Ali said, during a March interview. “Then “and when you do that plus school, when I went, I was thinking, ‘No.’ I there virtually is no time after that in was an armchair activist apparently. the day.” “But after that experience, I saw Although getting involved in their young people who had been tear- communities can be challenging gassed and crying and trying to get for teenagers, the issue of African- themselves back together, but after Americans dying at the hands of the teargas wore off they were going police have rallied a dedicated core right back to standing and protest- of young people. And occasionally, ing and having standoffs with the they are joined by many of their police, and so that just blew me away. peers. When I got back from Ferguson I On the day of the student walkout,
S imone Cazares/ T hree ixty Journalism was a changed person. I just felt the teenagers from across the Twin Protesters gathered on May 1 in Martin Luther King Park in Minneapolis, carrying signs and chanting, “No justice, no spirit behind the protest. It reminded Cities poured into Martin Luther peace, prosecute the police!” me about the things I had studied protest continued on page 31
September 2015 9 classroom.” The High School League is just like When comedy any extracurricular when it comes to commitment and organization, according to Doug Ocar, sales man- becomes a sport ager and co-owner of ComedySportz Twin Cities. In a typical season, each team has scheduled practices, a coach, a tournament with the other Local students learn competitive improv teams and optional shows hosted at in ComedySportz High School League schools or community centers. Teams interested in joining the ComedySportz league need an adult supervisor and a willingness to Instead of a football, expand upon useful skills, according baseball or frisbee, students in the By Maya to Ocar. These skills include col-
Shelton-Davies Photo c ourtesy of D oug Oc ar and Comedy Sp ortz ComedySportz High School League laboration, confidence, listening and ThreeSixty Students in the ComedySportz High School League practice with coaches. A have been tossing around jokes. intern audience interaction. And “making ComedySportz Twin Cities is an others look good,” Ocar said. total of 21 metro-area teams have participated in the league since its inception. improv outlet in Minneapolis distin- “The skills are very transferrable guished by its game-like, competitive students in the country,” according to between improv comedy and real-life Wright said. League,” Ocar said. “More schools format in which two improv teams the ComedySportz website. situations,” Wright said. “Real-life One of the most important aspects involved and less pressure on my go head-to-head, taking topic sug- Sophia Wright, a recent Edina situations are always improved with of improv comedy is being able to coaches and their schedules. We gestions from an audience. Through High School graduate who spent comedy. People like to laugh.” play well with others. want to be more accommodating.” the years, 21 metro-area schools two years participating in the High Improv creates an environment “As kids we play and we learn At first, Wright was hesitant and have joined the ComedySportz School League locally, attributes where it is OK to make mistakes about the world through playing, and afraid to make a fool of herself in High School League, where students improv comedy to building her because there are other people on we can still learn about the world front of her peers, but “in order to learn as much as they can about the confidence. stage to help out, Ocar said. The through play,” Ocar said. improve at something, you have to improv format and gain new skills. “Since I’ve joined the competitive aspect of ComedySportz Ocar wants to offer the option be willing to make a fool out of your- The ComedySportz High School ComedySportz High School League, isn’t as important as the team effort of participating in the league to as self in front of people who are much League, which also takes place in I’m much less afraid,” Wright said. “I toward entertainment value. many students as possible, which better than you,” she said. other cities throughout the U.S., is the feel like I can handle being in front “It wasn’t like we were compet- is why the league is in a transition “I would say, if you’re skeptical, “largest and most successful improv of an audience and answer questions ing with each other, we were just period. The league used to run from just go for it,” Wright said. “The training program for high school better, especially presenting in the performing alongside each other,” January through March, but during worst that can happen is that you that period, it was able to accommo- don’t enjoy it and you don’t do it the date only a small number of teams next year. at once. Now, Ocar said he wants to “With High School League, make the coming season longer. though, it’s impossible to not enjoy “If the league is more spread out it. You’ll definitely take something throughout the year, it’s more likely away from it, make new friends, and that we’ll be able to cover more pride yourself in all of the different schools and expand the High School things you can accomplish.”
Metro-area schools who have participated
Armstrong High School Hopkins High School Buffalo High School Lakeville High School Central High School Maple Grove High School Chanhassen High School North High School Chaska High School Robbinsdale High School Convent of the Visitation School St. Louis Park High School Cooper High School St. Thomas Academy Cretin-Derham Hall Simley High School Eden Prairie High School Tartan High School Edina High School Woodbury High School Holy Angels Academy
Photo c ourtesy of D oug Oc ar and Comedy Sp ortz Source: Comedysportz twin cities ComedySportz High School League teams pose for a photo after the ComedySportz annual tournament this year.
10 threesixtyjournalism.org the Somali community, specifi- unemployment, low education levels CVE pilot sparks debate cally regarding youth. Jamal, who and gangs for some in the Somali debated Hussein about the CVE community, and it can lead to youth program on CNN in February, is being recruited, according to Jamal. among local Somalis, Muslims part of a minority of Somali com- Drugs and psychological problems munity members who publicly stemming from having left a war- support the pilot. torn country also can play a factor. and we saw that previous outreach Although he said he does not think However, CVE leaders cannot Community leaders worry about programs (similar to the CVE the CVE program will prevent youth begin to tackle the subject of recruit- program) actually blurred the lines from joining terrorist groups, Jamal ment without first addressing the program’s safeguards against surveillance between surveillance and outreach,” believes that “young people respond topic of U.S. foreign policy, leaders Hussein said. to a call,” and he hopes that the such as Jamal and Michel say. The previous outreach programs program’s proposed youth internship “When we see drones killing little Hussein referenced were used in and mentorship opportunities will be kids in Yemen, it is that that does more A pilot program to help curb some European countries in recent that call for Somali teens. to drive recruitment to these organi- recruitment of local Somali youth by By Lujain years after attempted terroristic When asked about some Somali zations than any ‘slick video,’’’ Michel overseas extremist groups has sparked Al-Khawi activities in Europe and the Middle leaders’ concern with the program, said. “You cannot target people who ThreeSixty are healthy, happy, and feel respected, debate within the Muslim and Somali intern East. One program CVE is mod- Jamal said, “There is nothing that is communities about the program’s eled on is the Prevent program in all positive.” engaged, heard and listened to, and safeguards against surveillance. the U.K., which “failed,” according convince them to join an [extremist] The Countering Violent Extremism to Amber Michel, CAIR-MN’s civic Reasons for recruitment organization. But you can easily target pilot program, also known as the However, some Muslim commu- engagement manager, because it cre- Although Somali organizations people who … see their sisters and Building Community Resilience pro- nity leaders, such as Jaylani Hussein, ated a “division in the community” and many Twin Cities mosques brothers are being killed around the gram, is led in the Twin Cities by U.S. are worried about the “blur of lines between federal authorities and the have tried to get involved in the world, then yeah, then that becomes Attorney Andrew Luger in an effort between surveillance and community general Muslim population. anti-recruitment process, Jamal very fertile ground.” to “address the community-identified outreach.” Petok refuted the idea that the believes the recruitment problem root causes of radicalization to Hussein is the executive direc- outreach efforts would be a means of is less about Jihad and more about ‘Suspicion’ and ‘confusion’ in violence,” according to Ben Petok, a tor of the Minnesota chapter of surveillance. the problems of underemployment the Somali community spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s the Council on American-Islamic “The notion that a community-led and social alienation within the Groups such as CAIR-MN urge Office for the District of Minnesota. Relations. Like others, he is con- program to bring resources into the Minnesota Somali community. that anti-recruitment activities Some Somali and Muslim leaders cerned the program may increase Somali Minnesotan community is He spoke of cases where poor, should stay away from the FBI and are concerned about the program surveillance and marginalize the somehow a cover for surveillance is single Somali women are unable to Department of Justice, and instead becoming a means of surveillance Somali community, even pointing to baseless and naïve,” Petok said. understand or control their young be led by local nonprofits and gov- on their communities, while others the dangers that the loose interpreta- Some local Somali leaders, how- boys due to the age gap and cultural ernment agencies such as the U.S. believe the pilot could be a step in tion of the program’s terminology ever, are hopeful about the program. differences. Department of Health and Human the right direction. could bring. Omar Jamal, a consultant for the “The problem is the absence of the Services. The federal government-led “Our initial reaction was, ‘What charter school education system father in the house,” Jamal said. There have been many meetings program is designed to join primarily are the safeguards against abuse?’ in Minnesota, is a leading voice for Factor in issues of poverty, held in the Twin Cities to foster Somali Minnesotan community mem- trust between the U.S. Attorney and bers and federal authorities in the fight Somali community members, but against violent extremism recruit- there is still much “suspicion” and ment through economic development “confusion” regarding the program, and outreach activities, according to according to Jamal. Petok. The program seeks to create A special committee within the community-led intervention teams, program will be assigned to research as well as bring mentorship and the causes of violent extremism afterschool programs, scholarships, recruitment and better under- job trainers and placement officers stand Somali history and culture into the Somali community, according to “... increase positive engage- to the Department of Justice’s website. ment between law enforcement, Minnesota boasts the largest Somali government, and the Minnesota population in North America, with Somali community,” according to a the vast majority living in the “Memorandum of Understanding” Twin Cities. that Luger signed in May to help Leaders of the pilot program are alleviate concerns. at work trying to identify partners Whether the pilot program will and funding for the program in Photo c ourtesy of C AIR - MN work remains to be seen. Minneapolis and St. Paul, according Leaders of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations sign an official statement in opposition of “I do not think Mr. Luger can stop to Petok. the Countering Violent Extremism pilot program in May. recruitment,” Michel said.
September 2015 11 Preparing for life after high school Preparing for life after high school
you engage in. You have choices Weighing in on of whether you want to consume alcohol or not.” According to kidshealth.org, the ‘freshman 15’ having a well-balanced diet, exercis- ing regularly and getting enough sleep are ways that college students can curb weight gain. The website also Living a healthy lifestyle doesn’t always states students should watch their alcohol and nicotine consumption. come easy for college students Alcohol adds calories and smoking makes physical exercise more difficult, according to the website. Gender also plays a role in weight Johnny McGibbon, a senior at gain. Men are more likely to gain M arissa A bara/ T hree S ixty Journalism the University of St. Thomas, wants By Va Yang weight in the first year of college Delaney Simmons’ synchronized swimming career has taken her from her to eat healthier, but he says he can’t. St. Paul Johnson than women, according to the hometown of Sioux Falls, S.D., to the Twin Cities, and now to college in St. Charles, “I live in an upperclassmen dorm High School National Institute of Health. A study Mo., where she will compete for national champion Lindenwood University. that doesn’t have a kitchen. For also pointed out that men were less me, that feels like I’ve gone back 20 concerned and had fewer strategies steps,” said McGibbon, who is also a for weight control than women. peer educator for the St. Paul univer- By Zaid Khan Therese Coughlan, also a senior Swimmer graduates sity’s Health and Wellness Promotion Anoka High and peer educator at St. Thomas, Team. “So I don’t have fresh produce School said living a healthy lifestyle in col- early to pursue I can store. So now it’s going back to lege is easier said than done. what’s convenient – what can I make “To be healthy is more expensive in two minutes in a microwave?” and the director of research at the and, at times, commitment is more Olympic dream Studies show that the “freshman University of Minnesota’s Boynton difficult,” she said. 15” is a myth, but there is plenty of Health Service. “What they find is Students may find it helpful truth to college weight gain and the that it is more the norm that first- to talk to their doctors or to the difficulties of living a healthy lifestyle year students will gain about five school health center for advice. But Harding grad Simmons hopes to compete in college. pounds.” some college students say school on big stage for synchronized swimming The “freshman 15” commonly Why do college freshmen gain administrators need to meet them describes the weight gain of U.S. weight? According to Lust, many halfway and have resources avail- students in their first year of college. students are on their own for the first able for students wishing to live a Originally, the phrase was time and have to make healthier lifestyle. Delaney Simmons was 7 years the “freshman 10,” coined nutritional and healthy McGibbon said it comes down to old when she took up the sport of By Marissa by the New York Times in lifestyle decisions with- a 50-50 effort from the school and synchronized swimming, a pursuit Abara Wayzata High 1981. It was later altered out parental input. the individual students in order to that in a few years meant weekend School to “freshman 15” to “You don’t have your create a healthy lifestyle on campus. commutes from Sioux Falls, S.D., accommodate America’s parents saying ‘eat your To promote healthy living on to the Twin Cities for more intense increasing weight, vegetables,’ so when you campus, McGibbon’s health promo- training and competition. according to The Atlantic. get on a college campus, tion team hosts the Wellness 5K A couple of years into high school, By Viky Moua St. Paul Harding Students gaining all of a sudden you have Run/Walk down Summit Avenue in Simmons went all in on the sport Senior High approximately 12 pounds even more choices,” St. Paul each year. The 5K, which is and its demands. That meant leav- School during four years of col- Coughlan she said. open to St. Thomas students, faculty, ing her family and friends behind lege is more realistic than “So you have deci- staff and alumni, is one example of and relocating to the Twin Cities gaining 15 in the first sions about what you how students and administrators permanently. It later meant gradu- Leaving Sioux Falls, her home- year alone, according to eat and when you eat can collaborate. ating early from St. Paul Harding town, was a big transition, Simmons a 2012 study at Auburn it. You have [to make “It’s a team thing between students Senior High School in pursuit of the said. University in Alabama. a] decision about how and the administration,” he said. Olympic dream. Through a connection with “There are plenty of much you sleep, which Lust agreed, emphasizing the “My (former) team was pretty coaches in the Twin Cities, Simmons interesting articles out can affect your weight,” long-term benefits. small and the goals of my team were moved in with her grandparents in there that looked at stud- Lust added. “You have “If we can learn to make good just to have fun and obviously we St. Paul to concentrate on training. ies across long periods of [to make a] deci- choices as a young person,” she said, worked hard,” said Simmons, 17, She joined the St. Paul Stars, one time,” said Dr. Katherine sion about how much “then we can make good choices as “but it just wasn’t the intensity that I of the top synchronized swimming Lust, a nutritionist McGibbon activity and exercise we grow older.” wanted to achieve my goals.” swimmer continued on page 32
12 threesixtyjournalism.org Preparing for life after high school
After some thought, Wilhite with were a reflection of his upbring- he said, although he wouldn’t mind Reaching the decided he didn’t want to play foot- ing,” said former ACES executive playing in a tourist location. In the ball for a living, and he didn’t need director Chad Caruthers, now the meantime, he was working out and it to achieve success. But leaving executive director at ThreeSixty coaching a local basketball camp in athletic crossroads football after graduation wasn’t easy Journalism. the Twin Cities in August. – for him or his parents. Singleton’s story is different. Basketball keeps him sane and “I left the country and I went to Singleton grew up in north motivated, he said. France and Italy,” he said. “I was all Minneapolis and dreamed about “It’s just the love of the game, I Deciding whether to keep playing over the place.” playing professional basketball can’t give it up,” Singleton said about His parents had had other plans (He also was a part of ACES, but continuing to pursue basketball. “I’m can be a difficult choice for athletes for their son. as a student.). not done. I’m not done yet. I just “I had to have a lot of discussions Singleton became a standout want to keep playing as long as I pos- with my pops,” he said. “He wanted forward for Hopkins High School sibly can and after that, then I can do me to make it there. I was so close. I and helped carry the Royals to three something with my degree to get a Two former Division I By Tsimnuj understand why that would hurt his consecutive state championships job. In between in the summertime I athletes – one a Minnesota native, Yang feelings.” from 2009 to 2011. He went on to could probably get internships here another who played in the state – St. Paul Harding Eventually, Wilhite’s parents came play at the University of Northern and there to use my degree, just to have divergent ideologies about life Senior High to agree with his decision to not play Iowa, where he averaged nearly five have some experience on my resume, School after their collegiate careers. professionally. points and five rebounds per game but I can’t really stop playing now. Donald Lynn Wilhite II, 25, a Wilhite, who now works in the as a starter his senior season. He I’m addicted to it.” former University of Minnesota foot- human resources department at was named to the Missouri Valley The NBA is still a goal, too, he ball player known to his friends as By Leydi Pliego Cargill, was more intrigued by how Conference All-Improved Team his said. D.L., found a career path away from Cristo Rey Jesuit he could make a difference in his senior year, and UNI finished 36-7 “... You never know the journey the field, while former Hopkins star High School community, similar to the people with the 6-foot-6, 237-pound for- you have to take to get there all the Marvin Singleton, 22, is pursuing his who helped him along the way. ward in the starting lineup his junior time,” he said. “It might not always passion as a professional basketball “I feel like it’s my duty to do that,” and senior years. work out the way you want it to, but player. second team in 2012 as a defensive he said. Now, Singleton is in the process of you can never stop working, you can For student-athletes, the decision lineman. “I was one of the best ath- He found motivation to help trying to play professional basketball never stop dreaming.” to pursue their sports after college letes in the country, at least statisti- the community through Athletes overseas. Teams have shown interest. Although they’re on different isn’t always entirely left to them. cally, for Division I.” Committed to Educating Students, He’s just waiting on the phone call. paths, Wilhite is happy with his Fewer than 2 percent of Division I Wilhite’s accomplishments were an afterschool program founded in “They could call any day, and I choice, and so is Singleton. athletes make it to the professional splashed all over the media. He also 1994 that is designed to help tutor could be gone any day,” Singleton “Whatever you do, there’s probably level, with the exception of baseball was recognized not only for his and mentor students from low- said in early August. a million people who want to do that, and hockey, according to the NCAA. athletic talent, but also his academics income families. He’s willing to take the best offer too,” Wilhite said. “It’s really about, Bob Madison, the activities direc- and community service. “Some of the kids that he worked available to get his foot in the door, what can I do to set myself apart?” tor at Mounds View High School, said many of his former athletes have had to decide when to call it quits and move on. “Going from an athlete to being a general part of society and the workforce is a really tough transition because you miss your teammates, you miss the physical activity, you may even miss physical contact in thleti c Communi ations some situations,” Madison said. Wilhite was 5 years old when he first held a football. Eventually, his parents and coaches recognized his talent, which one day might’ve cata- pulted the young player into the pros. But Wilhite had doubts. innesota A Photo c ourtesy of M innesota “I wrestled with it a lot,” said Photo c ourtesy of M ike D unlo p Wilhite, a native of Lexington, Ky., Marvin Singleton (12), a 2015 graduate and former men’s basketball player at the D.L. Wilhite, right, a former University of Minnesota defensive lineman, rushes a who led the Gophers with 8.5 sacks University of Northern Iowa, drives against an Iowa defender during a game last lineman during a 2012 game for the Gophers. Wilhite now works for Cargill. and was named to the All-Big Ten season. Singleton, a Minneapolis native, is pursuing playing basketball overseas.
September 2015 13 Preparing for life after high school
good college essay should be honest stand out. Paulet, then a challenging, Paulet said, and tell a story of a defining moment graduate student at the because students tend to Beating college in a student’s life. University of St. Thomas, restate questions, write A good essay “tells your story, and taught personal narrative academically and not gives us context into your situation, writing at Johnson Senior let their personal voice essay stress about you as a person, about you as a High School and Harding come out. student, your work ethic, your grit,” Senior High School as “A lot of the students Baker said. “Essays that tell that story part of a ThreeSixty had a really hard time Successful essays draw on are helpful for us.” Journalism project writing about them- Every year the University of funded by the St. Paul Paulet selves,” Paulet said. personal experience, experts say Minnesota receives more than Foundation. However, students 46,000 applications. Most of them “I remember spending shouldn’t worry too come with essays, although the uni- a lot of time on it,” said much about overselling versity does not require one, Baker Paulet, thinking back on themselves, Baker said. Students pick out colleges. said. Admissions officers read all the her own stressful college “That’s what I always By Emma They fill out applications. And then essays from beginning to end. application essay process. encourage students to Vervair Osseo Senior they have to write essays. “Any material that students submit Paulet met with stu- do as I’m working with High School And University of Minnesota as part of the application process is dents regularly to help them through the writ- Senior Admissions Counselor Steve given very careful consideration,” them write college essays ing process, is don’t be Baker says students stress out way Baker said. “We read and review and guided them through bashful,” he said. “Brag too much. every statement, every essay, all the peer editing and revision. about yourself.” By Jennifer Baker Delgado The essay is only one piece of the way through.” Other professionals also Baker added that a Cristo Rey Jesuit college application puzzle, and Baker During the 2014-15 school year, helped students craft their common mistake among High School encourages students to draw on their Cori Paulet helped St. Paul Public essays during their project. students is being too general in their personal experiences. Experts say a Schools students write essays that Writing the essay can be essay stress continued on page 32 More minority students taking PSEO courses
Minority students Percent increase Participation from students of color taking PSEO in PSEO participants from 2007 to 2014 has increased 53 percent since 2007–08 841 80% students in 70% 2007–08 Minnesota’s minority By Alejandro 60% students are increasingly taking Hernandez 56% college classes during high school, Minneapolis 50% according to the Minnesota Roosevelt High School Department of Education. 40% In 1985, Minnesota became the 41% first state in the nation to establish By Janie Xiong 30% 32% Post-Secondary Enrollment Options St. Paul Harding 1,290 for students in high school, allowing Senior High students in 2014 20% 25% them to earn college credit without School 18% having to pay tuition. 10% Twenty years later, a 2005
University of Minnesota report 2014, according to the Minnesota 0 found that minorities were under- Department of Education. White American Asian/Pacific Hispanic Black White represented in the program. Efforts students’ participation increased by a 53.4% Indian Islander since then have shown progress. 22 percent in those same years. Minority students taking PSEO Issraa El-Khatib, 16, an increase Source: Minnesota Department of Education has risen 53.4 percent since 2007–08, upcoming senior at Blaine High from 841 students to 1,290 in PSEO continued on page 32
14 threesixtyjournalism.org Preparing for life after high school
Minnesota School of Cosmetology in Styling a future Woodbury. “I like getting stuff done.” Nicole Linscheid, a coun- selor at the Minnesota School of in beauty Cosmetology, admits students such as Kramer every year. For hands-on learners, trade schools are a good option after high school, Linscheid Hands-on learning, career options among said. “Some people aren’t book learn- reasons students pick cosmetology school ers,” Linscheid said. “They can’t sit in a classroom all the time and retain the information.” Kramer is living with family in Tawni Kramer wanted a job Hudson, Wisconsin, while com- that would help people feel good By Ann Jerry muting to the Minnesota School about themselves inside and out. Blaine High of Cosmetology in Woodbury. The So, she turned to cosmetology School school teaches about 150 students school. on two campuses in Woodbury and Kramer is one of many students in Plymouth. Tuition is $20,200 for Minnesota who choose cosmetology By Pa Zong the program, which lasts 10 to 12 school over a traditional four-year Moua months. university each year. St. Paul Harding Kramer starts her day at 9 a.m. and Senior High Cosmetology school certifies attends school for about eight hours, School people to work with hair, skin and stopping only for a short break. She nails in the beauty industry. School spends the day setting up, working officials say that such trade schools cosmetology students typically finish with two to three clients, checking are a great option for students who within a year. in with teachers, cleaning tools and Sc hool of Cosmetology Photo c ourtesy of Jill H o c king/ M innesota are creative and want to get into “I’m a fast-paced kind of girl,” completing assigned projects. Tawni Kramer, a student at the Minnesota School of Cosmetology, uses specialty the workforce quickly. Full-time said Kramer, 20, who attends the cosmetology continued on page 32 curling techniques to style customer Andrea Hernandez’s hair in July.
their first job experience,” said Joe expanded to the Twin Cities in 2008. the corporate community,” Cudzilo The Genesys Cudzilo, Genesys Works’ marketing Over the years, Genesys Works has said. “They see Genesys Works as a and communications manager. collaborated with more than 50 pipeline for students who come from The program is competitive, partners in the metro, such as Target, diverse backgrounds and who are the of a career with 900 students applying and 250 U.S. Bank, General Mills and 3M next generation of professionals in accepted this year in the Twin Cities. Corporation. Minnesota.” Those students enter an intense “We have a lot of support from genesys continued on page 33 eight-week training program that Twin Cities nonprofit Genesys Works prepares them for the possibility of a year-long internship. provides training, internships to students Nimo Mohamed, a senior at Al-Amal High School in Fridley and a student in the program, was look- ing for experience in the professional A Twin Cities program is workplace. So far this summer, she By Louisa providing a boost for economically- has worked with Excel spreadsheets Akoto challenged students looking to get a and transferred data – things she had Coon Rapids High School kickstart in the changing job market. never done before. For seven years, Twin Cities “It should be a requirement” for nonprofit Genesys Works has given students, Mohamed said of her expe- students real-world training in mar- rience with Genesys Works. By Sher keting, business and IT careers with Genesys Works has programs in Eh Ler Tee Roseville Area the goal of supplying trained workers the San Francisco Bay area, Houston High School for companies in the metro area. and Chicago, and another open- Photo c ourtesy of H ai N go “For many of our students, this is ing soon in Washington, D.C. It Nadiira “Nadirah” Farah speaks to a group of people as part of Genesys Works.
September 2015 15 Preparing for life after high school
TreeTrust YouthBuild, which Building homes, began in 2006, has 25 students in the program who earn high school credit while gaining construction experi- and a better future ence. The program had 60 applicants this year. “I get to use my skills on the job site,” said Ivette Pineda, an incoming senior at the Minnesota Internship Tree Trust YouthBuild program Center in north Minneapolis. Pineda helps disadvantaged students has rehabbed houses, raised money for the program and even built a make a difference, earn diplomas staircase. Pineda has learned a lot through the program, she said, and will use what she has learned throughout her A metro-area program that By Nayni life. fixes up houses sold to low-income Paung “When you get older ... you can people also helps young people get St. Paul Harding build your own house and don’t have their diplomas. Senior High to ask other people to (help) since School Tree Trust YouthBuild helps you already have the skills and the disadvantaged students maintain a experiences,” she said. job while earning their high school By Joseph The program is geared toward diplomas or GEDs and contribut- Xiong low-income young people between ing to the community by rehabbing St. Paul Johnson the ages of 16 and 24, including those Senior High houses in the Twin Cities. Those who are in or who are aging out of School houses are then sold to low-income foster care, those with disabilities,
Photo c ourtesy of T ree rust Y outh B uild families. and more. A Tree Trust YouthBuild Lead Construction Trainer (left) works with a participant “But the main thing is helping Maja Numainville, the YouthBuild “A lot of kids don’t grow up with on fixing up a house earlier this year in north Minneapolis. kids with barriers succeed,” said program coordinator. Building continued on page 33 Far from the ocean, they learn about sea service rode in a UH-60 helicopter. Minnesota teens gain sea experience “I think it’s important for people to try out what they want to do, before in U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps program they go and do it,” he said. Gallentine, entering his senior year at Minnetonka High School, will be advanced to a cadet petty officer in He’s more than 1,000 miles the program and is under contract from the ocean, but Ben Gallentine By Cher Vang to become an Air Force pararescue St. Paul Harding is part of a Twin Cities program that jumper. Senior High exposes young people to America’s School Jacqueline LeVvintre recently sea-base military services. graduated from the program with Gallentine is a cadet in the U.S. top honors as the highest-ranking Naval Sea Cadet Corps, which uses cadet – chief petty officer – and monthly meetings, weekend drills, By Autumn obtained a Navy ROTC scholar- McKinney boot camp and, yes, ocean-going Eden Prairie ship, for a Marine option, at the experiences to teach teens about the High School University of Southern California. Navy, Coast Guard and Merchant She started the junior program at age
Marine services. It also helps them 10, influenced by her father, who was A utumn McK inney/ T hree S ixty Journalism develop citizenship and leadership medicine [training] in Florida,” an instructor in the Cadet Corps for From left, Lt. j.g. Allyson McCormack, Cadet Airman Ben Gallentine and Cadet skills. Gallentine said recently. 21 years. Chief Petty Officer Jacqueline LeVvintre of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps “I just came back from field He and other cadets also recently sea service continued on page 33 Twin Cities Squadron.
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Preparing for life after high school College ambition means burning the 1 a.m. oil
program as a junior at Central. Once Allen was in, she began her College Possible helps low-income busy weekly schedule. The school day students make college a reality would start early, at 7:30 a.m., and would end at 2 p.m. Instead of going home like other students, she would head over to the Recent high school graduate College Possible classroom at Central
Augusta Allen had good reason for By Griselda two days a week. The College Possible Possible Photo c ourtesy of Courtney Perry/College Sanchez staying up until 1 a.m. nearly every coach and students would briefly Senior Mai Thao (left) with her coach Jiksa Tafara during a College Possible Cristo Rey Jesuit session in January at Robbinsdale Cooper High School. night. High School describe their day before diving into The long hours and extra responsi- a two-hour session about science and bility had an endgame: to improve her other subjects. exams, she said. It may seem like a succeed,” Russell said. chances of getting into college. “You have a lot of motivation in the lot, but from a student’s first practice As a result of College Possible’s As a junior, Allen signed up for By Ashtyn room,“ Allen said. test to the final test, those who took success, Russell said, the state of a nonprofit program called College McKinney Sometimes, if Allen and her class- the test last year have had about a 25 Minnesota is giving $500,000 to the Eden Prairie Possible Twin Cities, which aims to mates were lucky, their coach would percent average increase in scores program over the next two years. High School improve local low-income students’ give them a 10-minute break. Other (per results that were returned in late Another success of College Possible chances of being accepted into col- days it would be only five minutes. July), according to Sarah Russell, a includes reaching its goal of 20,000 lege. Founded in Minnesota in 2000, After break, they would dive into College Possible Twin Cities program students in the program nationwide – College Possible Twin Cities, which is me empowerment,” said Allen, who another subject. Near the end of the coordinator. a goal met four years in advance, one of five College Possible locations will be a freshman at St. Benedict. two-hour session, there would be Russell said the students’ desire to said Russell. in the U.S., does this through coach- College Possible students are time for games, practice and ques- achieve makes her passionate about There are more than 1,800 College ing and support. pushed hard from the start. Allen tions about other subjects. the work she does. Possible students in Minnesota. Russell Allen dove into the College Possible went through a rigorous interview Between practice ACTs and the “I am encouraged by my students has the opportunity to see students less curriculum, which included assigned process and was accepted into the actual test, Allen has taken seven because they try so hard and want to fortunate than herself succeed. packets and homework to be com- “They were just amazing human pleted over a matter of days. The long beings that just didn’t know how to hours spent doing extra work – she make it happen,” she said. also had her regular course work at Even after Allen goes off to college, St. Paul Central High School to com- Russell said, her assigned coach will plete – turned out to be well worth help her for the next four years. College it when Allen was accepted into the students who are in College Possible College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, have a 57-percent graduation rate, Minn., on a scholarship. compared to a 28-percent rate for non- “I signed up and they really gave College Possible low-income students, according to Russell. College Possible “We stick with them through high at a glance school and college,” Russell said. Said Allen: “You build a really n This year, six students won Bill strong relationship.” Gates scholarships. Allen said she feels the same n Low-income students are attend- eagerness about her new journey at ing Princeton University, Harvard St. Benedict as she did when she first University and Barnard College. began College Possible her junior n Based on a Harvard study, College year. She is thankful for all she has Possible students are 10 times received from the program. more likely to graduate college School nights were hard for Allen,
than other low-income students. Possible Photo c ourtesy of Courtney Perry/College but all the work paid off, she said. Coach Caitlin Gibson with a small group of juniors in January at Robbinsdale Cooper High School “I’m really excited,” she said.
September 2015 17 COLOR
The Minnesota Twins rookie prospect talks life on and off the baseball diamond
Professional baseball player. By Lujain Al-Khawi Top prospect. ThreeSixty Future doctor? intern Byron Buxton’s Major League Baseball career has just begun, but the rookie already knows what he wants to do when his playing days are over. “Eventually, I want to go outside and live a little bit and try to pursue that dream of getting into sports medicine,” Buxton said from the Twins’ dugout at Target Field on a warm July afternoon. But for now, the 21-year-old from Georgia is busy focusing on his young, promising career as a centerfielder for the Minnesota Twins. Less than two weeks after Buxton, the Twins rookie who is considered the top prospect in baseball, was called up from Double-A Chattanooga in mid-June, he was forced to sit out after injuring his thumb while sliding into second base against the Chicago White Sox. However, Byron was “very hopeful,” he said in late July, not just for his 16 recovery, but his future as a professional baseball player. All eyes have been on the five-tool player since he was drafted second overall by the Minnesota Twins in 2012. The word “potential” has become @ synonymous with his name. w/Byron Buxton Before his rise to the national spotlight, Buxton grew up in Georgia, play- ing baseball, football and basketball in high school. He was offered a full-ride scholarship to play baseball at the University of Georgia – his dream school. But after considering the offer, and even contemplating playing college foot- ball for the Bulldogs, he decided to sign with the Twins instead. That decision proved successful. Buxton found success in the minors, despite battling injuries in 2014. Before his injury in June, he was hitting .189 with five runs, a double, a triple and 15 strikeouts in his first 37 major-league at-bats. Despite his minor setback, Buxton is determined to give his best for the team, the fans and, his son, Brixton.
I’m going to have you take me back Quite nerve-wracking. I mean, a little bit, if you do not mind. Around coming from a small town where what age did you know you wanted I [was] at, you do not expect to baseball to be a part of your future? see as many scouts and perfor- Maybe age 11 or 12. That’s when I mance directors there at the started being a little more serious game, so it was kind of nervous about it. I grew up playing basket- growing up playing a game, but ball, that’s what my dad played in at the same time, it was also fun high school. Just wanted to try out because you are playing side by baseball, and ever since then, I had side with your friends. a pretty good passion and love for the game. What was it like being drafted No. 2 overall, and going from high What was it like receiving national school to the minor leagues? attention as a high school baseball It was a tough adjustment, especially player? pitching-wise. I did not see as much
18 threesixtyjournalism.org COLOR
“I think the most exciting thing is making a dream come true, making it to the big leagues and playing in a big-league stadium.” quality pitching as I did when I first everything I can in the community to I just played football just to stay got in, but you have to overcome keep the fans happy. in shape, friends are playing, just and adjust to the pitching, just stay to not be working or having a job. focused. What has the road to recovery for Other than that, that is the only your thumb been like so far? reason I played football. I played Walk me through the experience of I think the toughest part of this basketball until my sophomore year. getting your major league call-up road is just watching your team- Then, I started running over into in June. mates out there, and you cannot go baseball, and when that happened, I was on the road in Birmingham, out there and play side by side with I stopped playing basketball my Alabama, and they called me them and try to have a few more sophomore year and just focused on into the office to talk about base games, but it has been pretty good. baseball. I played football my junior running, so I did not pay any I come in when they are on the road and senior year, but the biggest attention to it and walked back at 9 [a.m.] or 10 [a.m.], and I do my focus is on baseball. out, and everybody was in the rehab work, I run every day, I throw clubhouse saying a manger came every day, just try to stay in shape How do you like living in Minnesota? in and he announced that I was and try to keep my arm in shape Oh, I like it. Definitely a different going up. And just a lot of excite- until they get back. environment from the one I am used ment and joy came through me, to, so I try to get out as much as pos- especially when it is one of your Are you hopeful? sible on my free time before I come childhood dreams. Yeah, very hopeful. to the field every day.
Were you expecting this news to What are your goals on the field now What advice would you give to high arrive when it did? that you are in the majors? school athletes who want to enter Not at all, especially, we were in a One of my biggest goals no matter the pros? playoff race down there, so I wasn’t where I am at is just to go out there Definitely make sure you do your thinking or expecting a call-up any- and give 110 percent because you schoolwork. That was probably the time soon, so it was definitely a very don’t know how long you’ll be able biggest thing for my parents. When exciting and unexpected moment. to play this game one day, and you you are out there, make sure you just don’t want to take anything for give your best effort because high
What have been the biggest changes granted. I want to go out there and T wins Photos c ourtesy of the M innesota school is going to end one day and between playing in the minors and give my best shot every night. Buxton, who was called up to the Minnesota Twins in June, is one of baseball’s the world is going to come. You do the majors? And how have you top major league prospects. not want to be surprised by it. And, handled those changes? What’s it like playing alongside Torii just have fun while you are there. Hunter, and what has your relation- Definitely, the pitching here is a The Buxton file You know high school life, it was lot better and pitchers have more ship been with him? fun, but I took it too seriously to than one out pitch. Other than Very fun and energetic. I mean we where I didn’t do other things that I Profession: Minnesota Twins centerfielder Double-A where they’ve got pitches do not keep anything dull or blunt. wanted to do while I was there. So, Age: 21 but they don’t spot up as well. And The relationship together has grown now that I am out here in the real High school: Appling County High School in Baxley, Ga. I have to adjust by getting more a lot since spring training. We got to world, it’s pretty focused. Career highlights: Drafted by the Twins with the No. 2 overall pick in 2012. experience, getting more at-bats know each other a lot. Really, we just Awarded the Minor League Player of the Year in 2013 by Baseball America. and just being focused and having come out here and try to do as much What are you most excited about Called up to the majors in June 2015. Rated as best prospect in baseball by quality at-bats while you are up as we can while we are at the field going forward? MLB.com in early 2015. there, trying to grind out at-bats to together. Just relaxed. Right now, I am very excited to be ... Find ‘em: On Twitter at @OfficialBuck103 and on Instagram at @buckdaddy103 help your teammates out. close to getting back out here play- Is he a pretty relaxed guy? ing. I think the most exciting thing is How do you handle all of this pres- Oh yeah. Not even close to uptight. making a dream come true, making sure, or hype, surrounding you enter- extra hard in high school to try to get You were interested in playing col- it to the big leagues and playing in a ing the major leagues? How did your experience playing high where I am at today. My coaches and lege football, too. Why did you decide big-league stadium. Just try to stay humble and respect school ball shape who you are today? family helped me out as well. Even to focus on baseball? the fans here. I mean they obviously It just really taught me what I really if they did not want to do it, they I had a lot more passion and love This is an edited transcript of this like me a lot here, and I do not want wanted to do after high school. would go to the field with me and for the game of baseball. I started interview. to do anything to, how can I say, not Baseball was definitely my option throw with me. I am very thankful playing football my seventh- or be on their good side. So, I will do of what I wanted to do, so I worked and grateful for them. eighth-grade year of middle school.
September 2015 19 COLOR
Preparing for life after high school Students hone skills in unique work study program
non-working time, he said. Cristo Rey program gives students Jenae’ Jenkins, 17, a senior, said she updates computer files at real-world work experience in Twin Cities Diversified Distribution Systems, a supply distribution services company in Brooklyn Park. “I love the people at my job,” Christian Mejia knows how Jenkins said. “They make me feel like By Reyna to stay busy. Tejada I’m part of their little community.” Each week, the Minneapolis high St. Paul Harding She also feels ready for more work school student has to juggle classes, Senior High responsibility, she said. soccer practice and, for one full day, School Cristo Rey is one of 30 schools a job. across the nation that is part of a Like all students at Cristo network of Jesuit Catholic schools. Rey Jesuit High School in south By Yoko Vue However, students of all faiths are St Paul Central Minneapolis, Mejia has to bal- welcome. Senior High ance his studies and work at the School The first Cristo Rey High School same time as part of the school’s opened in Chicago 20 years ago, and Corporate Work Study Program, the Corporate Work Study Program which provides students with work “It helps better prepare them has been a part of the school ever experience that helps them pay for since. In the beginning, the pro- more than half of their tuition bill. to go on to college and go gram was a way for students to help Photo c ourtesy of Cristo R ey Nafiso Shire (left), a 2015 graduate of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in “It helps better prepare them to on to their careers.” the school financially, but soon the school realized its students were Minneapolis, works with Lucy Werenicz in April at the Minneapolis office of go on to college and go on to their – Kris Donnelly, Children’s Respiratory and Critical Care Specialists, PA, as part of Cristo Rey’s careers,” said Kris Donnelly, the exec- executive director of CWSP being challenged in different ways. utive director of the program. “They In Minnesota, the work study Corporate Work Study Program. get to learn technical skills in a way Mejia, 17, a senior, has attended program includes more than 90 that a normal student doesn’t.” the school since his freshman year. companies and nonprofits, including Every student is assigned a job He works at Convey Compliance Dorsey & Whitney law firm and the based on his or her skills and must Systems, a tax and technology com- Science Museum of Minnesota. go through a two-week training pany based in Minnetonka, and helps Cristo Rey students pay approxi- during the summer. A team of four people with technology issues. mately $13,250 per year for their students takes turns in the same “They treat you like a young adult,” education, but the work study position at a company without miss- Mejia said. “I don’t feel like I get left program helps families pay more ing class. out whatsoever.” than half that cost. Financial aid also Each student is given one day from It was not Mejia’s choice to attend is available. Monday to Thursday and one Friday Cristo Rey; it was his parents’. His Mejia said he plans to study every month to work from 9 a.m. transition from middle school to engineering or business in college. to 4:30 p.m. Cristo Rey has longer high school was difficult because of His interest in technology developed school days and a school year from the schedule and workload. But, he through one of his jobs during the August to June to fulfill academic said, he discovered that Cristo Rey program. studies and work time. Companies was a “great opportunity” because he Jenkins said she is indecisive about pay the school $30,000 for a team. gained skills that will help him in the whether to study nursing or enter the “When our students start inter- future. National Guard. viewing for scholarships for college, However, school is more stressful Either way, Jenkins would not they interview really well because than work, he said. change anything about her Cristo they are mature and they have “I actually get happy when the Rey experience, she said. thought things through differently, workday is coming up because I feel “In the long run, I really like it,” Jenae’ Jenkins (center) and Christian Mejia (right), shown with Kris Donnelly, so I think they get an advantage in like it is an opportunity to catch up she said. “I wouldn’t want to trade the executive director of Cristo Rey’s Corporate Work Study Program, are those areas,” Donnelly said. on homework or projects” during [this] high school at all.” students in the Corporate Work Study Program at Cristo Rey in Minneapolis.
20 threesixtyjournalism.org Preparing for life after high school
standout girls tennis player who has Athletes make verbally committed to the University of California, Berkeley. She empha- sizes that scholarships were only one the call on college factor in the process. “I spent so much time on tennis, where it just kind of became, ‘This is how I’m going to go to college; this Student-athletes can face difficult choices is how I’m going to pay for my educa- tion,’” she said. in picking a school to play for Scholarship opportunities But who gets these scholarships? Mounds View’s scholarship athletes Recent college graduate By Erianna in the last two years have been pre- Marvin Singleton would tell any Jiles dominantly females, Madison said. high school athlete not to let anyone, Como Park “But you have to be really care- even friends or family, choose a Senior High ful when you just say scholarship college for them. School to athletes, because if you’re a girl “Picking a college as an athlete soccer player, a scholarship might be is almost the second-biggest deci- $2,000 a year, but if it costs $50,000 sion you’ll make in your life besides By Kristy to go there, a scholarship is this big,” K risty O rnelas/ T hree S ixty Journalism Ornelas getting married,” said Singleton, a Madison said, making a pinching Marvin Singleton, a former Hopkins basketball star, chose to play basketball at Coon Rapids the University of Northern Iowa, where he graduated in 2015. Singleton says high Minneapolis native who graduated in High School motion with his fingers. 2015 from the University of Northern About 53 percent of student- school athletes shouldn’t let others heavily influence their college decision. Iowa. Singleton received a full-ride athletes at the Division I level receive four-year basketball scholarship to or some type of financial aid, accord- some athletic aid, according to the “You do feel pressure as the recruit, off of what other people want you to play at UNI after graduating from ing to the NCAA’s website. NCAA. At Division II, it’s about 56 especially when schools contact you do or what they think is best for you,” Hopkins High School. Over the years, Madison has percent. At Division III schools, which that you might not want to go to. You Singleton said. “But don’t take too Student athletes face difficult worked with many athletes and has don’t give out athletic scholarships, have to be able to say no,” Nelson said. long. You don’t want to take too long choices when choosing a college – witnessed these decisions firsthand. about 75 percent of student-athletes “Eventually weed out what schools and miss out on [an] opportunity.” whether it’s because of scholarships, He has found that even though a stu- receive grant or need-based scholar- you want and what schools have influence from family and friends, dent might be offered a scholarship, ship assistance. However, the average attractive qualities.” Other influences location or personal taste. These deci- down the road the scholarship may aid is $13,500, according to NCAA Social media also can have an effect sions more than likely will affect the not be the ultimate reason for choos- figures, which is often less than a third Role of family, others on the future of an aspiring high rest of their lives. ing a school. of the full cost to attend the school. Family can play a key role when school athlete. Madison said stu- For Singleton, a scholarship wasn’t “(Former Mounds View baseball All scholarships are not equal, choosing a college. In Nelson’s case, dents can be great athletes and not the primary focus. Rather, player) Sam Hentges was drafted a Madison said. Athletes should do her family wanted her to choose be recruited because of what colleges he was looking for a school that fit his year ago,” Madison said. “The day after the math. what she considered to be the best see on their social media posts. personal taste and met his we won the state baseball champi- “I would say, right now there are fit for her. Nelson also was report- “When you post something on academic needs. onship, I sat down with him, and more opportunities for female athletes edly interested in North Carolina, social media ... would you want your “I chose a school based off of aca- we talked with him and his dad. His to earn scholarships,” he said. Stanford and LSU. grandparents to see it?” Singleton demics,” he said. senior year is when he blew up, com- However, he added: “If you’re a “They were really supportive in that asked. “That’s a filter to put through Bob Madison, the activities mits to the University of Arkansas, male athlete, and you’re going to play they just wanted me to take my time your mind, because if you don’t want director at Mounds View High School (but he) never went there.” football or basketball, odds are you’re and make sure that I was visiting the your grandparents to see it, you prob- in Arden Hills, echoes Singleton, Hentges was drafted in the fourth going to have a larger scholarship than schools that I was looking at, making ably don’t want your future college saying that college decision-making round of the 2014 Major the female athlete who’s sure that everything felt right with the coach to see that as well.” shouldn’t solely be based on scholar- League Baseball Amateur going to be a soccer player other girls that were going to be on the Talent is a major consideration for ship money. Draft by the Cleveland or a swimmer, etc.” team, and the coach,” she said. student athletes, but being conscious “I would tell students, don’t make Indians, according to base- While recruitment Singleton encourages students to about other factors, such as social your decision based on scholarships,” ball-reference.com. In his opens doors, it also con- make an independent decision instead media, academic priorities and per- Madison said, adding that students first two seasons, Hentges tributes to the difficulty of being influenced by the people sonal preference, are also important. should also consider geography, their has played for the Indians in choosing the right around them. “The process, it has a lot of factors, preferred profession and areas of in the Arizona League. college. Often, more than “Take your time, make sure you so it can be pretty difficult,” Nelson interest. Alexis Nelson, an one college makes an offer make the right decision that’s for you said. “But if you know what you are About 2 percent of high school incoming senior at St. Paul to an athlete, creating a and your family,” he said. looking for in college, then that helps athletes receive college scholarships Harding High School, is a Madison stressful situation. “Don’t make the decision based a lot.”
September 2015 21 available to younger females, nor New sportswear allows Muslim girls were there culturally sensitive uni- forms specific to an individual sport. With the help of a more than to play sports, practice religion $120,000 grant from the Minnesota Agriculture Experiment Station that was due just two weeks after Thul Dr. Chelsey Thul, a kinesiology lec- 2008 at the Brian Coyle Center in approached Bye, Bye’s graduate U of M, local girls team up to create turer at the University of Minnesota Minneapolis. students and the G.I.R.L.S. team set and one of the project leaders. But girls in the program still out to design sportswear that would culturally sensitive athletic uniforms While the uniform covers all but the complained about the skirts and the defy today’s conventional norms. girls’ faces and hands, it also allows for uncomfortable, long-sleeved shirts The entire research and design comfort, safety and flexibility while they had to wear, according to Thul, process took about two years. the girls remain physically active. who was a volunteer research con- Instead of teaching in a classroom, When Muna Mohamed was The project was led by Thul, the sultant for the program. Bye taught her students the design in middle school, she had a hard By Lujain University of Minnesota College “We would hear girls talking about process by having them swim and try Al-Khawi of Design, the Tucker Center their clothing as they were trying out multiple sports to observe the time finding a private space to play ThreeSixty basketball. intern for Research on Girls & Women to do physical activity,” she said. situation “with a little bit of a differ- Mohamed, now a senior at in Sport, the Girls Initiative in “Their long skirts made it hard to do ent eye,” she said. Augsburg College in Minneapolis, is Recreation and Leisurely Sports a behind-the-legs dribble… [Then] A relationship between project Muslim and wears the hijab, a head- religion,” Mohamed said. (G.I.R.L.S.) program and Fatimah it hit me, ‘Oh my gosh, what if we leaders and the Somali community cover some Muslim women choose This is no longer a problem for Hussein, who started the G.I.R.L.S. could have the girls create their ideal also developed. Some of the girls’ to wear in observance of their reli- some local East African and Muslim program in 2008. vision of a culturally-sensitive physi- parents even volunteered their time gious teachings. As well as covering girls. The girls, along with leaders of cal activity outfit?’” to help develop the sportswear her hair, she covers her entire body the girls’ Cedar-Riverside program, Creating the sportswear About two years ago, Thul through community feedback events. from men who are not related to her. teamed up with the University of The sportswear project was set in approached Dr. Elizabeth Bye, a pro- Although there was some concern For this reason, Mohamed was Minnesota and community members motion after the idea of girls-only fessor at the College of Design, about that the sportswear would not unable to wear typical sports cloth- to create culturally sensitive athletic- gym time for local East African girls. a plan to design culturally sensitive adhere to Somali culture’s strict ing, which usually shows legs and wear that allows girls to play sports When Hussein witnessed the lack sportswear, and Bye agreed to help guidance on modesty, the overall arms, while playing in public. Nor comfortably while observing their of athletic opportunities for girls with the design. community and parental feedback was she able to find a place without Muslim religious practices. in her community, she founded the “It sounded fun,” Bye recalled. “... was positive, according to Thul. men so that she could wear whatever “We designed a uniform that G.I.R.L.S. program, which promotes This [project] spoke to a lot of my “Parents in the community were she wanted. allowed the girls more freedom in healthy physical activity in a cultur- students.” very supportive,” Thul said. “They “I did not have an opportunity to movement, but of course, allowed ally appropriate environment for Although sportswear tailored were very excited that their girls were get a space where I could feel com- them to remain covered and uphold Muslim and East African girls in the toward Muslim women already leading the way with this project.” fortable and respect my culture and cultural and religious norms,” said Cedar-Riverside community, in had been designed, not much was After the prototypes were assembled, parents and some local community members sewed the final products in local mosques. “You could not believe the dif- ference it made,” Bye said about the finished products. To unveil the sportswear to the community, a fashion show was held in the spring at the Brian Coyle Center. G.I.R.L.S. participants displayed two different outfits: Some wore a black and blue striped sleeved physical outfit, which is to be used
arren B ruland for any sport, and others showed off a red basketball uniform. When asked about the outcome of the project, Mohamed , also a G.I.R.L.S. coach, said, “It’s about time!” T hree S ixty Journalism L u j ain A l- K hawi/ Photo c ourtesy of W Looking toward the future At a fashion show this spring, a pair of G.I.R.L.S. participants model the new culturally Dr. Elizabeth Bye from the University of Minnesota’s College of One big surprise during the project sensitive athleticwear. Design goes through some of the prototypes designed by the was the announcement that the girls G.I.R.L.S. participants in her office in July. sportswear continued on page 33
22 threesixtyjournalism.org Those words and my indiffer- teams. interaction and communication that ence were keeping me from social Looking back, we might have created a stronger bond. My life as a gamer seemed a little aggressive, or even These bonds changed my mono- activities. They painfully and slowly drained my life. My confidence was violent, but it was all for the love of chrome life to a vibrant fluorescent I can feel my sweat-encased basically a game of “Where’s Waldo?” the game. Gaming brought us closer one. They were the foundation of my fingers stick to the keys. The By Destiny Yang I’d constantly have to look for it, find together as a family. transformation. St. Paul Harding rapid pounding of my heart personal it, hold onto it and find it again with A good friend of mine introduced After I started gaming, I became essay Senior High resounds in my head. I hear School the flip of a new page. me to League of Legends (LOL), a more confident in myself and began the powerful boom of the My siblings and I were not as close multiplayer online battle arena com- to enjoy school again. My commu- woman’s voice as we land the as I wished we were. My mother puter game created by Riot Games. nication skills with other students winning hit, “Victory!” Sometimes I’d play soccer for my remarried when I was 14, and my I discovered a large portion of my started to improve. I made friends Gaming is my life. My world. school team, the Community School step-brothers, siblings and I found it eighth-grade class that was part of outside of the LOL community. I My being. of Excellence Stars, otherwise known hard to relate to each other. the LOL community. even lost all the weight I gained in the Without it, I’d probably go back as the CSE Stars. We actually did quite That is, until I started to play Black The day I started playing LOL, past year. I overdosed on confidence to doing nothing but listening to well, winning 10 of 10 games, but I Ops II on PlayStation 3. BO2 is a that community embraced me. I and found a close-knit community. I my mother’s loud, pitchy lectures. wasn’t devoted because I was lazy. first-person shooter game, created by made friends I could trust, and they never wanted to stop gaming. Gaming has opened me up to the In the end, school became irrel- Treyarch in 2012. My step-brothers actually trusted me, too. Friends that My mother often lectured me world. It has helped me find a com- evant to me. So did people. I didn’t and siblings were always playing included me in their “clique,” friends saying,“Don’t play so many games; it’s munity of people to connect with. care about my grades, my friends or BO2, but I never glanced at it. I could talk to over the microphone bad for you,” or “Stop playing games Gaming has brought me into a even what my family thought of me. But on an uneventful Friday, I while in-game, friends who would and cook something. You’re older world where everyone supports each I was on the path toward depres- decided to give BO2 a chance, just support me in times of need. now and need to learn.” other, most of the time, and can sion and seclusion, and yet, I still because my brothers seemed to enjoy We played LOL, went out to eat Of course, I would get angry at share experiences. A world where did not care. it so much. After I started playing ice cream, played poker, competed in her for belittling my world, but then everyone is connected. Eventually I began to drastically and really immersed myself in the art sports – and we still do to this day. I would remember who I was before Before, I’d get home from school, gain weight, jumping to 110 pounds of BO2, my siblings and I started to It also brought me closer to I started gaming. It was a hard time watch Anime on the computer, eat, from 93 pounds within a year. People interact and became more comfort- members of my family that were part in my life. sleep and repeat. started to notice, specifically some able with each other. We could argue of the LOL community, such as my Some people disconnect them- My mother used to say to me, “Get of the young boys, or as I used to call without ever actually getting angry. brother, Dexter, and my four uncles, selves from life, and all they need is off the computer before your eyes them, “wild beasts.” They would call We would joke about how bad Toua, Kongh, Kaiser and Chai. We something to reconnect them. For go blind,” which was quite the jinx, me “fat” in Hmong or “double chin” each other’s skills were while also then had something in common me, that reconnection was gaming, because I ended up getting glasses. in English. banding together to fight other to talk about, which led to more and I’m grateful for that.
to the U.S. poor, looking for ways to out, “Mom, stop hitting your head how emotions are not always spoken, More than helping give us kids better lives, but they still against the wall!” but can be seen through actions. rely on us for help. I listened closely as I sunk into the Nobody was in the house when I Eventually, we finished all the yard darkness of my room. I heard my woke up. I went into the basement with cleaning work. After washing up, I crept into mom sobbing and yelling at my older and looked where my mom hit the the kitchen, where my mom was brother, Tommy, with a shaky voice. wall. Walking to my computer, I cooking dinner. “Don’t you understand what we sat in my chair, then hit the power The broom brushed the “Do you need any help now?” I went through to get here? We’ve button. I looked at the dust on my floor of the kitchen as my By Andy Moua ask. been trying to help you, but you black monitor, recalling my mother’s St. Paul Harding mom sighed. personal “No. Go do something,” she won’t focus on school. You have bad words to Tommy. essay Senior High “Mom, do you need help School replies. grades because you only focus on “I could surprise my mom by with anything?” I ask. I felt disappointed because I tennis and you haven’t thought about doing the housework,” I thought to “No,” she responds in Hmong. couldn’t help her like I helped my your future. It’s already your senior myself. I felt an urgency to clean the “Go help your dad outside.” I was halfway done with the front dad. Walking to my room, I looked year, how are you going to face house for her. Hearing what she was She doesn’t always reject my help, yard, my dad said, “Let’s empty the to see if there was anything I could graduation?” going through, I felt I could only help so it makes me wonder what she’s grass into the bag before you keep do for her. Unsure of what to do, I Tommy was speechless. Tears by cleaning. I didn’t think of myself thinking. going. Help me put some of the grabbed my backpack and tossed it filled my eyes as I curled up into a as a boy voluntarily doing what’s I walked out the door slowly, branches into the bag, too.” onto my bed. After closing the door, ball of blankets. Shutting everything often seen as girls’ work – but a son making sure she didn’t need any I could tell my dad appreciated my I crawled onto my bed and sank into out, I closed my eyes and fell back trying to help his parents. help. Before I knew it, I was outside. help. It was as if I took a load off his my blankets. Before I knew it, I fell asleep. Instantly, I shut off my computer My dad dragged out the lawn mower shoulders. In fact, his shoulders loos- asleep. I was frustrated with Tommy and ran to the laundry room, throw- and told me, “Start mowing the lawn. ened when I took the hard work. I woke up, then looked at my while laying in the dark ... helpless. ing all our dirty clothes into the I’ll pick up all the fallen branches.” My family and many others look phone. It was around 10 p.m. I lay He couldn’t see that we came from washer. I pulled out the vacuum and Quickly, I got to the grass. Going like average families that live in St. in my bed, gazing into the black sky a poor family that ran for our lives. started cleaning. backward and forward with the Paul. It’s hard to notice that our par- through my window. This was the first time that I heard Seeing how everything became lawnmower, I watched as the grass ents and grandparents are refugees Bang bang bang! my mom break down because of my cleaner made me think of what my shortened under every step. When who fled from Thailand. They came My oldest brother, Ricky, cried brother. This experience taught me moua continued on page 34
September 2015 23 the world until suddenly, I got sick, I swam across Rush Lake twice in this time with a bad sinus infection, preparation for the 500-yard race. Becoming resilient, which meant time off from swim- Just when I thought I was ming. It made me slower. I struggled problem-free going into my junior upon return, appearing sluggish and year, I was forced to take yet another in and out of the pool unprepared. My mentality was in the detour. I was sidelined for the first wrong place: I just wanted the season week of the season to recover after It was cold. Freezing Cold. Like Raynaud’s disease, a condition where to end. When the conference meet having a cyst removed. But I eventu- the sub-zero temperatures of By Aaron Young my blood flows to my heart in order arrived, I didn’t make the cut. ally got a break. I got back into the Antarctica. St. Paul Johnson to keep it warm, leaving the rest It hurt. But I knew I had to stay pool, feeling unstoppable on my own personal I heard my brain warning: essay High School empty-handed. The aftermath was for taper, a month-long period to turf. I would race others in the pool, “This is an emergency, it’s overwhelming, and I couldn’t handle prepare for the conference meet, and trying to beat them. time for the standard protocol.” the situation. I was devastated. prove myself to everyone. Practice It was my time. Suddenly, I felt my blood racing to pool. I did. I walked in embarrass- I spent the rest of the year off the would reach an extreme. I swam I felt like myself. I wasn’t getting my heart, finding a place to settle. I ment to the bench, disappointed I swim team to figure things out. 5,000 yards at a rigorous pace every- out of the pool anymore because of saw in my hands the transformation: couldn’t perform. I sat with my head One year later, I was determined day. I remember after practice my the pain, rather I fought against it, wrinkled purple hands with veins in my hands, peeking in agony as my to try again as a sophomore. My dad coach telling me he was impressed. pushing even harder to reach the like Freddy Krueger’s. My muscles teammates swam. bought me swimming gloves, a cap, The recognition motivated me to other end. I was becoming a good weakened, leaving me with no cir- I decided to clean up and change and a jacket to keep me warm. My come back and prove my worth. I swimmer and teammate. A man culation. Shock came over me. The before meeting my parents. I times improved for both freestyle also found it beneficial that I could who overcame whatever got in his burning sensation was excruciating, informed my dad about the incident, and breaststroke events by working improve on my conditioning and way. I was getting faster, dropping like a wildfire. and scheduled a doctor’s appoint- hard and learning from teammates endurance. times left and right. I learned to pace My captain was flustered, inform- ment to get answers. about technique. I finally had momentum. During myself and stay consistent. I even ing my coach I should get out of the The next day I was told I had It seemed like I was on top of the offseason, I continued to swim. young continued on page 34
“It’s time to board the plane, Razeqa,” said my uncle, Awel. Grandmother is a As I walked to the plane, I did not look back. I sat down in my seat and tears filled my eyes. I realized I friend, role model would not see my grandmother for a long time. My 69-year-old grandmother, My parents, Munira and Jemal, Jamila, is part parent, teacher By Razeqa Aliyi came to America because they and best friend. personal St. Paul Central wanted to give us the opportunity Most of all, my grand- essay High School to get an education. But, life in mother is a role model to me, Minnesota brought its own chal- because she taught me everything I lenges. I missed my grandmother. need to know to become successful When my parents filled out the Her sense of humor always made in life. paperwork, they did not yet know me feel comfortable. Comfort was She is a woman who taught me if I would be a boy or a girl, so I was anything but what I was feeling. I how to respect my family and other not on the application. But instead, did not speak English nor did I know people around me while growing up they put my siblings’ names on the anyone in school. The language in Ethiopia. For example, she told paperwork. Because of this, I was barrier, change of surroundings and me to respect elders and treat people not able to travel and stayed behind classroom settings were difficult to how they want to be treated. She with my grandmother. My parents, grasp. taught me how to speak Amharic sisters and brother arrived in the Slowly, things started to get better. and inspired me to go to school United States in 2005. I learned how to speak English at because of the opportunity she did Later, when my father trav- school. And my brother, Nuradin, not have when she was younger. eled back to Ethiopia and told my who had already been in Minnesota Photo submitted My grandmother was married at grandmother that it was time for me for six years, taught me new vocabu- ThreeSixty journalist Razeqa Aliyi (right) as a younger child with her grandmother. the age of 16 and did not complete to come to the United States, I was lary words. In 2012, I felt like I had to her education. She wanted her chil- excited about the prospect of seeing accept the fact that Minnesota was dren to go to school, but they could new things. But I also realized that I going to be my home. the only family I had. was all because of her. not because they had to help out would be leaving my grandmother, Another thing I learned from my My grandmother lives in Ethiopia I talk to my grandmother on the with chores in the house. who raised me for 11 years. grandmother is that family is impor- with my aunt and cousin. My goal phone every other weekend, and so When my mother was pregnant When it was time to board the tant and always sticks together. After is to visit her when I am in college, do my siblings. Hearing her voice with me, my parents applied for a plane, Jamila asked, “Do you have to being here for five years, I realized to let her know that my respecting reminds of the good times we’ve visa to travel to the United States. go?” I held back tears. I depended on her because she was elders and being successful in life shared.
24 threesixtyjournalism.org possible way for her to be able to Learning from my sustain herself and her family, and Loving myself achieve her wish of leading a class- room of kids. “We want ‘Thunder Thighs’ mother’s sacrifice What she doesn’t know is that her on our team,” shouted a By Nesani Sabal dream of teaching did come true. classmate. personal essay DeLaSalle There she was, the woman By Melisa She’s the greatest teacher I know. All the girls in gym class High School who carried me in her womb Robles Olivar And I have learned a lot from her. darted their eyes toward me. with every inch and every personal Minneapolis She’s hardworking. She is always I had no words. And while most essay muscle of her body for nine Southwest High grateful for her children and for laughed, I ran to the bathroom. I thought that because so many teens School straight months, exasperated having a job. And she never gave up I didn’t cry. I was mad. talked about it, the magazine would on the couch next to my 4-year-old when things got tough. I never showed this anger in front be relatable. I, again, saw the same sister. have in Mexico. That woman, who’s resting on of others, but it did affect me. Why image. It didn’t occur to me until I was My mom could have been a the couch, as tired as she is, may wouldn’t it? I was human. The pretty girls in the magazines 14 years old that my mom had her schoolteacher. But she didn’t choose not have become a schoolteacher, When I got in the comfort of looked so happy, while I was the own goals to achieve within her life- that path. She couldn’t. Under the but the choices she did make have my room, I looked in the mirror complete opposite. time. I had viewed her only as the circumstances in Mexico, and with allowed me the opportunity to constantly. Staring at my reflection, However, I remember the exact person whose life revolved around the lack of resources, there was no pursue my dreams. I became unhappy. I wasn’t just day I broke out of my shell. This making sure her children’s dreams self-conscious about my large thighs confidence literally grew over night. I came true. I never saw her as an yet, but my fat lips, giant nose and woke up super happy. I went straight individual who had dreams of her Nicki Minaj-like butt were some of to my mirror and smiled. I smiled own. It was something I was going the other things I started to examine because I was truly proud. I finally to find out for myself. closer than ever. It would be years of had the courage to express myself Even after leaving Mexico for torture before I learned how to feel through my clothes. I felt comfort- America, she probably never comfortable in my own skin again. able. I wore shorts to ValleyFair. imagined that she would have to The development of my poor They were a pair of pink denim sacrifice her aspiration of becoming body image started in eighth grade. I shorts with sparkles, that I hid a schoolteacher to work a minimum began to watch “90210” and “Gossip (Target brand, but I loved them.). wage job, wake up at 3 a.m. for work Girl.” Both of these shows showed and not return home until the late predominantly rich, white teenag- afternoon. ers. One of the main characters in The pretty girls in She was stuck in an endless rou- “90210” had the body that I wanted. tine: Work, sleep, eat, repeat. She was a beautiful, white girl with the magazines looked One late afternoon, I arrived blonde hair and big, blue eyes. She home from school. The apartment was petite with a thigh gap. so happy, while I was the was quiet, enough to only hear In “Gossip Girl,” one of the main the voices of the actors in the soap actresses also was white, blonde and complete opposite. opera on TV. I stood in the door- thin. Her thighs didn’t move when way, observing the place I called she walked and ran. Mine did. And I home, but my eyes firmly narrowed thought there was something wrong My friends didn’t even care about onto her. with that. my thighs. They were drawn to my I noticed her crinkled hands and Social media didn’t help the situ- trendy shorts. I felt so free, not only long, mahogany arms bent with ation. I created a Tumblr in search because no one said anything, but exhaustion, lying unevenly together of other body types. I didn’t see any. because I felt a lot happier. on the couch. I saw the same cookie-cutter body: Spoken word also was a great I kept looking at her, observing white, thin, blonde girl. I noticed discovery. her, remembering what she would many had huge blue eyes with lots of “Thick thighs, big nose and juicy always tell me. mascara. lips. All the things ‘they’ teach you to “You don’t want to be working The sad thing is that most of these hate, I love,” wrote a poet. in these unskilled jobs. These jobs images were of younger girls. They I wrote this line everywhere. aren’t for you, they won’t get you as all looked like clones. I was so tired Notebooks. Pencil cases. I got in far in life as you want.” of not seeing anybody that reflected trouble a couple times for writing This has always stayed in the back my body type or race. I couldn’t it on a desk. That line made me feel of my mind. relate. It saddened me more and comfortable in my own skin. Even She wanted me to have the life more. my “thunder thighs” were growing she could have had, but even better. With this desperate search, I on me.
For her, this “land of the free” gave Photo submitted ended up turning to magazines. I felt all the freedom I was looking my siblings and me the potential Melisa Robles Olivar, left, at age 6 with her mother at the Mall of America in “Seventeen” was the first teen maga- for, in one line. Who knew it would to succeed far more than we would Bloomington. zine I picked up. And I was shocked. only take one line?
September 2015 25 how many volunteers were bustling By the end of the night, much like those The act of helping around. A dozen were cleaning and arranging the many wooden I served, I felt refreshed, refilled and much more picnic-style tables in the large I lurched forward in the center area into seven rows of six willing to face the next day. backseat of my mom’s green By Aidan Berg tables. Another dozen people were Minneapolis minivan, restrained only by over by three large serving tables, personal Southwest High my seatbelt, so she could see essay School laying out bowls and platters of I quickly noticed something – years later. He put his left hand on me in her peripheral vision homemade comfort food, fruits I was so busy working, I couldn’t my shoulder and extended his right while driving. and vegetables. A lot of healthy think about pouting or what I could for me to shake. “Ugh, why do I have to do this?” I some budding sociopath; I was food, to be expected. Being an be doing with this valuable time. “Thank you,” he said, and walked asked her. just self-centered, like many kids 11-year-old, I noted the absence of Then something important hap- past me into the bathroom. “You need to learn the impor- are. I always fought with my older desserts at the table. It didn’t help pened, something that shaped the For the rest of the evening I didn’t tance of helping others, not just for brother for “control” of the televi- my mood. person I’ve become. think about how I could be playing them, but for yourself,” she muttered sion, argued over who deserved the A middle-aged blonde woman I had taken a bathroom break, video games or watching basket- through gritted teeth. last cookie, and when I didn’t win an with a clipboard approached us, making sure to wash my hands ball in the warmth of my house. Her tone had gained more than argument, I would call for one of my asked for our names, told us our thoroughly before returning. As I Each time someone walked past its fair share of exasperation from parents to come resolve the dispute jobs and sent us off. As I met the exited, I bumped into one of the me I wondered what they had gone my hours of groaning. Ever since she (meaning agree with me). adults I would be working with, homeless men. He was African- through, what their story was. told me that cold Saturday morning I pretended to empathize with pretending to care, all I could think American, about 60 years old. His By the end of the night, much in November that our family was people as long as it didn’t take about was how badly I didn’t want to face appeared to be lined from like those I served, I felt refreshed, volunteering to prepare food for the time or effort from me. It was an be there. How I didn’t want to know worry and sadness. His hair was the refilled and much more willing homeless at a program called Loaves act, a way of being seen as a caring any of them. I was having a horrible type of gray-white reminiscent of to face the next day. I hadn’t just & Fishes later that night, my day had person without having to do the time. a typical freezing, overcast winter helped those people, I had discov- consisted of complaining, pouting work that goes with it. At the time, Shortly after that, we heard an day in Minnesota. He was very tall, ered how doing things for others and half-baked excuses to try to get I didn’t have enough perspective to announcement: the homeless were 6-foot-5 or so, and really skinny. His was good for my well-being. My out of going. I spasmed in my seat- understand looking out for other coming in. The moment I had been black jacket vest hung off his body encounter with that tall, gray- belt, sat back and crossed my arms people is important. Acting upon dreading all day had arrived. People in a way that told me it probably fit ing man changed me forever, and tightly, like all kids do when they empathy is a necessary behavior of of all ages and races began filing him well many missed meals ago. definitely for the better. Now when don’t get their way. a healthy person. I didn’t know this into the room, slowly making their He looked down at me, recogniz- a classmate asks me about home- Through my 11 years of life when I was 11, but I was about to way toward the serving table. I ing me from the serving line. He work, or I see someone struggling I had always considered what I find out. maintained my friendly face as they smiled at me, and the relief and with something, I know I have to do wanted first and thought about Upon arriving at Loaves & approached and I began scooping thankfulness his big, dark eyes whatever I can to help. others second. It’s not like I was Fishes, I was surprised to see just out food. projected have stayed with me five It’s not an act anymore.
in Jordan, they were surprised and What surprised me was that learning Spanish shocked about me learning Spanish as Discovering the a second language, but found it funny opened my eyes to a whole new world of opportunities. and exciting. My uncles and aunts power of language wanted me to stay on the phone for hours speaking Spanish, and they still as I introduced myself to Spanish- skills. I’m even interested in learning do, especially, my uncle Hassan. speaking people. Hmong. I nervously stepped “Oh that is amazing, you should “¡Tu sabe Español, qué bueno!” I often serve as an interpreter, through the classroom door- By Bayan teach me Spanish, Bayan, so we will said people who were positively helping teachers better communi- Algazi way with my father trailing personal be the only ones in the family who surprised about my ability. cate with new English Language essay St. Paul Harding behind me. High School speak Spanish and start a business,” My school was very diverse, and Learners, or ELL students, from I was 11 years old when I said my uncle. learning English and Spanish helped Latin American countries. attended school for the first time in In Miami, I picked up Spanish me meet people from many different “You speak Spanish very well, and America. My father, Mohammed, else was foreign. in three years, and now I’m able to cultures. I think you should study languages explained to the teacher that we “¿Hola, cómo estás?” the teacher read and write fluently. I remember In 2013, when I was 14 years old, in college,” my father always said just moved from the middle eastern and students asked me. I couldn’t when I used to go shopping with my my family moved to Minnesota encouragingly. country of Jordan to Florida and that answer. I listened to their language mother, Sumaya, I had to translate to receive an even more diverse I plan to major in communica- I did not understand English. I spoke and thought it was English. Finally, what the cashier was trying to say. education. I started as a freshman at tions and journalism in college. Arabic. I realized it wasn’t. My family and What surprised me was that Harding Senior High School on St. And I want to empower people to I understood when my teacher relatives were expecting me to learn learning Spanish opened my eyes to Paul’s east side. I quickly discovered feel confident about sharing their welcomed me and introduced me to English in school. When I spoke on a whole new world of opportunities. our new environment was the best stories and viewpoints in their native my new classmates. But everything the phone with my relatives back “Hola, mi nombre es Bayan,” I said place to perfect my English language languages.
26 threesixtyjournalism.org sports, a friendly “how about those York!” Buck said as New York Giants excitement for the Giants as their Finding a voice Twins?” talk. receiver Plaxico Burress caught a bench stormed the field, showering When I was younger, I would have beautiful pass in the corner of the in the confetti rain. answered with an “oh” or an “um,” endzone. The sideline erupted. The The season was over, but I wanted through sports but I was different back then. Now fans at the stadium were full of either to relive that, like a captivated reader I am a sports fan, and I can carry a pure joy or complete heartbreak, and left frustrated by a cliffhanger. By conversation about sports and other my mom and dad couldn’t have been the time the next football season “What size are your shoes?” things. But there was a time when I happier. rolled around, I already knew some the man asked. By Zekriah was much less comfortable talking to That was the moment I wanted of the best players on the Vikings “What?” I turned to see the personal Chaudhry people. everything to do with sports. team: Percy Harvin, Jasper Brinkley, essay only person waiting at the Home school The change started when I was 7. I My mom and dad, who were not Adrian Peterson and Brett Favre. bus stop. was at home with my parents, listen- Giants fans, cheered for the under- And I wasn’t done there. “Your shoes,” he said, gesturing at ing to announcer Joe Buck call the dog to blemish the then-perfect Before, football had been the only my feet. of the opening scene in “Forrest Super Bowl XLII broadcast on TV. record of the undefeated New sport I followed, but I was ecstatic “Eleven,” I answered. Gump.” My parents’ excitement was rubbing England Patriots. when my dad told me he was bring- “My son has shoes like that,” he “Does he play basketball?” I asked. off on me. I know the underdog mentality ing me to a Twins game. told me. “His shoes are size 17s.” The man nodded. After a few “That’s right, run out of bounds! made the Giants special to me at I knew the rules of baseball, but The conversation was weird but more words, the exchange somehow Stop the clock,” my dad said eagerly. the time, and now as a Vikings fan, Joe Mauer was the only player I interesting. It was a comic reminder turned to a chat about Minnesota And then, “Touchdown, New I still love it. I couldn’t contain my Chaudhry continued on page 34
of wild places. Conserve School Ready for my life was a great fit for me because of its sustainability-centered curriculum and its focus on environmental after high school stewardship. It wasn’t hard to be able to thrive there. However, at Conserve, I faced About two years ago, I was obstacles, too. Throughout the dorm-room shopping. By Maya semester, I ran into more trouble I was moving out of the house for Shelton-Davies than I thought I would in manag- the fall semester. ThreeSixty intern ing my time and doing homework. Saying goodbye to my parents. It’s such a cliche to say that, but it Meeting my new roommate. wouldn’t be a cliche if it weren’t true. Don’t be mistaken – I’m not long boarding school way up north Living on more than 1,200 acres describing my experience going to in Land O’ Lakes, Wisconsin. As far in one of the most beautiful places college. I won’t do that until this fall. as I know, the unincorporated town I’ve ever been, with 60 people who I Photo submitted These are all things I experienced near the border of Michigan’s Upper grew really close with – some more Maya Shelton-Davies during her semester at Conserve School in 2013. while still in high school. Peninsula has nothing to do with than others – came with its obvious When it came to preparing for life the butter company. What Conserve distractions. I mean, who in their working. of the sustainability work that will after high school, I did some regular does do, though, is bring 60 new stu- right mind would sit and write a Also, there will definitely be more come from this opportunity. things most people say are important dents from all over the country to its paper when they have the option of responsibility in college than at Of course, I won’t be the only one to do before graduating. I played beautiful campus each semester to spending the evening kayaking with Conserve. I know that. But because making a transition this fall. My par- basketball and soccer, I quit basket- enjoy and learn about conservation, friends, or staying out to see the of my experience, the new-found ents will no longer have me around ball and soccer to join the mock trial ecology and sustainability. Aurora Borealis? independence that some students the house. The good news is, they’ve team, I joked around, and I stuck I was in the school’s seventh I know college will come with its feel won’t come as a shock to me. already been through this. with things I was passionate about. semester as a junior in 2013, and this fair share of distractions as well. As Transitioning into college feels Two years ago, they were right I also did a couple more unortho- fall, the students in semester No. 11 a freshman this fall at the University natural. there with me, going dorm-room dox things to better set myself up for will arrive at Conserve. It makes me of St. Thomas, I’ll have everything Leaving home for a semester also shopping and helping me move in the future. For instance, I’ve spent feel kind of old, even though only the Twin Cities offers nearby, as well helped me come into my own. Not before saying goodbye. the past five years reporting for two years have passed since I first as new friends who may draw me only did I build substantially on my My mom cried for a couple of ThreeSixty Journalism and learning arrived on campus. Looking back, if away from doing what I need to do. confidence, but also I built on my weeks after I flew the coop. But now, more about journalism as a future there’s one thing I can say, it’s that This time around, though, I feel more independence. Now, I truly feel pre- she’s ready. As I prepare to leave career path. I left that place as a better, more comfortable going into it. I have pared to live away from home again. again, she says it’s a lot easier to let However, what has prepared me adventurous person. a better idea of how to prioritize Also, it’s because of Conserve me go having already gone through it most for college, and life in general, Even though I feel journalism is everything I want to do while stay- School that I’ll be a part of UST’s once before. was the four months I spent away from my true calling, I always have been ing on top of schoolwork, reporting Environmental Sustainability Beginning this newer, bigger chap- home in 2013 at Conserve School. a passionate advocate for environ- for TommieMedia (the university’s Learning Living Community this ter in life, I can honestly say that I’m Conserve School is a semester- mental-friendliness and conservation student-produced news website) and school year. I’m truly excited for all ready, too.
September 2015 27 Turning my disappointment into a high note
It felt as if bandits had banned By Michael chair in the world, but knowing I honors band. They were excelling These realizations made my band me from lead clarinetist in my Stiefel Alperin could have done better and being and somewhat advancing, and I was experiences more pleasurable. I high school band ensemble. personal St. Paul Central irritated about it made it worse. stuck in the same place. At the time could play along with all the odd I hadn’t expected it, essay Senior High This feeling didn’t give me a good I thought the split was proof of their stuff that had evolved from the knee because I thought I had done School attitude toward the kid in the imme- skill level, but slowly but surely, it annoyance. I could joke back with enough to deserve this honor. Not diate chair above me. He used my made me realize the value of team- the person in the second chair and receiving first chair, or even second my name at the top of my sections irritation to his advantage. work and determination. it didn’t bother me or remind me I chair, was a downer, but it wasn’t all list next to the wooden double “Oh, I thought that was my knee.” Acknowledging that I had not was less skilled. “I could be a better that it seemed. doors in the band hallway. The list This was a daily sarcastic, childish practiced and taken lessons like they team player, as well as a better leader, I had been playing clarinet since was the first thing I saw when I insert of his after placing his hand had, I therefore was not up to their for the last part of the year, even if I the fourth grade, and then switched got to the room. The suspense was on my knee. This badgering brought caliber of skill. So, I began taking wasn’t first chair.” to bass clarinet for ninth grade. nerve-wracking. me to a lower place because it felt lessons and gained new playing I learned about teamwork from When I finally got into the advanced Third chair again. What a downer. like a daily reminder of my lower techniques, improving my skills. I my experiences in band. I learned band, I was third chair behind I felt there was some sort of skill level. I could usually shake off was determined to practice, which to live with any decision, and use a two seniors, and I felt destined mistake. Maybe there was an error weird actions like this and move resulted in immediate improvement. non-optimal decision as a chance to become first chair after they and the list had gotten mixed up. I on. Unfortunately, I allowed this to I also discovered being a lower to improve my skills. I also learned graduated. I practiced lightly, and expected it would be fixed, but after bother me, encouraging his actions. chair gave me more freedom to to have thick skin when people try when the time came to audition, I that day I knew it was no mistake. It piled on slowly and my self-esteem practice new skills in class. I found to exploit my irritations. Even if the felt ready. Even though I stumbled It felt like a downgrade, and it was hurt. we could work off each other, and current situation seems bad, there is through a few mistakes on sight would take a push of teamwork to lift Making things worse, the band I learned the importance of team- always room for improvement. reading and scales, my hopes were my spirits back up. This was the year was split and the higher chairs played work. I could give support when the It might not be immediate, but the still high. I expected to get first chair, to beat with other high chairs in concert sophomores were having trouble in smallest thing might make the whole I felt pretty good the next few the less experienced and to lead the band, while I was downgraded tem- a piece and maybe accel at it in the experience worthwhile. days and had no doubt I would see section. Third chair is not the worst porarily to fourth chair in a city-wide process.
girls. My father always tells me, My journey “All I want for you is that you are happy.” I always respond the same way. to happiness “But dad, I don’t know how to be happy.” By this time I usually started I stare into the antique body- By Talia crying. length mirror mounted on the Bradley Disappointing him was never my wall in the bathroom. personal Minneapolis intention, but that is exactly what essay I examine the “flaws” I see Roosevelt happens. He turns his back, rolls High School in my seventh-grade self as I his eyes, sighs, and then he is rather try to curl my pin-straight hair so hostile. But I can’t blame him. He is that I fit in with the popular girls. ... Happiness will come doing everything he can do for me, I put on a mask of makeup, a short as is my mother. black skirt and an atrocious hot pink with loving yourself. My sweet, emotional and rather crop top, trying to conform. introverted self feels horrible. My When looking for friends during – a skinny, blonde girl with a dream emotions go wild. I do not know my sixth-grade year, the popular figure and bright blue eyes that every whether I should throw a book Photo c ourtesy of Claire Kj ome girls stood out to me. I started talk- guy falls for. in anger, or throw myself on my Talia Bradley at Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis, a location she describes as “a ing with them, and pretty soon I was We all look so uncomfortable and memory foam bed and cry. special place where I have grown into the person I am today.” one of them. Allowing myself to fall out of place. I always wonder why I My parents have no idea what to into that situation became a learning can’t be as happy as our “queen bee.” do with their desperately unhappy “How is this going to work?” I ask psychologist, after being hypercriti- experience for me. This unanswered question is my and helpless daughter, so they send myself. “I know this is never going to cal. She puts me through exercises When I walk into school, I am not constant struggle. me to therapy. help. I am not crazy!” that show me my self-worth, and she smiling, despite the fact that I am Unhappiness and constant high I thought trapping me in a room Admitting that I was wrong was always tells me I am a strong, young with the popular girls. In fact, none anxiety follow me everywhere I go. that smelled like old library books hard, but I had to do it. Therapy helps. girl. Through this experience I learn of us seem to be truly happy. We I have no idea why I am not happy, with an old gray-haired woman was I find myself astonished by the that the constant exclusion and overly all just trail behind our queen bee even though I am with the popular stupid. things I am telling Kirsten, the child Bradley continued on page 34
28 threesixtyjournalism.org 604 pages of the Quran, memorized
At 4 a.m., most teenagers are usually sleeping in their By Asha Hurreh cozy beds. I was 12 and wide personal STEP Academy awake. essay Memorizing the Quran. Even when my teacher doubted me, even when I doubted myself, I guilty because he came before I did it. I memorized all 604 pages of could finish the memorization. My the holy text. dad said he was happy I already had I was born and raised in finished half of it, but knew I could Minneapolis. But when I was 8, do the rest if I put more work into it. my mom, siblings and I moved to Just hearing someone believe in me Photo submitted Renelle Mensah poses for a photo last June in Liberia. Yemen, while my dad stayed behind was a great feeling. So I promised to provide for our family. He visited myself that I wouldn’t let my dad us a few times in Yemen, but didn’t down. 16 – bargaining and selling goods on live with us. We made the move From that day on, I started waking Finding myself in the streets and in the markets to buy because we wanted to live in an Arab up at 4 a.m. to memorize the Quran. clothing or their next meal. They community, and also because my I would break down the page into would shout, “$10, Ma! $5, Ma!” mother was born in Yemen. smaller portions and then try to read a foreign country They were eager to sell the shirts Our time there didn’t last long. it. I listened to the Quran on my iPad off their backs if that entailed an After two years, war broke out, and three times in a row to make sure income. With my stylish Nikes and we traveled to Somalia. My mom I was pronouncing it right. Then Destination: polished nails, I quickly realized believed if I was serious about I would repeat it, again and again, Liberia, West Africa. By Renelle that I was their equivalent of the “1 memorizing the Quran, it would be until I memorized every word. Travel distance: personal Mensah percent.” easier to do so being immersed in a Two pages took approximately 7,690 miles. essay Breck School As my trip progressed, I began to Muslim community. And that’s when an hour-and-a-half to memorize. Mission accomplished. notice the severe wealth difference my journey to do what many prob- Afterward, I would go back to sleep. We arrived at Roberts between the native population and ably think is impossible started. But if it was a school day, I would International Airport around importantly, she took me to the myself, despite the fact that we were The Quran is 604 pages. It’s also just get up and get ready for school. 11 p.m. After getting through house she grew up in, the house she both Liberian. I slept in cushiony in Arabic, which I learned a little At the beginning of March, when customs, hailing a taxi and dealing truly calls home. beds, while others lived in huts of while I was in Yemen. Muslims I had only a fifth of the Quran left, with stolen luggage, we – including Through reliving my mother’s outside the gates of my residence. memorize the Quran, a recom- my mom broke the news to us that my mother, aunt, cousin and I – left childhood, I realized how her youth I wore brand name shoes, while mended practice, because it is the our passports were about to expire, the airport around midnight. experience vastly differs from a others traveled barefoot. Some guideline of our beliefs. I set a goal so we were heading back to America With that, my month-long stay in majority of the children who are walked to their destination, while to finish the Quran before I left soon. I was determined to finish; I Liberia, the homeland of my entire living in Liberia today. My mother I traveled in a truck with a towing Somalia. couldn’t go back to my dad without family, began. grew up with movie theaters, shop- capacity of up to 10,500 pounds. I started the Quran when I was finishing. He sacrificed so much just The next morning we set out ping malls and private education. I quickly developed a deep appre- 10 years old, about a week after we so I could memorize the Quran. to travel the cities and landmarks Today, many Liberian children ciation for my life that I had never arrived at Dar-Al-Quran, a special I told my teacher I was return- that my parents had grown up have never seen a movie, wear their known before. school that teaches only Quran. ing to the U.S. soon and wanted to around. With our driver navigat- siblings’ old clothing and do not I also discovered a sense of civic Students who are beginners form finish. He said I could do it, I just ing the potholes and ditches, attend school. This is largely due to duty to improve the lives of the less a circle and read it out loud. But as need to try harder. my mother recounted the vast an intense civil war that forced the fortunate in my own community. I you get older, you grow out of that Later that night, I decided to memories and stories attached to country to rebuild from scratch. actively strive to achieve this goal routine, and the teacher expects you stop going to regular school for that the various buildings and people we I also realized how my life vastly through social awareness, volunteer to study and pass without assistance. last two months, so I could attend encountered. differs from many of the native work and community service. After three years in Africa, I was Dar-Al-Quran in the morning and She showed me the strict, teenagers. After high school, I plan to carry able to memorize only half of the afternoon. This was difficult for Catholic school she attended, where As I slouched in the luxury truck out my goal through a career that Quran. me because I was only two months the nuns hit your knuckles with with the air conditioning rolling involves advocacy and humanitari- During the summer of 2013, my into the second semester and I was a ruler if you were disrespectful. across my face, I saw many sun- anism. Through these continuous dad came over for a visit. It was the going to be tested on everything, She took me to the Atlantic Ocean, beaten children laboring for every and focused efforts, I will leave the first time I saw him in three years. which meant a lot of studying on the where she constantly played on the cent they made. I saw teenagers – world just a little better than how I I was happy to see him, but I felt Hurreh continued on page 34 beach for hours with friends. Most some younger than my tender age of found it.
September 2015 29 Beating the blues, with help from the blues
“Music is powerful. As people listen By Ana As a temporary family of three, When my family was in a hectic she had to get a lot of rest when she to it, they can be affected. They Freeberg we visited mom each day. And every time, car rides and Ray Charles came home.” respond.” —Ray Charles personal Minneapolis day, my dad would play a Ray Charles helped me feel more comfortable Finally, after almost two weeks in essay Roosevelt album on our way to the hospital. and safe. I still turn to music when the hospital, my mom came home. Beep. Beep. Beep. I push High School He had the blues. So, he listened something happens, because it helps My dad tried to make it as the buttons on the little radio in to them. me relax and gather self-control. normal as possible, but my brother my armrest and listen to the low After a few days of “I think everybody [the family] and I always knew something humming of the powerful airplane “No peace, no peace I find was very concerned, very worried. different was going on every day. engines. Static comes over my radio nonstop jazz, the music Just an old, sweet song Especially when she had to go back We needed to be quiet most of the as I change between the 12 num- Keeps Georgia on my mind” and had all the fluid in her lungs,” my time and needed to help a little bit bered stations, hearing classic rock began to give me —“Georgia,” by Ray Charles dad remembered. “For a period there around the house. then Spanish music. it felt like it was getting worse and Then I come by radio station No. 9. a safe feeling. It was an emotional time, my dad worse in the intensive care.” “That’s why I know, I stop changing stations and reg- said, and to have a slow song to listen Every night, nurses would come Yes, I know, ister the familiar music that floods Minneapolis with severe to was nice. and check on mom, which led to no Hallelujah, I just love her so” my ears. pneumonia. “I liked the song ‘Georgia,’ because sleep for days, and she wouldn’t get —“Love Her So,” I sit and listen to a smooth com- “They were taking a chest X-ray it’s sentimental, it has, to me, emo- any better. by Ray Charles bination of saxophone, piano and when I fainted in the X-ray area the tion in it, and it’s not sad but it’s just Mom was tired and needed the voice of none other than Ray first night,” my mom later told me. emotion,” he said. quiet. When Andres and I would The station began to play com- Charles. I knew back then that something I felt unsure about whatever get restless, we would ask to go mercials again. I sat up in the leather I lean back in my seat, close my was wrong. No mom at home, and was next. walk to the cafeteria. Dad would airplane seat. The TV was showing eyes and let the music take me back dad was constantly stressed. After a few days of nonstop jazz, always want to hurry back to the “The Imitation Game.” into my memories. My dad was left with the respon- the music began to give me a safe little room, which was quite boring I looked down the row of seats and It’s the first week of May in 2005. I sibility of taking care of me, 4 years feeling. We only listened to it when for a pair of little kids. saw my jet-lagged but perfect family, see the interior of an old red Saturn, old at the time, and my 3-year-old we would go see mom, so I knew “One night, I literally put my chair coming home from a totally different pink fuzzy cotton socks with white brother. As I asked my dad about everything would go alright. by the door and I stood there, and I place than we were at that stressful grips and mom struggling to walk the events later, he told me, “It “You guys were small, 4 and 3, and didn’t allow any of the staff to come time. I turned my attention to the down long hallways after laying in probably started with walking so we would go, and there would be in and check her so she could just movie and relaxed. bed all day. pneumonia, and we didn’t catch it, chairs, or you would sit on the bed get some uninterrupted rest,” my How lucky am I to have the family My mom is at Abbott and she didn’t really let on how sick with mom, and you would just lay dad said. “Then, she felt better and I do? I should never take it for Northwestern Hospital in she was.” there with her,” my dad recalled. then she kept getting rest, and then granted.
and, furthermore, not knowing who engineering club. I work hard to No other option but success I am. A small hole existed in my life occupy my time wisely and build up because I did not have any faith in my resume for colleges to see. That myself. I see the people in power are performance does not belong to me I sat in my dad’s taxicab him are in the early mornings when mostly old, white men who have held alone. It comes with the blood, sweat waiting for my sister, silently By Salma Ali I get up for school or when I’m read- their positions for a long time. and tears of my parents. observing all the movement personal Ubah Medical ing late into the night. The only power I hold is over I owe it to those who raised me, essay around me. Academy He is mostly absent in my life and myself. I have the keys to better my who suffer day in and day out for my I watched the overworked in the lives of my eight siblings. He life and get an education. comfort. I aspire to find pieces of me single moms walking to the bus works tirelessly so my family can The one message that always that match with my parents – to have stop, their wailing children in tow. I “I do,” I said, and threw my bottle survive. But doing so has endangered found itself leaving my parent’s lips their selflessness, perseverance and listened to the sounds of traffic, and to the front seat. And I watched him his well-being. – “aqoon la’aan waa iftiin la’aan,” strength. I owe it, though, mostly to closely observed a dirtied homeless swallow pill after pill after pill. I was He believes that this is his worldly which roughly translates from myself to ignore those who did not man shuffle down the street, begging in awe as to how such a tiny human sacrifice. And I believe that in order Somali into English as “to be without believe in me and trust that I do have with his eyes. The late afternoon being could handle that. Then sud- for his suffering to not be lost in vain, knowledge is to be without light” the capacity to be something in this sunset shone a golden glow across denly, I was choked with a feeling of I have no option but to be successful. – was instilled in me as a means of world. And lastly, I owe it to all the everything. helplessness. But, the odds are already stacked survival. little girls who are like me and see My father’s voice broke the trance My dad suffers from a long list of up against me. I am an honor roll student. I me as a role model, who might also I was in. medical problems: diabetes, hyper- I am a black, Somali, Muslim stay up long hours, working on think that their dreams are not valid “Do you have water, habibti?” tension, digestive problems and a immigrant woman living in a society homework and studying. I am also because of where they are from. I snapped my head away from the high risk of stroke, his doctor says. that is systematically rooted in anti- involved in extracurricular activi- Our dreams as cab drivers’ busy downtown street and made He works almost all hours of the day. blackness, Islamophobia and sexism. ties, such as the debate team, track daughters are valid. I cannot wait to contact with my father’s old eyes. The rare moments that I do catch I come from not loving who I am and field, and the science and witness our success. You will see.
30 threesixtyjournalism.org faust from page 4 reaves from page 5 turned inward – mad at myself for I couldn’t look into his eyes for the before I left, though I never imag- it has become an international their liver-spotted skin wrinkling up accepting this degradation, for want- rest of the evening. ined they’d apply to me. event, encouraging writers in every around their eyes as they inquired ing to scream yet smiling instead. By the end of my year in France, “One is not born, but rather corner of this world. about my non-existent sex life. Nothing in the U.S. had prepared I no longer fell down flights of becomes, a woman,” French feminist Nevertheless, Maria was a fairly “Careful, Jacques, she’s a minor!” me to deal with male attention. stairs while wearing heels. I applied Simone de Beauvoir once wrote. simple human being at her core. I they said. How could I have known what to do eyeliner without blinding myself. How does one become a woman? like to think I’ve tried to entertain The men were in cars, whistling when a charming young British man I shaved my legs without leaving I know the expectations. I’ve that personality trait myself, in an and honking as I forced myself to placed a hand on my knee? Or when nicks. And yet it wasn’t enough. considered them carefully, though I attempt to have a better life. After look straight ahead. They were in he brushed the hair out of my face? “You’re free to wear red lipstick,” can’t decide whether to follow them all, she was the happiest person the street, pestering me for a date, Or when he cupped my chin in his a friend said, quite casually. “Just or not. I’ve ever known in my life. Her whispering lewd things in my ear, hand to better appraise me? know that everyone will think you’re As I write these words, I feel laugh always shook her whole body, unwilling to take no for an answer. I remember seeing myself in his a slut.” stuck. Stuck between whether to causing her stylish earrings and fit I was outwardly polite as a fury pupils. Staring at my reflection, I And I flashed back to my school in laugh at the absurdity of the situa- figure to swing all over the place. ate away at my insides. This anger thought about the large gap of time America again, a classmate feverishly tion or be enraged by it. Or perhaps People were drawn to her, both for was double-edged: One side pointed between girl and womanhood, and arguing that a girl was a whore, but I should cry, not only for myself but this wonderful laugh and for the at those who thought they were how quickly it had elapsed in just a “it was just different” when a boy did also for the women who came before charming smile that followed it. entitled to harass me. The other was few months. the same. I knew these rules existed me, and the girls who will come after. Who wouldn’t want to experience that zest for life? All I want is to show her the johnson from page 5 protest from page 9 “They see what’s going on in the schools so they should use human being I’ve become. I want to Although I may be lacking physi- King Park. Encouraged by speak- tell her about everything I’m doing cally, I have no such deficiencies ers, they carried signs and chanted, their voices in that capacity, and if they need support from with my life and all I plan to do in when it comes to mental strength. “No justice, no peace, prosecute the future. I want her to know I see Whether that comes from a per- the police!” Later on, the students Black Lives Matter they can always reach out and we’re the good in every person I meet, sonality trait or a compensation for joined the International Workers’ just as she did. I want her to see the minimal physical strength, I may Day march. willing to support young people in those situations.” maturity she helped me develop, never know. However, I believe that Students also expressed their – Nekima Levy-Pounds, UST law professor, Black Lives Matter Minneapolis the things I do for others and the mental and emotional strength are outrage and stood in solidarity with leader and president of the Minneapolis NAACP. confidence she helped build in me. accentuated when you have a greater Black Lives Matter protesters who I want to tell her I am incorporating challenge in your life. were charged. greens more and more into my diet, This phenomenon most certainly The December protest at the Mall met by police in riot gear. We were inequitable practices are occur- as she begged me to do, but I still does not apply to only me. There’s of the America was part of a wave of met by a hyper-militarized response, ring … They see what’s going on can’t seem to digest those dreaded a reason why you hear countless protests nationwide following grand which I call a racist reaction to a in the schools so they should use beets. stories about those with health chal- jury decisions not to indict police nonviolent peaceful demonstration.” their voices in that capacity, and if When I look out my window, lenges displaying immense amounts officers who killed unarmed black Like Levy-Pounds, Kaffey believes they need support from Black Lives I often see evidence of nature’s of courage and perseverance; it’s men in New York and Missouri. At that black people are being singled Matter they can always reach out bounty: a little chickadee perch- because they have to. Without least 1,500 protesters gathered at out by police. and we’re willing to support young ing on a wobbly branch, or a small mental toughness or a positive out- the mall. “The black community obvi- people in those situations.” robin digging hopefully to find look, you’ve chosen to let your condi- Levy-Pounds is facing eight ously for years [has] been targeted, Although Kaffey doesn’t think a worm in the drenched, soggy tion beat you, and that baffles me. misdemeanor counts, including discriminated against and been put she will see equality for all in her ground. These instances we witness Yes, I can’t do a push-up or sit-up, trespassing, unlawful assembly, down,” Kaffey said. “I think it’s time lifetime, she hopes this new move- every day are often overlooked. But and yes, my body is shockingly thin, public nuisance and disorderly we stand up. … [But] when we stand ment helps pave the way for future I can’t overlook them. To me, every but does that mean that the posi- conduct, and aiding and abetting up for ourselves we are charged, we generations. seemingly insignificant moment tives in my life are harder to find? for each of those charges. She said are put in jail and quickly silenced.” “I know Harriet Tubman freeing that nature brings me each day Absolutely not. in March she believes the charges While Levy-Pounds likes seeing the slaves, she didn’t think she was reminds me that Maria is watch- Although I have a challenge that were racially motivated and that young people involved in Black about to solve equality right there. ing me. almost no one else in the world Bloomington City Attorney Sandra Lives Matter events, she also Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t think I am thankful for the person she is experiencing, focusing on that Johnson, who is prosecuting the believes young people should take he was about to solve everything helped me become through the aspect of my life clouds my oppor- case, is on the wrong side of history. the initiative and speak up for what and I know doing this isn’t going to years, and for the memories we tunity to enjoy far more positive “[The Mall of America] brought they believe in. solve everything, but look at [where] made. There is so much sadness in things. I have made the conscious in about 7,000 people into the “If there’s an issue that is on we are from there,” she said. “She the world, but Maria taught me that decision to not focus on what is rotunda on at least two occasions their minds and that they feel very freed the slaves, he was in the Civil there is always something beauti- out of my control. That change in and rolled out the welcome mat to strongly about, they don’t have Rights Movement and look at where ful to appreciate. Maria may be perspective makes way for things them,” Levy-Pounds said. “When to wait for Black Lives Matter to we are. Look at the rights that we gone physically, but the values she that mean far more to me, such as we came on the scene, because take up the issue,” she said. “They have because of those people. So I instilled in me as a young child will personal relationships. we were Black Lives Matter and can actually organize within their think that now it’s important that remain for the rest of my life. And that change in perspective because of the fact that they stereo- schools. They can have die-ins we start to do the same thing to If only she could see me now. I outmuscles any amount of physical typed us to think that there would within their schools. They can talk get ready for our children to have a know she would be so proud. strength. be rioting or vandalism, we were to the administration if they feel that more equal America and future.”
September 2015 31 swimmer from page 12 “I think it would be awesome to PSEO from page 14 “I think that it would be a great teams in Minnesota, which competes nation- School, can appreciate the difference. A ally. She found it much more demanding, swim on an Olympic duet, but right Muslim who was born in the United States opportunity for minority students to using words such as “scary” and “intimidating” and spent a few years in Palestine and to describe her new team. now my goal is to be on the team.” Jordan, El-Khatib is taking courses at the get involved with PSEO.” Simmons wanted more opportunities, so – Delaney Simmons, synchronized swimmer University of Minnesota through PSEO. – Issraa El-Khatib, Blaine student her father suggested she graduate high school Most of her friends in the program are taking PSEO courses early. She finished school in the summer and minorities, too. will attend Lindenwood University, a private Having a packed schedule full of advanced “I think that it would be a great opportunity Division II school in St. Charles, Mo. The Lady classes and also working part-time as a life- for minority students to get involved with college courses through PSEO in Minnesota, Lions synchronized swimming team won its guard, Simmons has had thoughts of quitting PSEO,” El-Khatib said. “Being on campus is compared to 7,029 in 2014. first High Point title in program history at the at times. Synchronized swimming can be chal- great because it’s diverse and people are really El-Khatib started the program as a junior and U.S. Senior National Championships in April lenging, but Simmons has looked to others to open to that diversity… .” so far has earned 30 college credits. She wants to in California. find inspiration. The state-funded program, administered go to medical school, and the program is helping “It’s been a lot of growing up “It’s really inspiring for me through the Department of Education, allows her get a headstart and save money. quickly, working with counselors to look at people before me juniors and seniors to take college “I wish more people knew and teachers on how to get these who have done similar things,” classes. More than 7,000 Minnesota about it,” said El-Khatib, who credits and go to college a year Simmons said. “Most of the girls public high school students took learned about the program early,” Simmons said. on the national team and on the college courses last year through because her sister had done it. Having competed in the Junior top clubs teams and collegiate PSEO, according to the Department Schools need to be more Olympics seven times and at teams – everybody has given up of Education. encouraging to students, includ- nationals three times, Simmons something.” “It grows every year,” said ing minorities, about the pro- is hoping that competing at the With the guidance of St. Paul Beth Barsness of the Minnesota gram’s benefits, she said. collegiate level will give her a shot Stars coaches and with the sup- Department of Education, who pro- “If my sister didn’t know about at trying out for the 2020 Olympic White port of her teammates, Simmons vides guidance for families and dis- it, I probably wouldn’t know about team – her ultimate goal. also has learned the importance of tricts. In 2008, 5,545 students took El-Khatib it,” she said. “My goal is to make the national coping with mental stress. team, which basically is to swim for the team,” “We have plenty of office talks where we’ll she said. “I think it would be awesome to swim be in the pool – and not everybody has a good “It is a college. It’s just a different type of college.” on an Olympic duet, but right now my goal is day and so if it’s been a pretty bad day, I’ll try – Nicole Linscheid, counselor at the Minnesota School of Cosmetology to be on the team.” to pull the athlete aside, Delaney being one,” Simmons spends several hours a day White said. “We go sit in the office that’s right practicing routines – between three and six off the pool and just talk about what was going cosmetology from page 15 and more. Cosmetology graduates also can hours per day, roughly four to six days on, and (we’re) trying to find the root of the However, not everything is hands-on in take apprenticeships in salons to gain experi- per week. problem.” cosmetology school. ence and a wider range of skills. “Everyone you know, they train a lot more Despite being unsure of what’s to come in “There are still tests. There are still assign- Linscheid also noted the Minnesota School hours and are a lot more strict on your lifestyle her swimming career, Simmons is more confi- ments to do,” Linscheid said. “It is a college. It’s of Cosmetology has a diverse student body. outside of the pool, too,” Simmons said. dent than nervous. just a different type of college.” About 40 percent of people in Johannah White, assistant coach for “A lot of people look at the commit- Kramer’s favorite part about the beauty industry in 2011 were the St. Paul Stars, has helped encourage ment that it takes, and I was young when I cosmetology school is working with people of color, according to a Simmons through hard practices and tough started my journey, so I was very ambitious,” clients. She especially enjoys “seeing study done by the Professional competitions. Simmons said. “But really it is worth it to be them taking a selfie within five sec- Beauty Association, an organiza- “Delaney is great to work with and she has able to achieve something you didn’t think you onds of getting the service done.” tion of salon professionals based a lot of potential and a lot motivation,” White could achieve, that other people might have “I get to make people feel beauti- in the United States. The study said. “She likes to try to motivate the other not thought you could achieve, so it’s worth ful and make them go outside and also indicated that 84 percent of athletes.” the work and sacrifice.” say, ‘I feel great today. I just got my people in the field were women, hair done. I got my nails done. I feel with 61 percent of all salons in the pretty,’” Kramer said. Linscheid nation owned by women. essay stress from page 14 “We are not basing an admission decision But there can be downsides. But there are men in the field essays. They should be the experts on what to on just a college essay,” he said. “A student is Kramer’s clients sometimes ask for difficult as well. The Minnesota School of Cosmetology write, because they are the subject matter. never going to be admitted or not admitted services, she said. has a male student who also is in the Air “For us, what is helpful in essays is to get because of one factor.” “It’s really hard to tell clients, ‘No.’ It’s the Force. He plans to open his own barber shop context about you as a person and about you Both Baker and Paulet emphasized revision. hardest thing in cosmetology school,” Kramer someday, Linscheid said. as a student,” he said. Looking at the essay multiple times, reviewing said. “I want to say yes to everybody, like, ‘Of As for Kramer, she plans to graduate from Baker said he looks for students to demon- it and even bringing in another person to look course I can get you to a bleach blonde when cosmetology school in about a month. Her strate their writing and other skills they need at it can be helpful, Baker said. you have black hair.’” advice to incoming students is to stay with it in college. But an essay may not save a student “... It’s about revise, revise, revise,” Paulet There are many career paths in cosmetol- and be passionate about their career choice. with a poor grade point average or test scores, said. ogy. People can follow their passion, whether “Education is key,” Kramer said. “And if you he said. it is specializing in hair, nails, skin treatments can get that, take it.”
32 threesixtyjournalism.org genesys from page 15 Sea service from page 16 During the eight-week training “You learn discipline and learn session, students are taught high-level to be a team player,” LeVvintre skills and simple techniques, such said. “I supercede the standards as professional dressing and correct even though I am a girl. [I] never handshakes. Then, they practice with gave up.” face-to-face interviews. On the last About 115 teens are involved in day of training, they find out if they five Sea Cadet units in the Twin landed an internship. Cities, Cambridge and Duluth “We had maybe around 155 (much of the Minnesota training students in internships” last year, takes place on the Great Lakes). said Cudzilo. “The majority of cadets that Nationally, more than 800 Genesys come in, they tell me either they Works students are working in intern- want want to be pilots or SEALs,” ships. The nonprofit also boasts other said Lt.j.g. Allyson McCormack, impressive numbers: 96 percent of one of the parent-volunteer its students have enrolled in college instructors in the program. “No and 79 percent have graduated. In the one knows anything else.”
Twin Cities, 93 percent of its students arren B ruland But they learn about both mili- in 2014 enrolled in college in the fall, tary and civilian options. and 79 percent are either still enrolled Cadets can choose summer or have earned a degree, according to training that includes science and Genesys Works’ 2014 annual report. technology, construction, robot- A quiet teen, Mohamed was a ics and various ranks, such as bundle of nerves when she first Photo c ourtesy of W petty officer and recruit training. arrived at Genesys Works. But near At a fashion show this spring, a G.I.R.L.S. participant models the new basketball uniform the girls will wear for their “We have cadets who quit the end of her training, she was traveling basketball team this fall. before boot camp, while in transformed. boot camp, and along the way,” “They taught me to be enthusi- sportswear from page 22 state’s high school sports, to adopt Mohamed is excited about the McCormack said. “It is sort of like astic and have a positive vibe, take would be wearing the basketball the sportswear for Muslim girls who new opportunities this sportswear a filtering process. Some graduate initiative and have a good attitude,” uniform for a new traveling basket- would want to wear it while compet- will bring to her community and from high school and never join she said. ball team that G.I.R.L.S. program ing for their high school teams. She other girls who have shared her the military. And those that want Gaining confidence wasn’t easy leaders had put together. The Lady also is hoping to sell the two products experiences. to join get a good taste from it.” for Mohamed. Every morning, the Warriors will now compete with outside of the program. “I wish I had it when I was The corps motto is “Test your team of Genesys Works students neighboring Minneapolis teams. “We are looking into potential younger,” Mohamed said, “but now limits,” she said. gave presentations in front of the Thul also hopes to work with vendors to license the clothing, that it is available for these girls, I Military recruiting is not part class. These training sessions helped the Minnesota State High School looking into who can manufacture am really, really happy.” of the program. Police officers, her open up and improve her com- League, the governing body for the the clothing,” Thul said. firefighters and emergency munications skills. medical technicians have been The highlight of Mohamed’s train- invited to teach. And there’s even ing was her first time giving a techni- Building from page 16 culinary training. cal presentation in front of guests. tons of privilege and it’s a great opportunity to give an extra The cost for the cadets can “I can go in and give a presentation boost and extra support,” Numainville said. amount to several hundred dol- to people without having that fear or Throughout the Twin Cities, participants are getting help with lars, including uniforms, admis- not knowing what to talk about,” said classes while working alongside Pineda and other students rehab- sion fees and training expenses. Mohamed, who wants to be a nurse. bing homes. They are paid minimum wage. The program is sponsored “Genesys Works helped me boost my The program begins with Mental Toughness week, where phys- nationally by the nonprofit Navy confidence.” ical activities test the students’ commitment. They are then sent League of the United States in out to divide their time between school and the construction sites. cooperation with the Navy. More info It’s not all hammer and nails. The students also learn skills War “is not the focus of the such as writing resumes, practicing for job interviews and serv- program,” McCormack said. “It For more information about Genesys ing as role models. is to produce good citizens and Works, contact Krystal Stackhouse, Tree Trust YouthBuild also supports participants in pursuing future leaders.” school and community partner interests other than construction. Pineda, for example, hopes to Nevertheless, military comrade- manager at 651-789-0088 ext. pursue a business career, she said. ship is part of it – not fighting just
110, or go online to http://www. It is good to see the students progress through the program T hree S ixty Journalism Paung/ N ayni for self or country, McCormack genesysworks.org/twincities/About_ and graduate with skills for the future, Numainville said. Ivette Pineda, left, a senior involved in Tree Trust said, quoting a line from the movie Us/Contact_Us/. It is also “just wonderful to see them be proud of themselves,” YouthBuild, and Maja Numainville, the program “2 Guns”: “You fight for the guy she said. coordinator, pose for a photo in July. that’s fighting next to you.”
September 2015 33 young from page 24 bradley from page 28 ignore the popular girls who are learned to kick and swim at the high standards of being popular are having a negative effect on me. Not same time. Finally, I had every- having a negative effect on me. to my surprise, they don’t care that I thing going for me. Kirsten is my rock, and she has left, and that just proves they aren’t Then ... it happened, again. Not as much trust in my heart as my true friends. only did my hands hurt, but so did mother. I can tell her anything. I can It is now two years later, and I my shoulders. It was painful and smile, laugh and radiate happiness, stand in that same antique body- frustrating. but I am only truly happy at home length mirror and tell myself that I But this time it was different. and when I see her. There is never will never let other girls change me Even though it hurt and I could a negative thought that comes up again. I get the courage to throw out only kick, I still showed up for in the conversations with her. She those ugly crop tops, hideous skirts practice and participated until I always points out the positives in me and overly expensive makeup. I find no longer could. My mentality was and my experiences. friends that appreciate me and a positive and I cheered my team- Over time, with the help of style in which I am comfortable. mates on. During the conference Kirsten and my parents, I gradu- As my confidence grows, I become meet, I clocked a personal-best ally gain more self-esteem. They strong enough to make my own 30 seconds on my 50-yard dash. help me build the strength to be my choices in life. I continue to develop With the end of the season arriv- own person and stand up for what I as a person, as will everyone else. ing, my teammates felt they could believe in. I have learned to not let others rely on me enough as a leader But the final battle is school. change you, and that happiness will that I was elected to be co-captain Photo submitted I decide to separate myself and come with loving yourself. of the team, alongside a junior. I Zekriah Chaudhry watches the Minnesota Vikings play the Washington knew I could fulfill the role. Redskins in November 2013 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. Today, I have learned how to hurreh from page 29 That just made me even more approach problems from a dif- chaudhry from page 27 I started watching Vikings weekend. I told my mom my idea, determined to finish memorizing. I ferent perspective, knowing I am could identify. It turned out many games religiously. As it happened, and she agreed. had another reason to finish now: to capable of doing what I thought Twins fans would’ve been okay the 2009 Vikings were a good The next week, I took finals exams prove my teacher wrong, to prove would be impossible. I believe that with that, as their chants echoed team. They continued winning, for school and did OK because that I am capable of doing anything I no matter what comes across my throughout the stadium. making the playoffs and advanc- memorizing the Quran improved my set my mind to. I wouldn’t break the path, I will be able to conquer it. I “MVP! MVP!” the crowd roared ing to play the New Orleans Saints memory, making it easier for me to promise to myself. hope to spread my resiliency and as Mauer stepped to the plate. with a trip to the Super Bowl on study. I started memorizing seven to 10 dedication to my teammates next The Twins were playing the the line. I went to Quran school every pages a day. And on April 5, 2014, year as a captain. I want to inspire Detroit Tigers for the division title, The Vikings and Saints game morning and afternoon for a month. I finished memorizing the holy and it remains the most thrilling was exciting. This time, though, Then my mom announced that we Quran. I felt I had made my dad I use the pain game I have experienced. my team was the one who failed to were going back on April 21, which proud, my mom proud and even I felt the tension building win the long, competitive game. came earlier than I thought because myself proud. I finally reached a goal as motivation to keep me from the die-hard fans in the Even though the Vikings lost, I was so busy with my memoriza- that I was struggling to reach. I felt Metrodome. The game was per- it was one of the top-five sport- tion. I had around 52 pages left I could accomplish anything that going in the pool. fect, and when a hit scored Carlos ing events I have ever seen. I may at the beginning of April when came my way. Gomez to give the Twins the never again see football played my Quran teacher told me that I I learned that if you work hard, others and let them know that if victory, I felt relief. The guy behind like that. And again, I didn’t mind couldn’t finish anyway, and told me you can reach any goal you want you’re feeling down and negative, me lifted me out of my seat as the talking with strangers as much as to just calm down. to achieve. just look at all you have overcome fans cheered their approval. before, because there was some- and conquered. Keep pushing for- Moments like that changed how thing worth talking about. ward in life, feeling both confident I saw human interactions. I was That year, I found something moua from page 23 get a “thank you,” but seeing her and courageous. no longer feeling so alone in my that could truly leave me breath- mom once said: “The cleaner your relieved made me feel great joy. I Even if I feel the burning thoughts. It felt as though sports less. I was inspired to think, talk house is, the longer you’ll live.” helped my mom without asking, but sensation in my hands, I still were the most relatable topic and write about sports in my free The vacuum did its job, crackling I could see she needed it. fight through it. I use the pain as imaginable. time. But then, talking about any- with every step until I reached my Before my mom broke down, motivation to keep me going in “Yes! Yes!” I shouted with the thing started feeling more natural, parent’s bedroom. Listening to the I didn’t pay attention to how we the pool. Through this experience, other fans. and talking about sports just felt vacuum made me realize how us kids affected our parents. It made me I learned that swimming relates Even better, though, I now had like good practice for those times. affected the house, compared to my wonder, “What if my dad’s feeling to the challenges we face in every a team to root for and a reason But best of all, no matter if I’m parents. Our bedrooms were dirty, the same way? How’s he able to hold day life, because it teaches us to to root for them. I wasn’t going at a bus stop talking about my and theirs had almost nothing to clean. everything together?” persevere through our struggles. to throw my loyalties around shoes or somewhere else in life, Ding dong. I still think of those questions I now know what it takes to get from team to team, because by it seems that the Vikings will still I ran upstairs and looked through today, and help my mom when I have through other challenges in life, the time Carlos Gomez made play on Sundays. the window. When I opened the the chance. I haven’t helped much, whether they’re personal or it home, my heart belonged to And so it seems there will door, I looked at my mom’s face. but slowly I’ll take the burdens off my academic. Minnesota. always be something to talk about. There was a sense of relief. I didn’t parent’s shoulders.
34 threesixtyjournalism.org COLOR
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September 2015 35 COLOR
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