The American Teenager Project - Houston, TX

THE AMERICAN TEENAGER PROJECT Modeled after work by Robin Bowman | www.theamericanteenagerproject.org

A WRITERS IN THE SCHOOLS RESIDENCY AT KASHMERE HIGH SCHOOL HOUSTON, TEXAS

❖ Classroom Teacher: Mrs. Patsy Moorehead-Potts WITS Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans Spring 2018 www.witshouston.org

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Photo by Steven Sanchez

MARKUS WHITAKER

Markus Whitaker is a good kid who cares about his friends and family. Him and his family are hard workers. They like to help people that really need the help. They enjoy it. The people they help remember the kindness they show towers others. He loves to be lazy at times but when you put his mind to it, he can do anything. He has a job. It is as an entrepreneur, selling candy and chips at school.

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MARKUS WHITAKER INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

Date of Interview: April 5, 2018 Interviewer: Steven Sanchez Interviewee: Markus Whitaker Length of Interview: 9minutes, 38 seconds Transcription: Steven Sanchez Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans School: Kashmere High School – Houston, TX

[00:24] Steven Sanchez: I’m Steven Sanchez, and I’m at Kashmere Senior High School, interviewing Markus Whitaker. Today is the fourth of April 2018. How you doing today, Markus?

Markus Whitaker: Good, My name is Markus Whitaker. I’m at Kashmere Senior High School. I’m in eleventh grade. I’m seventeen years old.

[01:01] SS: What is one of the biggest things that has ever happened to you and how did it change your life?

MW: one of the biggest things I will say is happened in my life is my mother tell me I was adopted me. Because I think if I wasn’t adopted you know by this person if I have the same life style, same friends, go to the same school. You know all that good stuff makes me who I am.

SS: Who makes you the happiest?

MW: What makes me the happiest you know seeing my family happy. Yay you know seeing my family you know happy you know if they're happy, I’m happy, you know.

[01:19] SS: All right. Can you tell me more if you don’t mind?

MW: About making my family happy? Will hmm will I mean like my mom, you know like I mean like, we I, hoo, mean like, haa, you know, relaxing you know having fun, you know together we be happy mean like you know watching a movie you know going out some where eat or talk you know going to the park you know being together you know.

[01:50] SS: That sound happy. How big is your family?

[01:58] MW: Um, I’d say I have a medium size will yay, yay, I said I have a medium size, medium size family yay is not is not to big you know its there [02:08] Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

SS: yay that’s cool. Tell me about your family.

[2:20] MW: hmmm ho will they all ways true my family nice they are not mean people there are good people you talk to them you get to know them they treat you like there own we support other people.

[2:41] SS: That’s cool. How about your community? Are you part of a community?

[2:46] MW: Around my neighborhood we do we are building a school down the street from us we help out during the weekends.

[3:00] SS: cool is it a high school or a middle school.

[3:03] MW: It not really a school more like a youth center will I guess it is a school Pre-K through kindergarten.

[3:13] SS: That’s cool. Keep the kids safe [3:18] [Background chatter] [3:31] SS: Do you have a mother and a father?

[3:36] MW: Will of course I have a mother and a father it take one and two just to make me yay I live with my mom and my dad I really don’t know him [3:46] SS: All right. How do your mother and father get along, even though you already answer the question.

[3:56]

[This is a partial transcript. The full interview is 9 minutes 38 seconds.]

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Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

Photo by Lajame Edwards

CHESYREE BENSON

Chesyree Benson is a 17-year-old sophomore at Kashmere High School. She loves food and her baby cousin Maya. Her biggest fear is failure, and the toughest thing about being a teenager to her is puberty because she thinks that it is too many changes. She has a boyfriend, and they have been together 8 months. Chesyree has the most respect for her grandmother because she feels that her granny keeps the family together. She would like to fix gun violence and police brutality due to a past experience with her brother who’s currently in jail for a crime he didn’t do.

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CHESYREE BENSON INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

Date of Interview: March 29, 2018 Interviewer: Lajame Edwards Interviewee: Chesyree Benson Length of Interview: 2 minutes and 54 seconds Transcription: Lajame Edwards Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans School: Kashmere High School – Houston, TX

* * *

[00:00:00] [Preparing; we messed up at first] [00:00:06] Lajame Edwards: What do I say (0.04) Amy Evans: It doesn’t matter; whatever you feel. (0.05) LE: Good morning t-t (0.08) AE: Wait hold on. I’m not recording (0.09) LE: Okay good morning this is Lajame Edwards, and I am live from Kashmere High School on a Thursday morning we have with me--(0.11) CB: Hi my name is Chysree Benson we are at Kashmere High School this is March 29th 2018. (0.19) LE: Okay and today I am going to interview her were going to start off with the first question it is what makes you the happiest. (0.25) CB: What makes me happy is food and my baby cousin Maya. (0.31) LE: And why does that make you happy. (0.36) CB: Food makes me happy because I love to eat I like getting fat. My baby cousin Maya makes me happy because shes like a mini me. (0.41) LE: Okay we have a second question what is your biggest fear. (0.50)

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CB: My biggest fear would have to be failure because ive come too far just to fail.

(0.53) LE: Okay what is the toughest thing about being a teenager and why. (1.00) CB: The toughest thing about being a teenager would have to be puberity your body is experiencing to many changes at once. (1.07) LE: Do you have a boyfriend / girlfriend? (1.31) CB: Yes, I have a boyfriend. (1.35) LE: And what is the longest yall been in a relationship. (1.37) CB: 8 months. (1.44) LE: Who do you respect the most and why? (1.49) CB: I respect my grandma the most because she’s the rock of the family. (1.50) LE: Tell us more about your grandma why is she the rock of your family? (1.58) CB: She keeps everything together and in a grandma’s eyes you can’t do any wrong.

(2.04) LE: What is one of the biggest problems in the world and what would you like to do to fix it? (2.10) CB: I would like to fix all violence and social injustice it is wrong to kill black people and get away with it. (2.20) LE: Thank you, Chesyree Benson (2.21) [Background Chatter] LE: I would like to know if any of that has affected her personally. Has any of that affected you personally? (2.30) CB: Yes, because my brother is sitting in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. He’s just trying to beat the case. ( 2.35) LE: Thank you, Chesyree Benson (2.53) [Background Applause] Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

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Photo by Chesyree Benson

LAJAME EDWARDS

Lajame Edwards is a 17-year-old junior at Kashmere High School. He enjoys spending money, and when he grows up he wants to be the richest man alive.

Lajame doesn’t like the way the president conducts himself. He doesn’t think he is professional. Overall Lajame is a really cool person to interview. I really enjoyed learning more about him.

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LAJAME EDWARDS INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

Date of Interview: March 29, 2018 Interviewer: Chesyree Benson Interviewee: Lajame Edwards Length of Interview: 3minutes, 16 seconds Transcription: Chesyree Benson Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans School: Kashmere High School

* * *

[00:00:00]

[We messed up]

[00:00:06]

Chesyree Benson: Hi I’m Chesyree Benson reporting live from Kashmere High School. It’s March 29th, 2018. I’m an 17year old 11th grader and I’m interviewing-- (00:14)

Lajame Edwards: I’m Lajame Edwards. I’m 17 as well and I am in the 11th grade.

(00:19)

CB: Okay, the first question on or interview list will be “what makes you the happiest”? (00:24)

LJ: What makes me the happiest, well, I would say receiving that direct deposited

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makes me the happiest because when you receive that direct deposited you can buy such things as clothes, food, you know, things to make you look nice and healthy and well fed. (00:41)

CB: That’s good. What do you like most about yourself? (00:46)

LE: What I like most about myself? I like my personality, the way I dress, my height, my skin texture— you know, the pigment of my skin, my shoes size. (1:03)

CB: What make you? (Pause) Why does the way you dress make you happy about yourself? (1:10)

LJ: The way I dress makes me happy about myself because I like to get up in the morning, put on my clothes and look in the mirror and be like” Oooh, boy, you look fly,” you know, like that. (1:19)

CB: That’s good, if you could be someone in this world who would you be? (01:24)

LJ: if I could be somebody in this world I would be somebody famous because I like attention, cameras all up in my face flashing, and I like the money, the flashy cars and stuff. I don’t have a person. I just would like to be the richest one (1:39)

CB: What do you want to be famous for? (1:45)

LJ: I want to be famous for… probably on TV, or taking pictures. (1:49)

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CB: if you had to be one celebrity, who would you be? (1:53)

LJ: Well as I said before, I don’t have a specific celebrity. I just would like to be the richest one. (1:56) (Pause)

CB: What is one of the biggest problems you would like to fix? (2:09)

LJ: One of the biggest problems I would like to fix is homelessness, and why would I like to fix that, because I get tired of going to McDonald’s and it’s homeless people just bombing on the side asking for change. I would like to get them off the streets and get them from begging form me because I worked hard for my money and for my stuff. (2:25)

CB: So how would you change that issue? (2:27)

LJ: I would tell them to get a job. (2:30)

CB: What qualities do you look for in a president? (2:37)

LJ: The quality’s as I president that I look for, I look for a good head on their shoulders, a good leadership. I look for a president that is serious and not all playing and taking things in a playful matter for explain, you know, North Korea is talking about bombing us up. I don’t like our president getting on twitter arguing with the other president about how we have bombs too and how we can blow them up as well. (3:00)

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CB: And the last question is, what is your ethnic background? (3:06)

LJ: My ethnic background is black (3:09)

CB: Thank you, Lajame Edwards. This concludes our interview (3:16)

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Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

Photo by Christopher Burleson

RYAN CORNETT

Ryan Cornett age 17 in the 11th grade go to Kashmere High School, things that make Ryan happy is seeing other people happy he hates to see other people, sad his biggest fear is heights because when he Is up in the air he gets this weird feeling that he is about to fall out the sky, his favorite feature about his self is his hair/personality, the person he respects the most is his mother that raised him as a single parent in the future he sees his self as a responsible man with a degree and college diploma one problem in the world he would want to fix would be hunger because he hates to see people starve.

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RYAN CORNETT INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

Date of Interview: March 29, 2018 Interviewer: Christopher Burleson Interviewee: Ryan Cornett Length of Interview: 4minutes, 43 seconds Transcription: Ryan Cornett Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans School: Kashmere High School

* * *

[00:00]

[Background chatter]

[00:22]

Christopher Burleson: Good morning my name is Christopher Burleson and today is March 29th 2018 and I’m interviewing Ryan Cornett.

Ryan Cornett: Hey, my name is Ryan Cornett I’m seventeen and in the 11th grade at Kashmere Senior High School.

CB: What makes you happy Ryan.

RC: What makes me happy is seeing others happy by bringing the best out of others at any given time. I hate to see others sad and I just want to make them happy.

[01:18]

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CB: What’s your biggest fear.

RC: My biggest fear is heights. The reason why is because when I’m up in the air at a certain altitude I feel like I’m go fall down to the ground.

CB: So, you can’t ride on roller coasters!

[Laughing hysterically] RC: Nah, I can’t.

[01:54] CB: What do you like most about yourself?

RC: Well my hair, but basically my personality and I’m my own person. I see things differently that others don’t see in me and I enjoy that.

[02:50] CB: Who do you respect the most and why?

RC: I respect my mom the most because she raised me since birth, and she’s still taking care of me now. I love my mom and respect my mom for that.

CB: Is there anyone else you respect?

RC: My grandmother because I love her and, she loves me.

[03:30] CB: As you look ahead in your life what do you think you will become.

RC: As I get older I believe I’ll become more mature and grow more to becoming a responsible man. Hopefully get a degree and graduate from college.

[04:00] CB: What is one of the biggest problems in the world you would like to fix.

RC: The problem I would like to solve is world hunger. There are a lot of people in the world who are starving and need food. I hope to one day solve this problem.

CB: My name is Christopher Burleson and we will be ending the interview.

[04:43] Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

Photo by Ryan Cornett

CHRISTOPHER BURLESON

Christopher Burleson is a 17-year-old teenager who is in the 11th grade at Kashmere Senior High School. He usually spends his time playing basketball, which is his favorite sport. Christopher’s biggest fear is drowning because of an experience he had in the past when he was a child. Christopher respects his great grandmother the most because she has wisdom that she taught Christopher when he was a child.

Christopher also loves her dearly and she loved him as well. Christopher one day hopes to cure lung cancer because his grandfather had lung cancer and one day will cure it for everybody.

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CHRISTOPHER BURLESON INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

Date of Interview: March 29, 2018 Interviewer: Ryan Cornett Interviewee: Christopher Burleson Length of Interview: 5minutes, 21 seconds Transcription: Christopher Burleson Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans School: Kashmere High School

* * *

Ryan Cornett: My name is Ryan Cornett and today is March 29th, 2018, and I’m interviewing Christopher.

Christopher Burleson: My name is Christopher Burleson. I’m in the 11th grade, and I go to Kashmere High School.

Ryan Cornett: Okay Mr. Burleson, I want to ask you something: what is your biggest memory as child? Something that you can reflect on forever.

Christopher Burleson: I guest when I climbed out of the playpen. I guess that’s probably the earliest memory I could remember.

Ryan Cornett: Why you chose climbing out of the playpen.

Christopher Burleson: I guess I was little at the time, and she put me in there for a reason. I was three.

Ryan Cornett: Okay. What is your biggest fear?

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Christopher Burleson: My biggest fear, drowning. And drowning because I had experience when I was little. I was 8 and when I decided to go jump on the diving board, and I was like, I think I can swim, so I jumped on the diving board, and I really didn’t notice how deep the water was. It was 12 feet.

Ryan Cornett: Can you swim now?

Christopher Burleson: Oh yeah, I can swim. I can swim now but, at the time, I did not notice how deep the water was, and when I jumped in, I blacked out and when I came to---

Ryan Cornett: How old was you when this happened?

Christopher Burleson: I was 8. When I came to, 2 dudes was picking me out the water and, yeah, the lifeguard didn’t do nothing.

Ryan Cornett: So, who had to help you?

Christopher Burleson: 2 dudes.

Ryan Cornett Alright Mr. Burleson, do you be living in god.

Christopher Burleson: Yes, I do. I go to church every Wednesday and two Sundays out the month. I go to mount Rose Baptist Church.

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Ryan Cornett: What do you pray for?

Christopher Burleson: My health, maturity, and strive to get better.

Ryan Cornett: Do you follow any origination like a religion? What are your religious beliefs?

Christopher Burleson: Like, that we be nice and cool to everyone.

Ryan Cornett: What does this believe give you hope in?

Christopher Burleson: I guess get somewhere better than I’m at now.

Ryan Cornett: Okay Mr. Burleson, who do you respect the most and why?

Christopher Burleson: I respect my great grandmother the most.

Ryan Cornett: Why do you respect her the most?

Christopher Burleson: Because she has a lot of wisdom, and she’s 89 so she kind of seen everything.

Ryan Cornett: What is something you learn from your great-grandmother?

Christopher Burleson: Well, she always works hard and strives to do better. I’m trying to do that now.

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Ryan Cornett: Okay Mr. Burleson, we are going wrap this up with one more question. So what is the biggest problem you would like to hopefully help fix?

Christopher Burleson: I would like to help fix cancer because I think that was a really big problem.

Ryan Cornett: Would you one day build a foundation to provide for others?

Christopher Burleson: I would like to build a research facility so we can help research for it.

Ryan Cornett: Mr. Burleson, do you have a personal experience with cancer?

Christopher Burleson: Yes, my grandfather passed. He had cancer. He had lung cancer.

Ryan Cornett: Okay Mr. Burleson, that was the last question of our interview, and I will be signing off.

[END]

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Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

Photo by Jacolby O’Bryant

QUINCY WRIGHT

Quincy wright is an 11th grader that attends Kashmere High School. One of the biggest things that ever happened to Quincy was when his grandmother past in 2016 it changed his whole family life. Quincy is a self-less person. If he sees a person in need, he would give them his clothes or some money if he has some to spare.

Some people in Quincy family don’t like because they think he going to be like his father but Quincy just wants to leave a legacy for his family. Quincy has been dating his girlfriend for 7 months now. His earliest memory as a child was when he was 3 he went to a beach in San Diego.

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QUINCY WRIGHT INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

Date of Interview: March 29, 2018 Interviewer: Jacolby O’Bryant Interviewee: Quincy wright Length of Interview: 3minutes, 30 seconds Transcription: Jacolby O’Bryant Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans School: Kashmere High School

* * *

[00:00:00]

[Background chatter]

[00:00:04]

Jacolby O’Bryant: My name is Jacolby O’Bryant, I’m an 11th grader at Kashmere High School. Today is March 29th, and I’m going to be interviewing Quincy Wright.

Quincy Wright: My name is Quincy Wright. I’m 11th grader attending Kashmere High School.

[00:00:20] JO: What is one of the biggest things that has ever happened to you and how has it changed your life?

QW: One of the biggest things that ever happened to me was when my grandmother passed in 2016 is not only changed my life cause it change my family life cause, till

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this day they don’t know how to get along with one another. Really, her lost haven’t changed them at all.

[00:00:50]

JO: What do you like most about yourself?

QW: My personality cause I’m the type guy, if I see somebody on the streets, if I have chunk change, I’ll give ‘em money or they became at one point I would give them my own clothes, if they needed them. I don’t got no problem doing that for people who need it cause I was one of ‘em.

JO: Do you think you could have any impact on the world?

QW: My impact on the world is doing a legacy for my family cause they never had as good as I had it today with all the technology, with all the hard work that they put in, so my impact to take them highest they always dreaming of going to.

JO: Tell me about your family.

QW: My family is, they can, um, they can be hell fast some points say for instance one of my members, they will speak to you, but inside they don’t like you cause really, my family don’t like each other its mainly the sisters they always fighting.

Half of them really don’t like me, but I still show my love and respect for them.

They’re my family so I still got to show them love and all even if they do like you.

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JO: Why you think they don’t like you?

QW: They think I’m my dad. We look like but they say imma be just like him cause he out selling weed and dope and making babies and all that. They say I’m be like him that’s reason why they putting hate on me, and that’s why I wanna prove them wrong.

[00:02:52]

JO: Do you have a boyfriend [Background laughter] I mean girlfriend?

QW: Yes, I have a girlfriend. We been dating for 7 months now.

JO: What is earliest memory as a child?

QW: My earliest is when I was 3. I was starting to see the world as I do now. The first I’ve been, it was San Diego at 3. We all went to the beach and chilled.

JO: That’s all the questions we got for you today.

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Photo by Quincy Wright

JACOLBY O’BRYANT

Jacolby O’Bryant is a seventeen year old who have a very interesting story. Friends call him Kobe because of his incredible basketball skills. He loves basketball and is a huge Kobe Bryant fan and Lakers fan in Kobe’s opinion Kobe Bryant in this generation a he’s the closet to Michael Jordan. He’s chill type guy, if you get to know him. He also like to travel. His birthday is in February. He and his sister were both raised by their mom. He respects his mom for taking care of them.

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JACOLBY O’BRYANT INTERVIEW TRASNCRIPT

Date of Interview: March 29, 2018 Interviewer: Quincy Wright Interviewee: Jacolby O’Bryant Length of Interview: 3minutes, 08 seconds Transcription: Quincy Wright Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans School: Kashmere High School

* * *

[00:00:04]

Quincy Wright: Were live at Kashmere Senior High School, on March 29, 2018 My name is Quincy Wright and I will be interviewing Jacolby O’Bryant.

Jacolby O’Bryant: Good, my name is Jacolby O’Bryant I’m in eleventh grade. I’m seventeen years old Attending Kashmere High School.

QW: Okay, Kobe First question: What’s your biggest fear?

JO: Is losing my family

QW: How is that a big fear of your?

JO: I never really lost nobody big in my family.

QW: What do you like most about yourself?

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JO: I like that I’m always chilled and calm

QW: How do achieve your chill?

JO: I usually by myself unless somebody to talk to me. {00:00:38}

QW: Question 3: What is your elite background?

JP: African American.

QW: Do you know more about your family background?

JO: People on my dad side Is from Huntsville TX. {00;01;27}

QW: Question 4: Who do you respect the most and why?

JO: I respect my mom the most because she raised me and my sister by herself. {00; 01:35}

QW: Question 5: As you look ahead in your life what do you think to become?

JO: I think I be an NBA basketball player that’s my fantasy.

QW: What team and position?

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JO: The Lakers. I be a point guard.

QW: Who is your favorite Lakers player?

JO: Kobe Bryant .

QW: Why is Kobe your favorite?

JO: In this generation, he’s like the closet person to Michael Jordan. {00:02:30}

QW: Question 6: If you can be someone else in the world how would it be and why?

JO: I would be Kobe Bryant.

QW: What do you admire about Kobe Bryant?

JO: After that case, he still played basketball he never quit or nothing like that. {00:03:04}

QW: That’s all for today my name is Quincy Wright, and I just interview Jacolby O’Bryant.

Ending {00:03:08}

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Photo by Juan Mendoza

MATTHEW THOMAS

Mathew Thomas is a young 16-year-old from Houston. He enjoys food, especially hot wings. He’s a respectful gentleman that admires his mom for all she’s gone throughout the years. Mathew has a particular view in politics that dictates that the power of the president being for the people.

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MATTHEW THOMAS INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

Date of Interview: March 29, 2018 Interviewer: Juan Mendoza Interviewee: Matthew Thomas Length of Interview: 3minutes, 38 seconds Transcription: Juan Mendoza Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans School: Kashmere High School

* * *

[00:00:00]

[Background chatter]

[00:00:06]

Juan Mendoza: I’m Juan Mendoza, and I’m at Kashmere Senior High School, interviewing Matthew Thomas. Today is the twenty-ninth of March 2018. How you doing today, Thomas?

Matthew Thomas: Good, My name is Matthew Thomas. I’m at Kashmere Senior High School. I’m in eleventh grade. I’m seventeen years old.

JM: Okay, Thomas. First question: What makes you the happiest?

MT: Things that makes me the most happiest is money and hot wings dipped in ranch [dressing] on a Sunday evening.

[Clap in the background] [00:00:35] Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

JM: Can you explain [expand further] that taste please, I don’t understand it.

MT: Is like nothing like some good old hot wings, because like, they have like different verities, but hot wings is the most because, you know, you know, they hot and then the ranch [dressing] is what cools your mouth afterwards, and then specially in Sundays since it’s the relaxed day, right of church, so lay back and you grub [eat].

[Background chatter] [00:00:58]

JM: Okay. To the next question, what’s your biggest fear?

MT: My biggest fear is drowning because like you die slow, and like suffer more, basically.

JM: Did anything happen in the past that caused this fear in you?

MT: Very much. For example, I was at Surfside Beach with my auntie and my grandmother, and me and my cousins, we were tied to a float, and the float went out, we didn’t know we was going to fall until our feet couldn’t touch the ground no more. We were going to drown. We were out there for like 15 minutes before someone saw us.

[Door opens in the background] [00:01:33]

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JM: Okay, then. Who do you respect the most and why?

MT: The person I respect the most is my mother. The reason why, she went through more, she went through a lot of things and she still here, and like still going through it, she still like striving, and like put me in this world, so I give all my respect to her, sir.

JM: Can you give me an example of her hardships?

MT: I rather not explain that.

JM: Okay, I respect that. If you could be someone else in the world, who would you be and why?

[00:02:06]

MT: Nobody because I feel like if I try to be somebody else I feel like it won’t work, so I feel like you know how they say there’s no other life like your own, so I rather be myself and like make myself greater than be someone else.

JM: Great philosophy. What qualities do you look for in a president?

MT: Smart, knows what he or she is doing, mostly a great amount of experience in politics, because without experience, you’re basically a dumb deer stuck in front of [car] headlights.

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JM: Then what do you think of our current president. He’s smart, he knows about financial, and he might not have experience in politics, he’s really persuasive.

[00:02:53]

MT: Basically, no matter how much experience you have with economics and money, basically you need a politics point of view, you must know what you’re doing substantially, like, basically with war, or weapons, or military, or the difference in the amendments, you must know of the security of the people. Basically if you’re against people, you’re against the people, and mainly I feel like he’s against the people and more towards himself.

Question in the back: This is history right here. What’s the name of the president?

MT: I rather not say his name ill just call him 45.

JM: Ok, we are talking about the 45th president. Ok, thank you Mathew Thomas. It was great to have you here.

MT: Thank you.

[00:03:36] [Random clapping in the background]

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Photo by Matthew Thomas

JUAN MENDOZA

Juan Mendoza was the person I interviewed. Today I learn that Juan is a senior at Kashmere High School. He is from Mexico and loves technology. He says that he would one day like to be Elon Musk who’s a great engineer. Juan says that he would invent something one day that’s very complicated. Juan enjoys the Internet, and he is ready to graduate.

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JUAN MENDOZA INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

Date of Interview: March 29, 2018 Interviewer: Matthew Thomas Interviewee: Juan Mendoza Length of Interview: 3minutes, 38 seconds Transcription: Matthew Thomas Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans School: Kashmere High School

* * *

[00:00:00] [Background chatter] [00:00:06] Matthew Thomas: We are at Kashmere High School. My name is Matthew Thomas. I am in the 11 grade, and I’m here with— Juan Mendoza: I am Juan m and I am 17 years old. I am senior at Kashmere Senior High School, and I am ready to gradate.

MT: what is one of the biggest things that happen to you and how do it change your life?

JM: One of the biggest things that happen to me and life was when I got separated from my parents, and they let me come to the U.S. to surpass myself. It really changed who I was. It’s changing how my life was going if I cautioned to be in Mexico I would have been a farmer for the rest of my life, so I am really grateful to be here.

MT: When you speak on change in your self, elaborate on that?

JM: It changes my bye being more ineligible of other things apart from farming basically my life was involve more technological more advance society instead of a more secluded separated from the world community.

MT: How old were you come to Texas?

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JM: I was 10 or eleven years old.

MT: Who did you stay with?

JM: My grandparents.

MT: What makes you happy?

JM: Exploring and tinkering with new technology and learning new data that I can use to enhance my skills are important to me. It brings a smile to my face.

MT: How was your life in Mexico?

JM: I was surround bye only family, so I did not have any one that was not in my family to talk to.

MT: When you said you came from Mexico, how did you get here?

JM: I was born here when my parents came to the U.S. for a better life but chose to go back to Mexico because my mom didn’t like it here.

MT: What bothers you the most about yourself?

JM: My carefree attitude. I fell like one day it’s gone to get me in trouble that I can’t get out of.

MT: Would you ever change your carefree attitude?

JM: No, I like it like this.

MT: Where do you get most of your information from?

JM: The Internet forms through news website, never from social media MT: Well, a funny question is do you use the Internet?

JM: All day every day.

MT: What forms of Internet or you interested and apart of?

JM: I just use reddit, that’s where I get all my information from.

MT: Do you use the phone?

JM: Only for the Internet, not for text and call.

MT: Which of these is the most important?

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JM: I will say the Internet because it is a great way for you to communicate across the world, and it has a great source of knowledge and a great form of entertainment.

MT: If you could be someone else in the world who would it be and why.

JM: I will say Elon Musk because he is one of the modest engineers right now he is creating new stuff and ventures outside the box. While we’re outside the box, he is Already outside the galaxy.

MT: Have you thought about inventing something?

JM: Yea, but it’s a bit complicated.

MT: What’s the idea JM: To create a virtual reality where your body doesn’t move and you’re unconscious while using it.

MT: So, like so Matrix-type stuff.

JM: Yes, but less controlling bye aliens.

[END]

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Photo by Maleka Breeze

ROAMELLO BROWN

Roamello Brown is a 17-year-old junior attending Kashmere High School. Roamello syncs to the energy around him, he loves to be surrounded by people who make him happy and give off positive energy. His fantasy is to become an entertainer he knows he has what it takes to make people laugh. Despite the smiles and laughs he see’s flaws himself that bothers him due to the opinions of others surrounding him.

The earliest childhood memory for Roamello is when he was 4 years old and getting in trouble for throwing balls in the house and remembering it at the worst whooping ever!

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ROAMELLO BROWN INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

Date of Interview: March 29, 2018 Interviewer: Maleka Breeze Interviewee: Roamello Brown Length of Interview: 4 minutes, 46 seconds.

Transcription: Maleka Breeze Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans School: Kashmere High School

* * *

[00:00:00] [Background chatter] [00:00:16] Maleka Breeze: Good Morning!! You're here with Maleka Breeze and today were interviewing Roamello Brown at Kashmere Senior High School; please introduce yourself.

Roamello Brown: I am Roamello Brown, I am a 17-year-old junior and I go to Kashmere High School.

MB: For the first question we have what is your most frequent emotion?

RB: My most frequent emotion would have to be excitement, because I love being happy; cause when I’m happy I just feel good and I like to make other people feel good.

[00:00:47] MB: Can you tell me any reasons why you would be sad, depressed, or mad?

RB: Well if a close friend of mine is sad or depressed then I’ll try my best to be happy around them; but sometimes it can affect me to depending on what the situation is.

MB: I like that! Okay my second is what bothers you most and why?

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RB: [chuckles] Well, what bothers me the most about myself would have to be my weight, because a lot of people tell me that I’m “super skinny”; and I would just really like to gain some pounds cause I don’t like the way my legs fit.

MB: So, what are some things that you are trying to do to make you gain some weight?

RB: Well, I eat a lot of meat and carbohydrates and I’m starting to work out in the summer time just so I can like you know get muscles so I won’t be as skinny.

[00:01:53] MB: Do you believe in God? And if so what do you pray for?

RB: I do believe in God but it’s to a certain extent; because some of the thing in The Bible don’t make a lot of sense.

MB: I understand, I understand. And do you have any fellow organizations?

RB: No, I don’t. Right now, I’m just kind of basically taking certain things out of the bible that I think would make sense. So, I wouldn’t classify myself in a certain religion.

[00:02:26] MB: Okay, if you could be someone else in the world who would you be and why?

RB: If I can be someone else in the world, it’ll probably be Drake; because his level of fame is very high. And I wanna see if I can handle the pressure and all of the things that come along with like his life, like wealth and the pressure and like you know the music creation stuff like that.

MB: Do you like any other artist besides Drake?

RB: I like a lot of other artist, but mostly I like Rihanna.

MB: What kind of Rihanna song do you like?

RB: In particular, I like all of them.

MB: Well, could you sing me all of the songs?

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[Background laughter] RB: No, I cannot.

MB: Oh, that’s good. [Pause] As you look ahead of life what do you think you’ll become fantasy and reality wise?

RB: I definitely think that in my fantasy I think that I can become a very good entertainer, because I make a lot of people laugh and if I can’t make a lot of people laugh I can still put on a show.

MB: I know that’s right! Okay, so last question of the day what is your earliest childhood memory?

RB: My earliest childhood memory is my first time playing with a ball in the house and it was me and my older brother and I threw the ball up to the ceiling and hit the light bulb and it shattered all over the floor and my mother came running out of the room with her belt so I ran to the kitchen and my brother ran to the closet and I hid in the [laughter] cabinet and my mom went to the closet first and while she was at the closet I ran to the room and she couldn’t get my brother down so she ran after me and chased me around the house for a good little ten minutes or so until she finally caught me and that was the worst whooping I ever got in my life.

MB: Woo, that was a slap in the knee!! Thank you for sharing your story with us.

That will conclude our interview. Thank you for listening.

[Audience applauds]

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Photo by Roamello Brown

MALEKA BREEZE

Maleka Breeze is a very motived young female. Despite her age of seventeen, her mindset is in its mid-twenties. As you can hear from the interview her family is something that she would never give up. She will never settle for “enough”, her phrase “I’d like to make all the money” shows that she won’t stop until she gets it.

She enjoys the quality of good music based on her favorite artist Beyoncé. Her attitude might be a bit this or that-ish between silly or irritated. She doesn’t enjoy being irritated however it just seems to happen. She also loves having a private life.

Nobody wants to have people knowing what they do 24/7 and she states that clearly.

She respects those who could get passed challenges and obstacles in their life such as her grandmother and her older sister. They paved the way for her to be able to do some of the things that she does now.

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MALEKA BREEZE INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

Date of Interview: March 29, 2018 Interviewer: Roamello Brown Interviewee: Maleka Breeze Length of Interview: 5 minutes, 11 seconds Transcription: Roamello Brown Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans School: Kashmere High School

* * *

[00:00:00]

[Background chatter]

[00:00:24]

Roamello Brown: Good morning, everybody, I am Roamello brown at Kashmere High School, and I am a sixteen year old junior and I am here interviewing--

Maleka Breeze: Maleka Breeze.

RB: Okay, Maleka breeze, how old are you?

MB: I’m seventeen.

RB: Okay, what grade are you in?

MB: I’m in the eleventh grade.

[00:00:49] Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

RB: okay, so my first question is, what makes you the happiest?

MB: What makes me the happiest is being around my family and my siblings, or when I get my nails done, or when I get my eyebrows done so I be looking good and then I just feel like good about myself. When I’m around positive vibes and people that I like to be around and they’re happy, so that just makes me happy.

RB: Okay, so what is your most frequent emotion?

[01:14] MB: My most frequent emotion got to be I’m either silly or irritated fast because, I really don’t have no reason but I just get irritated... just because like I just get annoyed at nothing really.

RB: So do you enjoy being irritated or--

MB: Honestly, no. I don’t.

RB: Okay so, can you tell me about your family?

[01:41]

MB: Um, my family is pretty big. I got five siblings and I got four sisters and one brother and three of them are older than me, and I’m the, um, third to the youngest.

RB: Do your mother and father currently live together?

MB: No, sir.

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RB: How well do you guys get along?

MB: We get along good, like me and my siblings we like tight. They like my best friends.

RB: Okay, and my next question is, who do you respect the most and why?

[02:20] MB: I respect my grandma and my older sister because they took on challenges and they were put in places where they didn’t need to be put in. They just did the most, and I thank them for that.

RB: All right, if you could be someone in the world, who would it be?

[02:41]

MB: I would be Beyoncé. Because I just like how she is and she is like my spirit animal, and I just like how she carries herself and she’s more private off and not into like all the social media and stuff and that’s just like how I am. I don’t like my business being put out there and stuff like that.

RB: Do you like any of Beyoncé’s clothing or any of her other products that she’s put out?

MB: Yes, I like her line Ivy Park, and I will be sure to wear some of her slides and jackets and stuff.

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[03:20] [Announcement chatter] [03:22] RB: You said your favorite person is Beyoncé, so do you sing?

MB: No, but I do sing her songs. [Laughs]

RB: Now is money important to you?

MB: No, money is not important to me, but it does make me comfortable when I have it. If I could live in a world without money, I’d be happy. It doesn’t rule me as a person, but it just makes me comfortable to have it in my hands.

RB: So when you grow up do you want to have a similar lifestyle as you have right now?

MB: No

RB: Why not?

MB: Because right now it’s kind of hard but, um, I want a lifestyle where I don’t have to worry and be independent and not worry about nobody but myself.

[04:19]

RB: So do you currently have a job?

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MB: Yes

RB: And would like to make more or less money?

MB: I’d like to make all the money.

RB: Thank you so much for talking with me today, it is greatly appreciated.

MB: You’re welcome.

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Photo by Maleka Breeze

KEIANA TELFOR BY KEIANA Keiana Telfor is 16 years old, in the 11th grade, and she attends Kashmere High School. The biggest thing to ever happen to her was when she lost her uncle. It changed so much about her because it was more so like a wakeup call that she needed to eat right and stay alert to so many things. The things that makes her happy in life is her nephew and her family because the keep her on her feet and they show her basically how to just enjoy her life to the fullest and be happy and stay positive.

The things she like most about herself is her smile because it shows people more about her, and people compliment her smile every day and tells her how pretty her smile is and that she should smile no matter what she goes through. The thing that bothers her the most about herself is when she gets mixed emotions. She does have a boyfriend, and the longest she has ever been in a relationship was 4 years and counting. The one person that she respects the most is her mother because she keeps her on her feet and tells her all her wrongs from her rights and keeps her positive energy very high.

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KEIANA TELFOR INTERVEIW TRANSCRIPT

Date of Interview: April 5th, 2018 Interviewer: Ke’Aura Rice Interviewee: Keiana Telfor Length of Interview: 2 minutes, 25 seconds Transcription: Keiana Telfor Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans School: Kashmere High School

{00.00.00}

[Background noises]

{00.00.05}

Ke’Aura Rice: Hello my name is Ke’Aura Rice, I am 18 years old, and I am a junior at Kashmere High School. Today on April 5th, 2018, I am interviewing.

Keiana Telfor: Keiana Telfor…… I am an 11th grader and I am 16 years old. {00.00.32}

KR: Keiana I want to know what is one of the biggest things that ever happened to you and how did it change your life?

KT: the biggest thing to ever happened to me is when I lost my uncle, it changes my life because it changed how I looked at life and it showed me that you can die at any point in life without any warnings.

KR: What makes you happy in life?

KT: My Nephew and my family.

KR: Can you tell me about your nephew and your family?

{00.01.02}

KT: my nephew is about to turn 2 years old on April 17th, and my family is loving and caring.

KR: what do you like most about yourself?

KT: My smile because it brings out a lot in me and I get lots of comments on how pretty my smile is.

KR: What bothers you the most about yourself?

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KT: When I start to get mixed emotions about different things.

KR: Do you have a girlfriend or a boyfriend? What I the longest relationship you have ever had?

{00.01.32}

KT: Yes, I have a boyfriend, and my longest relationship was 4 years.

KR: What is your boyfriend's name, Keiana? {Laughter in background} Do you like being in a relationship?

KT: Yes

KR: Would you like to go longer than 4 years?

KT: Yes, when I am older.

{00.02.02}

KR: Who do you respect the most and why?

KT: My mother because no matter what we go through she is always by my side and she tells me my wrongs from my rights and she keeps my positive side.

KR: Thank you very much, Keiana Telfor.

{00.02.25}

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Photo by Chesyree Benson

CHESYREE BENSON INTERVIEWS MRS. POTTS

Date of Interview: April 5, 2018 Interviewer: Chesyree Benson Interviewee: Mrs. Patsy Potts Length of Interview: 3minutes, 38 seconds Transcription: Chesyree Benson & Keiana Telfor Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans School: Kashmere High School Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

MRS. POTTS INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

[00:00:00] [Background chatter] [00:00:06] Chesyree Benson: Hi, it’s Chesyree Benson reporting live from Kashmere High School. I’m a 17-year-old junior and today I am interviewing-- Mrs. Potts: Patsy Morehead-Potts.

CB: Today on April 05, 2018, and today Mrs. Potts I want to know, what is one of the biggest things that ever happened to you, and how did it change your life?

MP: I was voted Miss Kashmere in 1973, and that was a humongous success for me.

And how it changed my life, I did not know that I couldn’t continue to be the Patsy that I was before Miss Kashmere. I was always in the spotlight. I could not wear [hair] rollers outside of the house. I could not wear house shoes outside of the house.

Everything that was perfect is what was expected of me, and that really changed my life I couldn’t be just me. I had to be Miss Kashmere.

CB: Wow, that’s amazing. What is the toughest thing about being an adult and why?

MP: You can’t do silly stuff and get away with it. All your bills, either you’re responsible for them or your husband is responsible for them. You can’t make a bill and say, “Mama, pay for this or Daddy pay for this.” And it’s just being responsible.

You can’t ever just let loose and do crazy stuff.

CB: So, it sounds like you want to be a kid again?

MP: Of course.

CB: What bothers you most about yourself?

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MP: A year and three months ago I decided to go gray. I got tired of dyeing and rinsing my hair, and I’m learning to deal with gray hair. I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on it, but it’s still just a big bother to me.

CB: Okay Mrs. Potts, do you believe in god?

MP: Of course, I believe in god.

CB: Do you pray?

MP: Each and every day.

CB: What do you pray for?

MP: First, I pray for good health. I pray for prosperity. Then I move on and pray for Kashmere High. I pray for my students to be prosperous. I pray for an understanding that they understand me and help me to understand them. And I just pray!

CB: WHAT DOES THIS BELIEF GIVE YOU? MP: Consolation, after I pray, and especially when I receive what I prayed for. I just feel so awesome when I know that I have a connection with my god and my god has a connection with me.

CB: That’s good. Have you ever personally suffered from discrimination?

MP: Definitely. My husband and I have a horse racing business in Louisiana, and I went to Louisiana and they were extremely, EXTREMELY prejudiced. Black people haven’t acquired the level of prosperity that my husband and I had, and we were able to purchase horses, race the horses, and win. We were extremely successful and they had a problem with that. They asked me, “Nigga, do you even know how to read? Who taught you how to read? Who taught you how to fill out this application?

And why are you even here?” So definitely, I have been discriminated against. {00.03.40}

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CB: Ok now Ms. Potts, everyone wants to know, have you ever discriminated against anyone else?

MP: I’m sure I have but if I did, I ask the Lord to forgive me, and I do that daily.

Because sometimes you can discriminate and not realize that you are discriminating.

And I’m going to say just, like with Lizette and with Juan, sometimes I pull them out to do certain things to assist me, and that’s a form of discrimination because you might say, “Ms. Potts, why you ain’t ask me to help you?” So not so much of racial discrimination but discrimination.

CB: Our last question will be, what is one big problem in our world that you would like to fix?

MP: The sense of “UGH.” 90% of the students at Kashmere has this “whatever, I don’t care. It’s okay”--I would just like to fix the situation were everybody was responsible for what they did, they cared about what they did, they had a concern about success.

CB: Thank you, Ms. Potts. But before we go, we would like to know about your life at Kashmere.

MP: This is my 40th year at Kashmere and my 42nd year teaching, all total. I love my job. I live for my job. I LOVE MY JOB, and I teach Career and Technical Education classes here, which are: Robotics, Engineer Design, AutoCAD, and I also do Houston Community College Dual Credit. And the reason that I love my job so is when my student excels, that’s a sense of accomplishment for me, and I feel like I have done a great job. When you do a great job. When you all don’t do what I feel like you should be doing, I feel like I did not do my job because evidently, I didn’t teach it well to you to be able to do what you needed to do. But I’ll say it again, I love my job.

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CB: Well thank you Ms. Potts, for taking the time out of your busy schedule to give us this interview. Have a nice day.

[END]

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