The American Teenager Project II - Houston, TX

THE AMERICAN

TEENAGER

PROJECT

Modeled after work by Robin Bowman www.theamericanteenagerproject.org

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

Classroom Teacher: Mrs. Karen White WITS Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans Spring 2018 www.witshouston.org

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Photo by Abdiel Cervantes

DIAMOND MOORE

Diamond Moore is a 15-year-old girl that goes to Kashmere High School. She has a mother and a father but lives with her mother, among them she has four sisters and five brothers. Also, when figuring something out, she likes to use google.com to help her out. She does not have a job but will get one soon. Although she doesn’t have a job, she gets money out of her pockets and buys food and clothes with it. Apparently, honey buns are here favorite food, not snack.

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

Date of Interview: April 19, 2018 Interviewer: Abdiel Cervantes Interviewee: Diamond Moore Length of Interview: 2minutes, 56 seconds Transcription: Abdiel Cervantes Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans School: Kashmere High School

00:00

Abdiel Cervantes: Hello, I am Abdiel Cervantes.

Diamond Moore: Diamond Moore and my age is 15, and I'm in the 9th grade.

AC: What is you biggest fear?

DM: My biggest fear is losing something that is something to me.

AC: Tell me about your family.

DM: My family is ok. I have 9 siblings.

AC: Do you have a mother and a father?

DM: Yes, but they’re not together.

AC: Who do you live with?

DM: My mom.

AC: Do you have brothers and sisters?

DM: Yes, I have four sisters and five brothers.

AC: What do you consider to be a perfect family.

DM: Every one getting along and everything to be perfect.

AC: Where do you get most of your info from?

DM: Google.com

AC: Do you have a job?

DM: No, but I will be getting one in the summer.

AC: Where do you get your spending money?

DM: Out of my pocket.

AC: What do you spend your money on?

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

DM: Food and clothes.

AC: What’s your favorite food?

DM: Honey buns.

AC: Thank you Diamond. Ok, bye.

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

Photo by Latysha Bibbs

DARRINESHA BRADLEY Darrinesha Bradley is 16 years old and attends Kashmere Senior High School. She is afraid of dying in a car crash, and she lost her favorite grandpa when she was only 4.

Darrinsesha loves going outdoors for her free time, and she likes being on her phone. She likes apples, mangos, and oranges. However Darrinesha does not like people, and she enjoys being in her room and all by herself. As a very outgoing person, she loves talking to other people and getting to know them better Darrinesha has three other brothers and sisters.

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

Date of Interview: April 19, 2018 Interviewer: Latysha Bibbs Interviewee: Darrinesha Bradley Length of Interview: 3minutes, 38 seconds Transcription: Latysha Bibbs Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans School: Kashmere High School

[00:00:00]

Darrinesha Bradley: I’m Darrinesha, and I’m at Kashmere Senior High School, interviewing Latysha Bibbs. Today is April 19, 2018. How you doing today, Darrinesha?

Latysha Bibbs: Good, my name is Latysha Bibbs. I’m at Kashmere Senior High School. I’m in ninth grade. I’m sixteen years old.

DB: Okay, Darrinesha. What is one of the biggest things that has ever happened to you and how did it change your life?

LB: The biggest thing that happen to me was when me my brother and my sister took my mom car and we was speeding all up and down the streets, and none of us had on seatbelts and we almost got into a car wreck because my brother wanted to pass a red light. And it change my life because the police got involved, and I don’t deal with the police so it was kind of boring and scary, so now I know not to play with traffic.

[00:00:35]

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

DB: Okay. What is your earliest memory as a child?

LB: I used to sneak coffee, cream, and sugar @ 3 a.m. every morning while my mom was sleep.

DB: What makes you the happiest?

LB: My bed, Netflix, and my favorite playlist

DB: What is your most frequent emotion?

LB: Really not to care. Nothing. DARKNESS.

DB: What do you like most about yourself?

LB: My hair, my eyes, and my long pretty legs.

DB: What bothers you the most about yourself?

LB: My tummy and my eyebrows.

DB: Thank you for your time. Have a nice day.

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

TERANCE ELDER

Photo by Layla Hightower

Terence Elder is now a 16-year-old freshman here at Kashmere High School.

His earliest child hood memory is a flag football game. What makes him the happiest is his mom and dad. He thinks toughest thing about being a teenager is losing a family member and maintaining in school all at once.

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

Date of Interview: April 5, 2018 Interviewer: Layla Hightower Interviewee: Terance Elder Length of Interview: 3minutes, 9 seconds Transcription: Layla Hightower Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans School: Kashmere High School

[00:00:00] Layla Hightower: I’m Layla Hightower. Today is April 5, 2018 and I’m at Kashmere High School Terance Elder: My name Terance Elder. I’m 15, and I am in 9th grade LH: What is your earliest memory as a child?

TE: Uhhhh, my first football game—flag football game.

[00:00:28] LH: Did you take any flags?

TE: UmmHmm LH: How many?

TE: I can’t say, like, I don’t know the exact amount but it was like-I’d say around 4 or 3.

LH: How old where you?

TE: 5 years old LH: Was the game in Houston?

TE: Yes, on the Southside.

LH: What makes you the happiest?

TE: My mama and my daddy.

LH: Why? TE: Cause they do everything they can for me when I ask I get it LH: How often aren’t you able to get what you want?

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

TE: Ummm, when we going through a tough time or something.

LH: What is the toughest thing about being a teenager?

TE: Uhhmm, losing a family member or not doing what you supposed to do in school.

LH: What exactly are we supposed to do in school?

TE: Go to class don’t skip make good grades.

LH: Do you make good grades?

TE: Yes.

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

Photo by Taskmecia Haywood

TRINTY WILLIAMS Trinity Williams is 14 years old. She’s the only child, and one of the toughest things about being a teenager for her is that she doesn’t want to do anything thing bad.

Trinity also thinks that family is important and loves to help her family out. One of trinity’s biggest fears is if she’ll lose her family and close friends. Trinity also wants to go to college.

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

Date of Interview: April 16, 2018 Interviewer: Taskmecia Haywood Interviewee: Trinty Williams Length of Interview: 3minutes, 38 seconds Transcription: Taskmecia Haywood Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans School: Kashmere High School

* * *

TASKMECIA HAYWOOD: I AM TASKEMCIA HAYWOOD INTERVIEWING TRINITY WILLIAMS ON APRIL 16, 2018 AT KASHMERE HIGH. WHAT IS YOUR EARLIST MEMORY AS A CHILD? TRINTY WILLIAMS: MY FAVORITE MEMORY AS A CHILD IS GOING TO DISNEY LAND. TH: WHAT MAKES YOU THE HAPPIEST? TW: HANGING OUT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. TH: WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR? TW: LOSING MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. TH: WHAT IS YOUR MOST FREQUENT EMOTION? TW: RANDOM EMOTIONS. HAPPY, SAD, ANGRY, DEPRESSED. TH: WHAT IS THE TOUGHEST THING ABOUT BEING A TEENAGER? TW: TRYING NOT TO DO BAD STUFF. TH: WHO DO YOU LIVE WITH? TW: I LIVE WITH MY MOM. TH: DO YOU HAVE ANY BROTHERS OR SISTERS? TW: I HAVE NO SIBLINGS. I’M THE ONLY CHILD. TH: DO YOU THINK FAMILY IS IMPORTANT? TW: YES, IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. TH: WHY? TW: CAUSE I LIKE TO HELP AROUND WITH EVERYTHING ELSE. TH: DO YOU USE THE INTERNET? TW: YES, FOR FREE GAMES AND STUFF. TH: DO YOU THINK YOULL GO TO COLLEGE? Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

TW: YES, CAUSE I WANNA WORK HARD FOR ALL THINNGS. TH: DO YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND OR GIRLFRIEND? TW: I KINDA DO. JUST KINDA. TH: THANK YOU. THAT WAS ONCE AGAIN TRINITY WILLAMS, AND THAT’S ALL WE HAVE. THANK YOU.

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

Photo by Yajaira Guzman

SUMMER ULLOA

Sumer is a 9th grade girl who goes to Kashmere and gets along with her family great.

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans School: Kashmere High School Date of Interview: April 16, 2018 Interviewer: Yajaira Guzman Interviewee: Summer Ulloa Length of Interview: 3minutes, 37 seconds Transcription: Amy C. Evans

* * *

[00:00:00]

Yajaira Guzman: My name is Yajaira Guzman on April 16 2018 and I’m interviewing—.

Summer Ulloa: Summer Ulloa and todays date is April 16 2018.

YG: What is your most frequent emotion?

SU: Happiness.

[00:00:38]

YG: What’s the toughest thing about being a teenager?

SU: The toughest thing about being a teenager is becoming an adult and get ready for life and what more people say, your future.

YG: What do you like most about yourself?

SU: Really just being my positive self.

[00:01:00]

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

YG: What bothers you the most about yourself SU: When people don’t care about one another.

YG: Tell me about your family, do you have a mother and father?

SU: Yes YG: How do your mother and father get along?

SU: They get along great YG: Where do you get most of your information?

SU: Mostly from the Internet.

AE: What do you like to search on the Internet?

SU: Huh? AE: What do you like to do on the Internet?

SU:I don’t know (giggles).

AE: Games?

SU: I guess (laughs)

[00:1:45]

Amy Evans: Don’t just answer the questions like surface level. We want to learn about you, so you want to tell us about your family.

SU: I’ll start with the family YG: Who do you live with?

SU: My mother YG: How do you get along with your mother?

SU: Mmm, great YG: Do you have brothers and sisters?

SU: Yes Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

YG: How do you, how do you all get along?

SU: Great. Great.

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

Photo by Jim Valenzuela

ANDREW MOORE

What I learned from Andrew Moore is that he does not have a father in his life but has a mother. Andrew Moore is a student that goes to Kashmere High School. He is in the 9th grade. Andrew Moore joins church services. He says his religion is Christian. He has brother and sisters that live in the household. Andrew Moore is born and raised in Houston, Texas. That’s all what I have form Mr. Andrew Moore.

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

Date of Interview: March 29, 2018 Interviewer: Jim Valenzuela Interviewee: Andrew Moore Length of Interview: 5 minutes, 25 seconds Transcription: Jim Valenzuela Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans School: Kashmere High School

* * *

[00:00:00]

Jim Valenzuela: Good morning. I’m here today with Andrew. Today’s date is April 19, 2018.

Andrew Moore: My name is Andrew Moore. I’m fifteen, and I’m in the ninth grade.

JV: The first question is: Do you believe in God? Do you pray? If so, what do you pray for?

AM: Yes, I believe in God. Yes, I pray. And, yeah, I pray for waking up very day.

JM: Do you follow any organized religion? If so, what is it that belief?

[001:01:03]

AW: No, I don’t follow an organized religion.

JM: Do you go to church?

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

AM: A Christian church, I think. I began to say yes I do but I have not been going in a while. Do you have a father in your life I said no I do not and yes I get along with my mama.

JV: 2nd question what church do you go to AM said he don’t join one at the moment but does go with family members and enjoys it.

JV: 3rd question what do you pray for and why

AM responded to yes he prays and what he prays for is to have positive fillings around him.

AM: Do you get along with your siblings so I JV said I do get along with my siblings but sometime I get mad at them and they get mad at me and their we go to a argument.

JV: Do you have a father in your life he said he do not then I asked do you and your mother get along he said yes do you have brothers and sisters AM: said he does have siblings.

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

JAVONTE WALKER INTERVIEWS CHRISTPHER NATHAN

Date of Interview: March 29, 2018 Interviewer: JaVonte Walker Interviewee: Christopher Nathan Length of Interview: 3minutes, 38 seconds Transcription: Amy C. Evans Teaching Writer: Amy C. Evans School: Kashmere High School

* * *

[00:00:00] JaVonte Walker: I’m JaVonte Walker, and I’m at Kashmere Senior High School, and I’m here interviewing Christopher Nathan.

Christopher Nathan: Good, My name is Christopher Nathan. I’m at Kashmere Senior High School. I’m in ninth grade.

JW: Okay, Chris. First question: What makes you the happiest?

CN: My Family JW: What is the thing about your family that makes you?

CN: They treat me right and feed me and buy me clothes.

[00:00:35]

JW: What is your biggest fear?

CN: Going on rollercoasters because I’m afraid of heights.

JW: Why are you afraid of heights?

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org

CN: I’m afraid of heights I went up a tall stairwell and I was afraid I was gone fall.

JW: What is the toughest thing about being a teenager.

CN: People are always messing with you and stuff.

JW: As you look ahead in life what do you see yourself doing?

CN: Becoming an NFL football player.

JW: Why? CN: Because I love football.

JW: What position and for what team?

CN: Quarterback and for the Houston Texans.

JW: Christopher, thank you for your time.

[Background chatter]

END

Writers in the Schools | www.witshouston.org