VOX Teen Newspaper - Back-to-School 2014 by VOX Teen Communications

BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2014

VOL. 22, ISSUE 1

V0X VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS

VoxTeenCommunications.org

F A EW N

N O R

R E I T

ATLANTA’S ONLY CITYWIDE NEWSPAPER CREATED BY AND ABOUT TEENAGERS

Evolution of the Nerd, page 12 | Atlanta’s Roadpocalypse, page 14 | Dropout Diary, page 20 | I Hate School, page 23

ABOUT THIS ISSUE

hey readers, As the summer ends and school swings back into session, we’re happy to give you our annual back-to-school edition of your favorite newspaper. For many of us, this is senior year. This works in parallel to our theme this edition: education. In this issue, we’ll hear about some VOXers’ adventures in education, such as Tara’s journey to France with her cultural immersion program. We then get into some pretty heated articles concerning Atlanta’s education challenges, as well as college. We’ll hear from a few recent college grads about their prospects in Rashah’s story about life after college. She tackles many common anxieties of post high school choices, as well as profiling two

V0X ISSUE COORDINATORS Kaleb Anderson, B.E.S.T. Sachin Swami, Woodward BACK-TO-SCHOOL ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS India Anderson, Lakeside Jolisa Brown, Westminster Thalia Butts, DeKalb School of the Arts Samaria Campbell, Grady Sharmaine Fisher, Lovejoy Dallas Gordon, KIPP Collegiate Hallie Hartley, North Atlanta Christina Lucas, Milton Lydia Mathis, Tri-Cities Arlena McClenton, DeKalb School of the Arts Rashah Neason, Woodland Zani Nobles, Riverwood Manuel Portillo, North Atlanta Lucy Rodriguez, North Atlanta Mac Rowe, Academe of the Oaks Tru Spann, Grady Christian Stallworth, North Springs Tyler Sutton, Arabia Mountain Sarika Temme-Bapat, Northview Kennedy Thedford, Mount Zion Tajah Thomas, North Atlanta Mikael Trench, Wheeler Hunter Tyson, Couch Middle Alexandria Wilson, North Atlanta Ra’anaa Wooden, North Springs Zaria Young, Lakeside

college graduates. We go into some more high school issues, too, such as: Tyler’s “Distractions at School,” Arlena’s story about dress

code, Mikael’s take on the “Evolution of the Nerd” and how some of us have to commute long distances to get a quality education. And you cannot forget the always-relatable “I hate school!” refrain, explored by Christian. We’ll round out this issue by taking a look at the growing “AP vs. IB” debate, tackled by Sharmaine. This issue dives into some deeper non-education stories, too, with Kaleb’s “Into the Darkness” where he shares a very personal episode of his life, as well as Lucy’s “Dropout Diary” where she profiles one high school dropout. With all this at your fingertips, there isn’t a reason for you to be idly looking at the paper. Go ahead! Flip though and immerse yourself in the lives of Atlanta’s teens.

THE REST OF THE VOX TEEN STAFF

VOX ADVISORY BOARD Kristina Christy, Turner Broadcasting Jocelyn Dorsey, WSB-TV Amy Glennon, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Cathy Hampton, City of Atlanta Hank Klibanoff, Emory University Stanley Romanstein, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Cory Albertson, Georgia State University; Lindsey Knox, Turner Broadcasting System; Emma Lacey-Bordeaux, Turner Broadvasting System; Alyssa Lasseter, Habitat for Humanity; Melodi Smith, Turner Broadvasting System; Beanka Tate, Emory University and VOX Alumna; Christina Zdanowicz, CNN iReport

VOX BOARD OF DIRECTORS Vanessa Alva, Cross Keys High School Kaleb Anderson, B.E.S.T. Academy Vashti Avierls, Chamblee High School Jessica Casey, Jones Day Sania Chandrani, Parkview High School Whitney Deal, Kilpatrick Townsend Elizabeth Faist, Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP Sharina Harris, Hilton Worldwide Alcide Honore, Hooper & Honore, LLC Catherine Jefferson, InterContinental Hotels Group LaTonya Keaton, PNC Financial Group Jimmy Kim, VOX Alumnus, Weissman Nowack Curry & Wilco Lindsey Knox, Turner Broadcasting System Jacqueline LaScala, What’s Up Interactive Marc Rice, Southern Company Mac Rowe, Academe of the Oaks Kate Sandhaus, CSE Alexandria Wilson, North Atlanta High School

VOX ADULT STAFF Jeff Romig Executive Director Rachel Alterman Wallack, MSW Director of Strategic Partnerships/Founder Katie V. Strangis, LMSW Director of Media and Programs Richard L. Eldredge Senior Editor & Workshops Coordinator Susan Landrum, MSW Manager of Development and Outreach Jim Burress Part-time Editor Josie Footmon Program Assistant

EDUCATION COVER STORIES Evolution of the Nerd, page 12 The Fault in Being a Class Clown, page 13 Atlanta’s Roadpocalypse, page 14 An American in Rennes, page 16 IB vs. AP, page 18 You Can’t Always Get What You Want, page 19 Dropout Diary, page 20 Distractions at School, page 21 Is There Life (or Work) Out there?, page 22 I Hate School, page 23

PERSONAL + CULTURE + COMMUNITY STORIES

— By Kaleb Anderson and Sachin Swami / VOX Staff (pictured, left)

Agustin Jimenez, Akil Harris, Alexes Harris, Alexis Cohen, Amy Pan, Asjah Johnson, Assata Muhammad, Austin Thomas, Christa Heard, Curtis Jones, Dawit Trench, Daysha Corzine, Derrione Mobley, Ilana Ander, Isis McDowell, Jalil Shareef, Jalyn Buster, Jelani Harris, Jessica Thompson, Juanasia Young, Keana Martin-Sanders, Kenny Hurd, Kofi Adams, Lauren Polk, Madison Smith, Mahmood Thompson, Melody You, Michael Foster, Miles Turner, Morgan Copeland, Morgan Johnson, Nancy Ramirez, Noni Warren, Rachel Li, Rebecca Turner, Safiya Miller, Sara Islas, Sara Wren, Sebastian Van Erk, Shalom Lane, Shalom Maurer, Sharah Hutson, Shva Star-Schaefer, Skylar Gardner, Vanessa Alva, Vashti Aveirls, Vaughn Cyrus, Ziggy Oby, Zoe Coleman

VOLUNTEERS/MENTORS

Table of Contents

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VOX is an independent newspaper and website produced by and about Atlanta-area teenagers. VOX is distributed by VOX Teen Communications, Inc., a nonprofit youthdevelopment organization. The views and opinions expressed in this paper are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect VOX Teen Communications, its Board of Directors, Staff or Supporters.

My Brother’s Keeper, page 4 Into Darkness, page 5 The Colour Negative, page 6 Running Hollywood’s Maze, page 7

EXTRAS Hot on the Streets, page 3 Scenes from Dragon Con, page 3 VMC Photo Essay, page 8 Reviews, page 24 The Wall, page 25 Horoscopes, page 27 All About VOX, page 28

VOX Teen Communications 229 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 725 Atlanta, GA 30303 404-614-0040 | editor@voxteencommunications.org voxteencommunications.org All rights reserved. © VOX Teen Communications, Inc., 2014. This paper is printed on recycled paper using soy ink. Please recycle! COVER CREATED BY ALEXANDRIA WILSON | VOX STAFF

Connect with VOX!

Resources 24/7 by visiting the VOX website or scanning the code above.

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WORD OF MOUTH VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2014

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Hot On the Streets Music Midtown

September is here, and so is Music Midtown, Atlanta’s huge fall music festival. Every year, the buzz around this music festival increases tenfold as the date nears. Although tickets are a little on the pricey side, winning your way in can be as simple as turning on your radio. More info and tickets available at MusicMidtown.com. When: September 19-20 Cost: starts at $135 Where: Piedmont Park

Atlanta AAUW Bookfair Book worms unite at the AAUW bookfair! Find thousands of titles, hardcover and paperback, all at reasonable prices. All books being sold are gently used and the money goes to funding schalorships and community projects for the American Association of University Women. Find out info about attending and how to donate your books at BookfairAAUW.org. When: September 22-28 Cost: September 22 ($10), General Admission is free September 23-28 Where: Dillards wing of Perimeter Mall

L5P Halloween Festival and Parade L5P is hosting its 14th annual Halloween festival and parade. If you’ve ever been to L5P, then you know about the colorful and strange atmosphere that it has become famous for. If not, this festival would be a great chance to have some fall fun with a couple of friends. Food, pumpkins, and shenanigans are guaranteed. Learn more at L5PHalloween.com

When: October 18 Cost: Free Where: Little Five Points

Festival on Ponce Fall is a great time to take a stroll outside and get some fresh air, and checking out some artwork while you’re out isn’t such a bad idea either. So enjoy the fall weather at Festival on Ponce amongst the nature, art and some music. Also bring some cash just in case something catches your eye. Get more info by visiting FestivalOnPonce.com. When: October 18-19 Cost: Free Where: Olmstead Linear Park at 1451 Ponce de Leon Avenue

Taste of Atlanta If you’ve always wanted to be a foodie or are just passionate about food, then come to Taste of Atlanta. Different restaurants come together from all over Atlanta to provide samples of their food. The purchase of general admission includes 10 taste coupons, so choose wisely. Get all the delicious info at TasteOfAtlanta.com. When: October 24-26 Cost: $25 Where: Tech Square (Midtown)

— By Alexandria Wilson / VOX Staff ART BY ALEXIS JOHNSON | VOX ALUMNA PLUS ... FIND VOX IN THE COMMUNITY ALL YEAR AT ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY-WIDE FREE WORKSHOPS FOR TEENS! GET ON OVER TO YOUR TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM AND FOLLOW US @VOXROXATL, TO STAY IN THE LOOP ABOUT WHERE TO ENGAGE WITH VOX THIS SCHOOL YEAR!

Scenes from Dragon Con 2014 ALL PHOTOS BY ALEXANDRIA WILSON | VOX STAFF

MY STORY PAGE 4

VoxTeenCommunications.org VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2014 I walk the fine line between being a trustworthy confidant and doing what I can to correct a situation when I know he is doing wrong. I have to teach, but not patronize. I act as the mediator between him and our parents when they don’t see eye-to-eye and inform him when he’s demonstrating an attitude that will only hurt him. The nature of our relationship has evolved. He has become more independent. Now, I not only act as his moral failsafe and contingency plan, but he acts as mine as well. When I am being hypocritical, he calls me out. When I am being a bad friend, or misjudging a trend or person because of my own

My Brother’s Keeper By Jolisa Brown VOX Staff

hen our parents separated the first time and asked my brother and me with whom we wanted to stay, we were apart for days on end. I chose to go with my mom, while my brother chose our dad. It was hard, because before, my brother and I had been together almost every day. When our parents later separated yet again — this time more savvy, though still quarrelsome — we were together by their engineering. I’d come to the conclusion that though relationships with my parents were always changing and strained, my relationship with my brother didn’t have to be that way. When everyone else was unhappy or angry, we had to show one another we could be different. I would be

there for him. Throughout trivial and hurtful spats, lies, and spiteful behavior, the two of us have always managed to forgive and emerge from it with love. According to a U.S. Census study conducted in 2009, about 78 percent of Americans have at least one sibling. While I realize that my experience with my brother, Governor, may not be reflective of what everyone else’s relationship looks like, I can say for certain that it has shaped a huge part of who I am. He is a constant presence in my life who also grows and changes as I do. I am an older sibling and have been one for almost all my life. What being an older sibling means to me is the same thing it means to be a family member, period: you have to love unconditionally. Being an older sibling is a full time job. It’s hard to know how to do what’s right.

bias, he lets me know. I am better for that. A sibling relationship is unique from others in the sense that there is no out, and this is a fact that you are aware of from the time you are young. Family scientist Nina Howe of the Centre for Research in Human Development in England maintains that, in the confines of a sibling relationship, kids learn a lot about conflict resolution. Though we aggravate and torture each other, we also learn the most efficient way of navigating our interactions with others. Siblings get the rough version of ourselves — one that’s still trying to learn how to behave. In our encounters with our brothers and sisters, we have the opportunity to, in effect, test ourselves out. Their responses affect who we ultimately become. When we were younger, Governor and I often had these petty arguments that would spiral into apocalyptic scenarios,

each of us yelling that we hated each other and threatening not to speak to the other for as long as a week (though it never lasted). I remember once refusing to give my brother back a quarter I’d found in his room on the basis that he wouldn’t have known it was there if I hadn’t found it. He told on me, and I was enraged. I tattled about everything he had done in the past week, even in instances where I had been doing the same thing and would be punished, too. That misstep ended up landing us both whippings. I learned something from that about conflict resolution. You should never intentionally aim to hurt someone else, because then everything becomes a bigger issue than it was originally, and you especially should never try to harm family. Throughout all of the fights that we had, though we were sometimes hurtful to one another, we always forgave each other. In a sense, we were each other’s only company. No one would ever truly understand living in our household and being angry with our parents, or loving to watch that show “Power Rangers” while leaping between couches and mimicking their fluid movements. We talked to each other about things that no one else could know — our hopes, our fears, our crushes. We eventually grew out of fighting with each other altogether. As we got older, we became more agreeable. We’ve become distinctive, different people with different expertises to bring to the table. I’ve always been the one to get the better grades, the one who was able to better navigate interactions with adults. He has always been the more athletic one, the social butterfly. The role of leader has also become more mutual. While in many ways I set cues for Governor on how to behave and maneuver in the world, I see value in traits of his that I want to reflect. He is a great friend, always trying to make people laugh. Governor is frank in his opinions and doesn’t alter them, no matter what

Brother continues on page 5

MY STORY

VoxTeenCommunications.org

VOX Staff

he darkness fills the room. I’m sitting on my bed rocking back and forth, trying not to look it in its face. It was following me all day! I felt its presence sitting next to me in class, playing basketball with me in the gym, and even when I was surrounded by people at lunch. I left my room to go get some water downstairs. I opened the refrigerator, reached for the pitcher of water, and turned around to see that it was standing right there. It grabbed my neck and forced me to the ground. My tears didn’t stop it from continuing to suffocate me. I didn’t

the pressures may be. He is savvy when it comes to people and their intentions and just the way the world works in general. He’s observant. I’m stuck with Governor, and I’m okay with that. Writer Erica Goode once wrote, “Sibling relationships … outlast marriages, survive the death of parents, resurface after quarrels that would sink any friendship. They flourish in a thousand incarnations of closeness and distance, warmth, loyalty, and distrust.” I couldn’t agree with her more. All I can say is that I am glad to be a sibling.

Jolisa, 15, is a sophomore at Westminster. She looks forward to the day she meets her doppelgänger. The drawing on page 4 was created when Jolisa and Governor were little, by a street artist in Underground Atlanta.

goals

and dreams are worth living for. I no longer run from who I am. I embrace who I am. Every now and again I catch periods of depression, but never thoughts of suicide. I think that my suicide attempt allowed me to see that I was taking myself to a place of no return. When I see the scar on my arm, it always reminds me of that night. My life was not worth giving up, and today I know that if I committed suicide, I would have been making the greatest mistake ever.

Brother continued from page 4

know what to do. I hung my hand on the edge of the counter above to try to find something to get it off of me. When my hand returned to my side, I held a cold, sharp knife. I strengthened my grip, jabbed it, and screeched, “Get away from me! I don’t want you anymore!” I ran upstairs and closed my door as fast as I could. I slowly fell against the door and hit the floor silently, so it didn’t know where I was. But when I looked up, it was standing in front of me. Then it sat in front of me. Tears began to stream down my face once again, and I closed my eyes. If only someone had been there to rescue me. If only people could accept me. If only I could just be me! It said, “Kaleb, look me in the eyes and tell me to go. I will leave you alone. But I can’t promise that you that I won’t be back.” I looked it in the eyes, put the knife to my arm, and began to dig the blade into my own skin. While blood began to rise from the cut I made, I told it, “I can’t be you. I will never be you. Look at me!” The pure, red blood began to taint my shirt, and I grabbed a towel to press on the wound. My room began to spin, and the darkness engulfed me into its frigid arms. Soon after, I was asleep, but filled with regret and despair. I woke up the next day and saw the faint knife mark across my wrist. I grabbed a bandage and promised myself to tell my mom about my suicidal thoughts and the previous night’s attempt. All day at school, I kept thinking, "That darkness in my room last night was me.” It was Kaleb being who he truly is. I kept trying to escape. Kaleb was trying to

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save Kaleb! Presently, I encourage myself to be who I am, because I’ve realized allowing depression to take you over only hinders personal growth. I find myself the opposite of who I used to be in middle school when that low occurred. Over the years, I started appreciating myself and realizing that my

By Kaleb Anderson

Into

VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2014

Kaleb, 16, is a junior at B.E.S.T. Academy. No matter how opposite two things may be, he always tries to find something in common between them.

Where to Get Help National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 1-800-273-TALK(8255)

www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

The Link Counseling Center www.thelink.org Sandy Springs Cobb County 404-256-9797 770-541-1114

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: Atlanta Chapter www.afsp.org www.afsp.org/local-chapters/find-your-local-chapter/metro-atlanta 400-374-5197 P.O. Box 465104 Lawrenceville, GA 30042

CULTURE PAGE 6

VoxTeenCommunications.org VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2014

The Colour Negative Takes Positive Steps

By Sarika Temme-Bapat VOX Staff

n the modern world of pop culture and music, a band neither motivated by fame, nor consumed by it, is a rare find. The band The Colour Negative is such a rare find. The Colour Negative, a Christian Alternative Rock band run by the Taylor family, impressed VOX Media Cafe reporters this July. Based on the genuine way they spoke to reporters, band members seemed to be diamonds in the rough. Keeping a level head with rising media attention and scrutiny is easy to say, but hard to do. On top of that, The Colour Negative is now coached by Jan Smith, a big name in the music industry, who has collaborated with icons such as Justin Bieber and Drake. So how will The Colour Negative, with their increasing popularity, retain their values when all around them, principles seem to be thrown out the window on the ascent to acclaim?

All in the family For the Taylors, music is a family business. Ian Taylor is the lead vocalist and guitarist. His younger brother, London Taylor, is the bass player and backup singer. Their dad is their manager, and, speaking about their parents, the boys conveyed they are “super grateful.” “They’ve supported us a lot,” Ian said. But, will the mounting fame corrode the family’s bond, like it has so many

others? When asked if they feared that the pressure of success would turn them against each other, or create animosity between them, the two siblings paused just for a moment, and turned toward each other, before confidently, simultaneously responding “no.” From the look of pure affection they shared, it was clear why. “Sure, it’ll be harder, but you gotta hold strong, hold fast,” said Ian. When the crowd becomes a negative influence, they said they are often tempted to stray from their beliefs, but, as Ian put it, “Your background and faith reels it all in. We keep each other straight.” Although confessing to the occasional minor disagreement or spat, he stated,“We don’t fight.” The lyrics of the song “Sound of Angels” give insight into the kind of soul that the band puts into their work, which becomes evident when they perform on stage and become absorbed in their music. “Hope’s calling out your name. Your life's not over. Stop inching closer. There's more to life than this.” Christianity is not just the inspiration for the band, but also what keeps them grounded. Their religion, the subject of many of their songs, is the wing that gives their music flight, and is an anchor, which keeps the boys grounded to their morals. “Without faith,” Ian said passionately, “my music would be nothing, have no meaning.”

Fame “The idea of fame really isn’t appealing,” said lead vocalist Ian Taylor.

But just because the band doesn’t want fame, it doesn’t mean they don’t dream big. The band’s debut was actually a 7th grade talent show, where they walked off stage, suddenly full of the knowledge that they were somehow meant to keep performing for the world. They want to “continue for the rest of our years,”they said. Ian said he was eagerly “waiting for the day I can drive and hear my song come on, on the radio.” Right now, the brothers disclosed they have completed as many as six new songs, and Ian says the new album will be released soon. The band’s fantasy venue is Red Rocks, an open air amphitheater near Denver, Colorado. When the band imagines their future, they see themselves “touring the world, with your best friends.” They recently performed overseas for the first time, in Taiwan. Connecting with the people there, Ian said they discovered that “music speaks every language.” They have met fans who relate to their songs, and these are the people who inspire them to continue producing music. As London said, “Music can say what words cannot.” London and Ian Taylor are not celebrities. They are passionate musicians — artists with a message of hope to spread. Really, they are two down-toearth boys who laugh at the memories

TEENS AT VOX MEDIA CAFE SNAP A GROUP SHOT WITH THE COLOUR NEGATIVE AT ATLANTA’S HARD ROCK CAFE AFTER AN EXCLUSIVE PRESS CONFERENCE IN JULY 2014. PHOTO BY VOX TEEN INTERNS

of embarrassing home music videos and poke fun at each other good-naturedly. They make sound effects with their mouths as they play imaginary air guitars. They reminisce sheepishly about phases of “emo” or “gothic” hairdos, which, they admit, may not have been the most flattering looks. Most of all, they are two brothers, following their dreams and their faith, and eagerly anticipating where the road will take them. What separates The Colour Negative from many jaded stars, whose latest personal drama is plastered all over the front covers of gossip magazines, is that they are not just a boy band, but a brothers’ band.

Sarika, 14, is a freshman at Northview High School, where she enjoys running on the cross country team. She also enjoys baking, drawing, singing and dreams of traveling the world.

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CULTURE VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2014

Running Hollywood’s Maze By Zani Nobles VOX Staff

hate Gally, but Will Poulter, the actor who plays Gally in “The Maze Runner,” is awesome. This just goes to show that Poulter is a phenomenal actor. Viewers see the funny side of Poulter in “We’re the Millers” when he plays Kenny, an awkward, quirky 18-year-old who helps his fake family make a ton of money on a scam. In his new film “The Maze Runner,” his character is the complete opposite. Poulter plays a villain named Gally who is out to sabotage everyone living on the dystopian glade. It’s funny seeing Poulter as Gally in “The Maze Runner,” and then meeting him in person. When Gally is on screen, you can feel the uneasiness among the other characters. He adds a level of suspense to the film because it is evident that something bad is bound to happen whenever he is in a scene. But there is a totally different energy when Poulter speaks during the interview. “The biggest challenge for me was having to play the douchebag when I’m so nice” Poulter told VOX reporters at a press conference in late August. From the 30 minutes I hear him

speak, I know that there is so much truth to this. He is a genuine person, and has a way of making you feel comfortable when sitting in a room with him.

Teens can learn a lot from Poulter. At age 21, he has made a career out of what he loves, and he has been doing it for years. “Life is too short to spend five days a week unhappy if you can do what you love,” Poulter told VOX reporters. Everyone has a talent, and it’s important to not be discouraged from showing it off. Poulter can attest to this. He used to struggle in school, and he even had one teacher say he wouldn’t be anything. “Turn the negativity around and produce something else out of it,” he says. That is exactly what he did. He proved to anyone that didn’t believe in him that he would be something great. Now he’s a successful actor. Poulter is living proof that when you ignore the naysayers, you end up on top. Zani, 17, is a senior at Riverwood International Charter High School. Poulter is pictured above, at a VOX press conference in late August. All photos on page 7 by Zaria Young, VOX Staff.

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THE VOX TOP — VOXers’ Top 10 Summer Movies as ranked by RottenTomatoes.com (Darker = better)

LucyGrandBudapestHotel TeenageMut antNinjaTur tles MaleficentDawnOf ThePlanetOfTheApes N e e d F o r S p e e d ThePurge:Anarchy GuardiansOfThe GalaxyGodzilla

TheFaultInOurStars ART BY TRU SPANN | VOX STAFF

Press Conference with “The Maze Runner” Stars ABOVE: TEEN REPORTERS AT VOX POSE FOR A

GROUP SHOT IN FRONT OF THE “QUESTION OF THE DAY” BOARD. THE QUESTION WAS “WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?” TO WHICH POULTER ANSWERED “GOOD WILL HUNTING” AND CO-STAR KAYA SCOLDELARIO ANSWERED “TERMINATOR 2.”

ABOVE: TEEN REPORTERS AT VOX HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH POULTER AND SCOLDELARIO AFTER A PREVIEW OF THEIR NEW FILM “THE MAZE RUNNER,” WHICH HITS THEATERS ON SEPTEMBER 19.

CULTURE PAGE 8

VoxTeenCommunications.org VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2014

SummerInTheCity Teens at VOX Media Cafe summer camp explored downtown Atlanta and honed their photography skills with expertise from professional photographers.

PHOTO ABOVE BY EURIAH RHODES

VoxTeenCommunications.org

CULTURE VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2014

PHOTOS TOP HALF, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: STUDENT WALKS THROUGH GEORGIA STATE

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PHOTOS BOTTOM HALF, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: HIDDEN ART IN ORDINARY PLACES (SARIKA TEMME-BAPAT). MAN IN WOODRUFF PARK

UNIVERSITY’S CAMPUS (AMARIS POWELL). TWO MEN FACE OFF IN A DAYS-LONG CHESS MATCH AT

PERCHED ATOP HIS BIKE (TAYLIN-DESTINY MORRIS). A GOOD HAND? WOODRUFF PARK OFFERS CARDS AS WELL AS CHESS (DORI BALSER). IN A

WOODRUFF PARK (GRACE REEVES). CHESS AFTER A SUMMER STORM (ALLISON FIVEASH). A MAN

BUSTLING DOWNTOWN, A SEARCH FOR FOOD (TAYLIN-DESTINY MORRIS). ART IS EVERYWHERE IF YOU JUST LOOK (BREANA REYNOLDS). CHECK

STRIKES A POSE IN WOODRUFF PARK (SAMARIA CAMPBELL).

OUT MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 25-26 AND AT THE VOX WEBSITE: VOXTEENCOMMUNICATIONS.ORG.

COMMUNITY PAGE 10

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EDUCATION PAGE 12

VoxTeenCommunications.org VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2014

Evolution of the Nerd Why the so-called nerds are taking over high school

By Mikael Trench VOX Staff

uddenly, the moment I dread from the second I walk into my high school: fourth block. Honors British Literature. Just walking to that class makes my stomach queasy, and I want to take as long as possible to get there. Walking in, I feel tension surround the room. The teacher is grading papers. It looks like he’s going to be handing them back today. He doesn’t seem happy. I sit down awkwardly and take out the tons of homework I have along with anything I know I’ll need for the class that day. Then we begin. I just want to dash out the door like a charging rhino. He checks our homework, asking each of us to answer the questions we have about our assignments. He calls on me. I shiver like a rabbit. I scramble through my mind, trying to pull myself together. The piercing eyes of the magnet kids around me feel like a pack of wolves, closing in and waiting for me to fall. I just want to close my eyes and not be in that awful place, but I’m forced to stay. My hand quivers as I hold my homework in my sweaty palms and ready myself to answer the question. I take a deep breath, exhale, and I realize it: I didn’t even finish my homework.

The nerd stereotype This was my daily experience in my Honors British Literature class,

except that most of the time I did do my homework, only to find out that the answer was wrong or not the way the teacher wanted. By far, it was the worst class I ever had to take. But what made it so bad? Was it the work? Well, to be

face acne. In social situations, they are awkward and only hang out with other nerds. They’re ignored by their crushes, suck at sports and are awful dancers. They’re basically at the very bottom of the school’s social food chain.

The reason we really call people nerds is because they are doing something, or are into something, ahead of their time. honest, even though it was tough and it was a lot, it was an honors class, and I should've expected it.

What about the students then? Many of the students were just trying to do their jobs: coming prepared, listening to the teacher, respecting others, and getting work done. And because the majority were magnet kids, they always went the extra mile to finish an assignment. Why was that so? What made them such hard workers? What makes these so-called nerds so nerdy? Throughout the decades, the face of the nerd has changed quite a bit. For many, the word nerd conjures up a wimpy, skinny kid who has big glasses, suspenders, and tacky clothes (in other words, Steve Urkel from “Family Matters”). According to the stereotype, nerds do almost nothing but study for school, read books, collect comics and put ointment on their excessively bad

But does the whole world think of a nerd like this? Not exactly. In many Asian families and cultures, for example, children who study a lot and are super smart are admired and thus, many Asian children are brought up to believe in the power of intelligence and academic success. Also, many famous people were once considered nerds. Some of these people include Iggy Azalea, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. When they were teens, the things they considered cool were weird to everyone else. They were called nerds. However, as we all know, these people are incredibly successful today. And it was all because they never listened to the haters. In my opinion, the reason we really call people nerds is because they are doing something, or are into something, ahead of their time. What the world could be in one year could be drastically different from the next to the next. Who knows?

Maybe 10 years from now, selfies and hashtags will be a thing of the past, and people may end up being into monster movies. It could happen.

The modern nerd So why did the kids in my class make me dread going there so much? Even though they were overachievers who were into their school work, they still enjoyed other things that are popular today. In my opinion, that’s actually what makes them so intimidating. While many people see magnet kids as nerds who do nothing but school work, I have begun to see them as people who are starting to gain power in high schools across the world. They not only have amazing intelligence and an unbreakable work ethic, but with the age of the Internet and smartphones, they are able to reach out to others like themselves and thus, increase their intelligence and working capabilities. It’s much like a pride of lions on the hunt in the African bush. Together, they have the capabilities of the most experienced cats to take down prey and can learn from their own mistakes and the tactics of the better hunters to become better killers. And it doesn’t stop there. In their element, nerds have the advantage. By their element, I’m referring to classrooms, particularly honors and Advanced Placement classes. Larger numbers of these magnet kids can work together toward getting a job done right and intimidating those who aren’t as good (even though they likely don't mean to

EDUCATION

VoxTeenCommunications.org intimidate anyone). This combination of teamwork, intelligence, work ethic and intimidation is why nerds and magnet kids rule the school. And to be honest, it’s not exactly something to frown upon or feel jealous about. Magnet kids are always to be admired, because they show us all what can be accomplished when we go the extra mile.

VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2014

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The Fault in the Stars of a Class Clown By Mac Rowe VOX Staff

So what? I ended up passing Honors Brit Lit with an 84. On the last day of that class, I could not help but breathe a huge sigh of relief to be walking out of and, hopefully, never back into that door again. Yet, I couldn't help but wonder how the magnet kids do it. How did they get on the teacher’s good side? Why is it like I’m so invisible to them? It all boils down to one answer: they simply do what they’re asked, and then some. And that’s something to be admired. To any magnet kids reading this out there, I want you to know that high school wouldn’t be what it is without you. You teach the rest of us to always do our best and to go one step further. Mikael Trench, 16, is a high school junior who hopes to one day become one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and likes making short sci-fi films.

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AT L A N TA’ S R O A D P O CA LY P S E By Sachin Swami VOX Staff

y life goes a little like this: wake up at 6:00 a.m. and leave at 6:50 to reach school by 8:00. I leave school at 3:30 p.m. I’m lucky to get home by 4:40. I spend anywhere from two to three hours daily just driving to school and back. As a resident of Kennesaw, but a student at Woodward Academy in College Park, my commute amounts to exactly 70 miles round trip. When I say my life depends on the mood of the traffic flow on interstates I-75 and I-285, I am not kidding. On lucky days, I have arrived home in just under an hour; on the worst days, it has taken me three. With the company of FM 107.9’s The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, my mornings always stay colorful. However, on the way home, it’s not uncommon for me to hear “Fancy” played on the radio three times in one trip. Like most, I have gotten used to this over time. Traffic is not as inconvenient or frustrating an obstacle for me as it is for some people, but that doesn’t mean that this issue should go overlooked. Though I am alone in my car, I am not alone in this issue that is facing millions of Atlanta’s commuters.

The elephant on the highway Atlanta has been historically ranked as one of the most congested cities. According to the Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University, Atlanta has the seventh-worst commute in the U.S. Metro Atlantans are commuting 34.4 minutes on average, almost 10 minutes longer than the national average time of 25.5 minutes. An estimated halfmillion of us commute more than 90 minutes or 50

miles one-way daily. The stretch of I-285 between I-75 and I-85 made its way onto the “Highways of Hell” list, with The Weather Channel placing it as the 6th most trafficked corridor in the U.S. One Atlanta commuter noted on the The Daily Beast’s “America’s 75 Worst Commutes,” “I wish they would make a ‘Grand Theft Auto: Atlanta’ so I could blow up the videogame version of Interstate-75. It would be good therapy.” And if you felt your commute went unrecognized, all Atlanta interstates made it onto INRIX’s worst corridors list.

to those living inside Atlanta’s I-285 perimeter. Adding to that, the frequency of MARTA trains and buses is not high enough to make it a valuable alternative, leaving some riders to wait up to 40 minutes for their buses to arrive. Atlanta is often noted for having the lowest cost of living out of any major American city, but with New York City’s Metro costing $2.75 per single ride, MARTA’s $2.50 is not far behind. Our public transportation system is lacking. The more we neglect to address it, the more we increase our dependence on

The stretch of I-285 between I-75 and I-85 made its way onto the “Highways of Hell” list, with The Weather Channel placing it as the 6th most trafficked corridor in the U.S. cars.

What about public transportation in “metro” Atlanta?

What is “Atlanta”?

Many say it’s time to reconsider using Atlanta’s public transportation system, but MARTA has a long way to go before it becomes anywhere near convenient for most commuters. MARTA train routes are not all-encompassing, like New York’s and Chicago’s systems, as the MARTA train lines only go in four directions, and with only a few exceptions. They are exclusive

The issues surrounding traffic and public transportation largely stem from urban sprawl. One day, on my way to Athens, Ga., I passed through a very small town called Monroe. It consists of only a sequence of a few streets with lots of fields and farmland. To my surprise, this small Walton County town, an entire hour outside Atlanta, was considered part of

“metro Atlanta”. This left me thinking, What isn’t considered metro Atlanta in this day? A very small fraction of what’s considered the Atlanta population actually has “Atlanta” as the city listed on their home address. A 2014 University of Utah study examined the largest metro statistical areas suffering from urban sprawl, and Atlanta took first place. Atlanta is one of the few major cities not limited by any border or body of water, leaving our infrastructure to continually expand — always, in all ways. With property prices substantially lower than most major cities, suburban developers are constantly enticed to build out, as opposed to up. As a result, our public transportation system cannot keep up. MARTA has barely incorporated the internal Atlanta area, and the infrastructure cannot be built at the speed at which our city is expanding. Suburban dwellers like me plague the highways with commutes into the city every day, accounting for long travel times. And with the continuous development, it may not be far before everything between the borders of Alabama and Tennessee is considered “metro Atlanta.” If Atlanta were denser, there would be a higher demand for public transportation. But beyond the policy debates and hard numbers, my long commute takes a more intangible toll. Because I spend so

much time in the car getting myself to and from school, it can become a struggle to do simple things, like meet up with friends, since they live so far away. I do believe that it is possible to bridge this growing gap between development and infrastructure. But to fix a problem as indefinite as urban sprawl takes very serious planning. Sachin, 17, is a senior at Woodward Academy. The image at left is from Google Maps, taken on a day Sachin had to commute home from College Park to Kennesaw.

No Car? No Problem. These services can get you where you’re going. For a list of commute alternatives, visit CleanAirCampaign.com

1. Zipcar.com 2. ItsMarta.com 3. Lyft.com 4. Uber.com

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An American in Rennes

A year studying abroad in France unmasks the differences in education By Tara Subramaniam International VOX Correspondent

ife in France was a series of fulfilled clichés (cafés are truly everywhere and crêpes are a frequent occurrence, especially in Brittany), intermittent culture shocks (try drinking orange juice out of a cereal bowl every morning), and a sense of starting anew. As someone who has been at Westminster for all my academic life, transplanting for my junior year gave me a taste of what it feels like to be the “new kid.” For those unfamiliar with the program, School Year Abroad (SYA) is a yearlong language immersion study abroad experience for American juniors and seniors, with campuses in four countries — France, Italy, Spain and China. The SYA France Class of 2014 consisted of 66 students (56 girls and ten boys) from all over the good ol' USA. I attended classes with said motley crew of Americans at a school for the program, bluntly dubbed the American School, located just outside the heart of Rennes. Rennes, the city where I spent nine months, is the capital of the region of Brittany and a college town, located two hours due west of Paris by train. Aside from the location, my junior year progressed a little differently from back home. School went from 8:10

a.m., to anywhere between 2:30 to 5:50 p.m., every day except for Wednesday, depending on the courses a student takes. On Wednesdays, I started an hour later and all classes were over by 11:20. Having classes only until noon on Wednesdays is

standard practice throughout France, and it provides a well-needed respite from the seemingly endless school days. From an American educational system perspective, there are lots of discussions regarding the demands and pressure

for well-roundedness across academics, extracurricular activities (sports, service, music, debates) and testing. In my opinion, the French search for the ideal balance pushes even certain American limits. For example, in the States, learning a foreign language doesn’t start for most students until middle school. However, by that time abroad, students are choosing their third language, having started English back in elementary school. Daily limits are also stretched given that the school day doesn’t end till at least 5, often 6 p.m., or later (although their lunch period gives them a good hour’s reprieve). Testing is also much more highly emphasized than back in the U.S. Those involved with various education reform movements in the U.S. often complain about the power of the SAT (and to a lesser degree, the ACT) and the amount of teaching to the test (especially AP exams) on a day-to-day curriculum basis. The immense focus put on the baccalauréat, or bac, (the all-encompassing, lifedefining exam taken at the end of French senior year, aka “terminale”) would leave American students aghast. After sophomore year, weekly tests serve to prepare students for the looming, fastapproaching bac with three to four hours spent writing an essay on an undisclosed topic within a certain subject area. In terms of depth and amount of writing, that’s like taking an AP Lit or AP Euro exam every week. Overall, the French education system is like an intense funnel, simultaneously shepherding those who pass the initial grades, to filter on to another rigorous cycle of testing, and constantly pushing the students to strive for balance and equality. The French are very conscious about not getting too burned out, though, whether it's on a daily basis or in the grand scheme of things. In that vein, they have two-week breaks scattered throughout the school year (in place of the slew of three day weekends back in America that don't exist here because, for example, the French don't care about Christopher Columbus).

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Additionally, lunch each day is a glorious hour and 15-minute break with a side of freedom. Taking a page from our American roots, we have four lunch options: two high school cafeterias (occasionally limited quantities and the potential for the elusive interactions with French teenagers), one tuition-covered school café (generally more Americanized, although menu options change weekly) and any other restaurant in the city (provided you pay for yourself and don't skip class). Having been assigned to groups based on our previous experience with the language and the placement tests we took the first day (which is what everyone dreams of doing on their first day back at school, am I right??), I attend each class taught in French in the company of the same lovely group of about 20 people. In a few of these French classes, notably History, drinking water or going to the bathroom is expressly forbidden, something that my host family

informed me is the norm in French schools, along with a complete absence of any formal dress code (apart from what seems to be a universal agreement to not wear any color brighter than like an olive green). The French also grade on a 20-point scale that does not, to the chagrin of my mathematically-oriented peers, translate literally into the American percentage system. An A (90+) can be anything from a 15 to a 20 and unfortunately, 19s and 20s (A+) are given out rarely, if ever. Most teachers consider anything above a 13 to be a good grade, earning you TB on your papers (not actually a weird strain of an old disease; TB here is just a common abbreviation for Très Bien, meaning “very good”). This grading scale is the product of an education system with an obvious hierarchy to many of its aspects. From as young as 10 years old, students are publicly ranked within their class, fueling

amongst the best students a competition for the top spot. Amongst the bottom of the pack, this creates a sort of apathy rooted in the presumption that, “we’ll never make it, so why try?” The public display of grades continues throughout high school and secondary education, with results for the bac posted for all to see outside the high schools. High schools are also “ranked” in that some are considered generally better than others, and everyone knows it, including the students. This pressure to attend the best school stems from a broader belief that grades are “the be-all and end-all” of successful education. The French system is set up such that only good grades will leave you with options for the future. By sophomore year, students must choose which subjects they want to focus on, which determines the bac (scientific, economic or literary) they will take at the end of their studies. Most of the decision

Study Abroad Opportunities for You! 1. American Field Service Intercultural Program AFS is a high school study abroad program that aims to connect many different lives and share cultures. The program offers summer prgrams, semester programs and group programs that travel to all continents.Visit their website for more information: www.afsusa.org.

2. Study Year Abroad SYA is a high school study abroad program during the school year. The programs offers trips to China, France, Spain and Italy. For more information, visit www.sya.org.

3. People to People Aims to take students on the journey of a lifetiime through study abroad programs and leadership travel experiences. For more information, visit www.peopletopeople.org.

BY KENNEDY THEDFORD | VOX STAFF

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on which bac to take is made based not on what the child truly wants to do, but on his/her grades, thus increasing the pressure to do well in school. Without decent grades, whole professions such as medicine (or anything scientific/ mathematic) may be off the table, simply because your grades weren’t good enough for that bac. This type of system that puts immense stress on students to decide their future career options at such a young age is not unique to France; my parents, who grew up in India, mentioned having to make similar decisions regarding secondary education options based on high school grades. But despite the structural changes, school is still more or less the same, no matter which side of the Atlantic you’re on. School, whether it is on a gorgeous sprawling campus or in an adorable Victorian house, is still school. More often than not (because eating out takes quite a toll on my well-worn Vera Bradley wallet from middle school) I still eat lunch at a cafeteria, where I mourn the lack of a different soup every day and take solace in the ever-plentiful baguettes. And no matter how hard I try, knowing I’m in France doesn’t make getting up at 6 a.m. to take the bus to school any easier. Weekends remain busy, as my classmates and I attempt to catch up on sleep and work and still have social lives. The world keeps on spinning: tests are taken, projects are assigned, units come and go, and slowly, the languages start to blur together. Things will inevitably get stressful, but c’est la vie. The abundance of chocolate, cheese and carbs (the holy trinity) has generously helped balance out the trickier aspects of studying abroad, such as the very real longing for a Chicken Biscuit. You can take the girl out of Atlanta, but you can't take all of Atlanta out of the girl.

Tara is a senior at Westminster. The photos on page 16 are of her friends at the palace Versailles and her lovely little school house in Rennes.

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By Sharmaine Fisher VOX Staff

ne day earlier this year, I was at a teen staff meeting with my fellow VOX people, including one of the adult staff. As I briefed my colleagues on the mountains of work I’d be doing that summer, I brought up my IB assignments. The adult staffer asked if IB was like AP. I chuckled. “Nooo …” I replied. That wasn’t the first time I was asked that question. Plenty see IB and AP as letters in the same bowl of alphabet soup. But that isn’t quite the case. While both are higher-level academic courses that better one’s chances of being accepted into a good college, they couldn’t be more different. For those entering high school and wanting to challenge themselves — but not knowing which is better suited for them — here’s some insight.

What do these letters mean? AP stands for Advanced Placement, a college-level program sponsored by College Board, an American company based in New York City. The AP program is available in most high schools. IB stands for International Baccalaureate, a worldwide organization founded and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. IB comes in the form of the Diploma, Middle Years, and Primary Years Programs, and the IB Career Certificate. The Diploma Program, in the United States, would take place in grades 11 and 12.

What courses are there to take? College Board currently offers 36 different AP courses in English, the sciences, foreign languages, social studies, the arts and math. The IB Diploma Program separates 31 courses into six subject groups, including language and literature, foreign language, social studies, experimental sciences, math and the arts. Most courses come in higher level (two

VoxTeenCommunications.org VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2014

IB vs AP How four small letters break down into a world of differences in the high school curriculum

years of study) or standard level (one year of study), some are SL only, and some are interdisciplinary courses (i.e., they fit into two subject groups).

•

What’s the workload like? AP students learn according to the college-level curriculum for their subject or subjects. The work is definitely more rigorous than in honors or gifted courses, and it requires much more critical thinking. Now, I won’t lie to you — IB does plenty more. Each subject has an internal assessment, or IA, (graded by the teacher, moderated by IB examiners) and an external assessment, or EA, (graded by examiners). Requirements for the IA and EA vary by course. There are three “core requirements” that absolutely must be done — and done well — in order to get the diploma: • A presentation and an essay for the Theory of Knowledge (ToK) course, which studies basic epistemology (study of knowledge). The presentation has to be on a “knowledge issue” (e.g., how language affects behavior in the case of an Israeli school making Arabic mandatory), and the essay must be written on one of 10 topics given by the program

•

(e.g., “Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of reason as a way of knowledge”). An extended essay (EE) on any IB subject, requiring that you consult a chosen advisor and conduct at least 40 hours-worth of research, is a big requirement. Topics have ranged from “In what different ways do Shaw and Anouilh present Joan of Arc in their plays?” (Language and Literature) to “Do wine bottles of different shapes behave as Helmholtz resonators?” (Physics). One hundred fifty hours of CAS (creativity, action, service) are required, which involves doing various meaningful activities outside of school hours. Possible activities include community service, athletics or creating art for a community project.

What are the exams like? Most AP exams, often given within the first 14 days of May, are in two sections — one is multiple-choice, and the other is free-response. The number of multiplechoice questions and the form of the freeresponse (e.g. essay, spoken response, or problem-solving) varies by course. Studio Art exams are actually a portfolio the

student submits by a certain deadline. All examinations are scored on a scale of 1 (really bad) to 5 (very awesome). IB exam sessions are in November and May. Most exams come in the form of two or three “papers,”or booklets. Exams for the arts vary. Beware — few exams have multiple-choice questions, and all exams require constructive response. At the end of the session, exams are scored on a scale of 1 (very poor) to 7 (Einstein-level). The scores for your six main subjects, along with the cumulative grade for your ToK and EE, can add up to a maximum 45 points on the IB diploma. The minimum requirement is 24 points, with certain conditions.

When and where can I take it? AP is offered throughout high school. For IB, those attending a school with only the Diploma Program are often enrolled in “pre-IB” to help them better transition. You don’t have to have been in the Middle Years Program or Primary Years Program to be in the Diploma Program, but DP is required in order to get the IB Diploma. Many high schools in the U.S. and Canada offer AP courses. IB courses all over the world can only be taught in a certified IB World School. Such institutions can be public or private. Current Atlanta-area World Schools with the Diploma Program include: Lovejoy High (Hampton), Atlanta International School, Campbell High (Smyrna), Decatur High, Douglas County High (Douglasville), Druid Hills High (Atlanta), Johnson High (Gainesville), Marietta High, MLK Jr. High (Lithonia), Maynard Jackson High (Atlanta), Morgan County High (Madison), Norcross High, North Hall High (Gainesville), Riverwood International Charter High (Atlanta), Shiloh High (Snellville), South Forsyth High (Cumming), and Tucker High.

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You Can’t Always Get What You Want But if you try (following dress code), you just might find you get what you need By Arlena McClenton VOX Staff

t’s an issue that smolders on the minds of all the nation’s citizens. Bringing it up can easily divide parents and children, brothers and sisters, mentors and mentees. One can’t mention it without hazarding strong opinions and hurt feelings. Everyone has suffered from (or applauded) the topic of which I speak: the school dress code. It seems the public school dress code debate began with the Tinker vs. Des

IBvAP continued from page 18 How do I sign up? For Advanced Placement, know what courses you’re interested in and talk to your counselor or teacher so your schedule can be set accordingly. For IB, different schools have different requirements for enrolling. For example, some of my friends and I had to fill out paperwork and undergo an interview.

What kind of student do I have to be? Whether you’re thinking of AP or IB, you have to be very willing to do your work. Procrastination is like dieter’s tea— sipping it more than every once in a while

Moines case, in which students planned to protest the Vietnam War by wearing black armbands, and the school promptly prohibited black armbands via the dress code. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that students could wear their armbands, and that school officials “couldn’t censor student expression unless they could reasonably predict that the student expression would disrupt school activities or invade the rights of others.” Although this case may seem to be the rallying cry for students against school dress codes, the Court specifically stated that the ruling didn’t apply to “regulation of skirt length or type of clothing.” This was a victory for free speech, but unfortunately, it didn’t address any of the other underlying issues with the dress code. I actually enjoy going to school without having to read about weapons or drugs on my classmates’ shirts. Yes, it might

is going to have dire long-term effects. Other paths to success include staying organized, paying plenty of attention in class, and, of course, lots of studying. But more than anything, you have to have fun learning. Most of your assignments will have to be some type of interesting challenge for you. This is especially the case for IB, since the work is more in-depth and higher in quantity. Remember to do your best in everything!

Which is better? Are bananas better fruits than apples? I sure as heck don’t think so, but others would disagree. In the end, both are good parts of a healthy diet, but they aren’t for everyone. An easy misconception is that

seem oppressive when our principals won’t let us wear tank tops, but dress codes exist for a reason. The dress code also acts as a safeguard for students who (perhaps unwittingly) advocate their political position through dress. Schools can be pretty diverse environments, and some students might become violent with others who have different beliefs. On the other hand, I have to ask, “What’s wrong with a little shoulder?” If someone buys a dress with the back cut out, does that really “distract” other students? Some dress codes could certainly be improved. If something is tasteful yet reveals an unusual bit of skin, why shouldn’t it be allowed? I’m a product of the public school system, and I’ve accepted dress codes for a long time without really thinking about them. A dress code is why I still don’t wear spaghetti strap dresses out in public without covering my shoulders, and why I still balk at wearing lace backed shirts and countless other innocent articles of clothing. I’ve been conditioned not to show skin, even skin that might be

just because IB is more rigorous than AP, it is the best thing in education since the principal’s list. In reality, the stress from the workload has actually made people drop out of IB. Sometimes the problem lies within how the school manages the program. If you want to be better prepared for what’s ahead, try talking to various types of people — students who got the diploma, students who didn’t, IB teachers, IB coordinators. Take their advice and draw your own conclusion. If you’re likelier to have a higher GPA with three AP classes instead of a two-year Diploma Program, then go for it. Sharmaine is a senior at Lovejoy High School.

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deemed acceptable. I’m sure I’m not the only one. This is the reason I scrutinize and critique dress codes so thoroughly. But we have to pick our battles. I understand that students want to be comfortable, but there are things I’d never fight for, like leggings. School is a pre-professional environment, and leggings don’t exactly scream (or even whisper) “professional.” There are very few workplaces that will condone leggings, so why get used to wearing them in high school? While sweatpants, a similar article of clothing, are also on the comfortable yet unprofessional side, they leave much more to the imagination. Sometimes we get so caught up in our personal experiences that we forget that public schools must cater to a variety of tastes and opinions. You can’t please everyone, but sometimes schools alienate the people they affect the most: their students. If you feel you’re being discriminated against in regards to the dress code, calmly talk about it with your school’s administrators. Decide from there what further action you need to take, if any. Remember, if you produce a calm, logical argument and talk about the problem in a way that doesn’t challenge the administrator’s authority, you’re more likely to have your argument heard. Don’t argue in a public hallway, for example, and don’t start anything on Facebook, like the students at Cowan Road Middle of Georgia. (They planned a mass demonstration to break dress code through Facebook and ended up getting expelled for terrorism.) The most important advice I can give is to pick your battles. Some are worth fighting. Some aren’t. Just please — don’t fight for the leggings. Arlena McClenton, 17, is a senior at DeKalb School of the Arts. She’s an avid writer and blogger.

Source: First Amendment Center. www. firstamendmentcenter.org

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Dropout Diary By Lucy Rodriguez VOX Staff

ave you ever wondered where you might end up after high school? Samantha (name changed) still asks herself that question every day. Who will she become? Maybe she’ll become a film director, a photographer, an information systems technician or a doctor. At 19, there could be endless options for her. At some point in your life, you’ve probably wondered the same thing as Samantha — what will you become? But, while many teens are busy thinking about their own futures, others are thinking about dropping out.

Why teens are dropping out There are many reasons teens drop out of school. Students who want to focus on their education notice they have not saved up money for college. Others are not getting enough encouragement from their family members or teachers. Students may drop out because they need to earn a living to support their families. That is the case with Samantha, who dropped out of school year ago. Samantha shared her story about dropping out with VOX. Her truth was that dropping out doesn’t get you far in life. According to the American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2009, the median annual income for a person who is not a high school graduate is $22,000. If the person receives a General Education Degree (GED), which is equivalent to a high school diploma, he or she earns, on average, $27,900 a year. Those who graduate with a high school diploma earn an average of $28,700 a

year. That is a difference of $6,700 a year. I don’t know about you, but to me, that is a lot of money. Salary increases are even greater if you earn a college or postsecondary degree.

Samantha’s story Samantha says she feels bad because she never reached her goal, which was to be the first person to graduate high school in her family. She told VOX that her decision to drop out of high school to support her family is complicated.

Teens are leaving school and finding it hard to come back

places, and I even dated a guy that only used me. He used me for a whole year, and I knew it all along, but I didn’t want to accept it,” Samantha said. “I didn’t want to be alone, so this meant I would stay, even if it meant more pain,” she continued. “I lost my virginity to him — wanting him to stay around. This did not make him stay.” As Samantha told me that, she began to feel this hurt again. She described the feeling as being “useless.” This feeling increased, and she started to do more drugs in an effort to become someone

Samantha went to an alternative school for one year. “I was proud of myself,” she remembers. And then something happened. “My graduation date kept getting pushed back, and then I fell into my old habits: skipping school and doing stupid things.” As I looked at Samantha, I couldn’t help but notice her eyes had changed. They’d become sad. That’s when she said, “I've struggled all my life. My dad was never around to have a good relationship with him. I just had my mom, brother and sisters.” Once Samantha entered high school, she realized there were lots of things that could distract her from school, among them drugs, skipping and fighting. Yet, she found, they were the exact things that also distracted her from her own problems and feelings, feelings of being alone, unloved. Eventually, the conversation turned to love. But strangely, her eyes filled with anger and not joy. “I tried looking for love in all the wrong

she knew she wasn’t. She said there was a time when she was ready to give up. But then her current boyfriend entered the picture. When she mentioned him, I noticed she started to relax. “I met my current boyfriend during this time. At first it was hard to trust him, but then we became friends,” she said. “I found myself trusting him more and more as time went on.” She smiled and gave a small laugh. “I told him everything about me, and the fact that he chose to stay and he didn’t leave gave me more than just hope. I still go through a lot of things, but he has not left my side in the two years we have been together.”

Reality bites Despite the support of her boyfriend,

she was still confronted with reality. In Samantha’s senior year of high school she found out that she would not graduate. “I didn’t have enough credits to do so, and I was upset because I had tried to show my parents that I would not be like my sisters,” she said. Samantha’s sisters had not graduated high school. The school told her that if she wanted to graduate, she would have to go a alternative school. She was excited for a second chance. “It was an opportunity that I could not pass by,” she said. Samantha went to the alternative school for one year. “I was proud of myself,” she remembers. And then something happened. “My graduation date kept getting pushed back, and then I fell into my old habits: skipping school and doing stupid things.” Samantha’s eyes began to fill with sadness, glassy as she talked about how she ended up not graduating. But there was a reason. Her dad left her family, and Samantha had been working to help support her mother and brother, along with herself. For six months this continued, and then one day out of nowhere, her mom accepted her dad back into their home. Despite her dad’s return, her family’s financial burden remains. Even so, she still thinks about graduating, though now she can’t from a traditional or alternative school.

Giving up on graduation, not on success Samantha has again started to look into online classes to get her GED. The support of her boyfriend and his family keep her encouraged. “I will not give up,” she proudly told me.

DROPOUT continues on page 21

VoxTeenCommunications.org

Distractions at School By Tyler Sutton VOX Staff

et me paint you a picture of a normal day in any middle school or high school around the country. You walk in a classroom and class starts. Ring. Ring. Ring. Someone’s phone goes off. Pitter. Patter. Patter. You look out the door and see someone running down the hallway. Tap. Tap. Tap. Your friend taps you on the back and turns to tell you about what happened last night. Chirp. Chirp. You get a Snapchat notification. We have so many distractions at school, whether it be in the library, cafeteria or the classroom. But what part do we play

DROPOUT continued from page 20

“I want to show [our families] that they were wrong to think that I would not be something big. I would encourage anyone thinking of dropping out, or those who already did, to go back to understand the importance of education.” Samantha wants others to know that education is a big deal. “Be who you want to be, because that is your dream. Do it for yourself, and show those who said you couldn’t that you could. And that you did,” she said. For more information on obtaining your GED or finishing your high school diploma go to www.dropoutprevention. org or the Georgia Department of Education at www.gadoe.org.

Lucy, 17, is a senior at North Atlanta High School.

EDUCATION VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2014 in adding to the distractions? Can these little interruptions affect our education? The definition of the word distraction is “to divide attention,” according to dictionary.com. Whether we excel at school depends on the distractions we have every day, both at school and at home. I know, we are all teens, so that means we have chores to do at home. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. The dishwasher goes off. It’s time to put the dishes away. Clap. Clap. Clap. The sounds of younger brothers and sisters running to you and begging you to play a game with them. Our chores, babysitting duties or even a job after school can keep us distracted. It can keep us from studying at night or doing homework, which can alter what we need to retain from class that day. The distractions also continue the night before you go to school. In the middle of doing your homework, you start to think, “What am I going to wear tomorrow?” So when we get to school, we are scribbling away to do that last math problem on our homework from the night before. Or the literature essay that is due in the next class. The clothes you picked out last night now may become a distraction. Have you talked to your friend wanting to show off your new shoes or your newest purse? The distractions of clothes and accessories is so prevalent, many schools have started a uniform dress code. I surveyed students at VOX Teen Communications’ summer program, who are in both middle and high school, about distractions they experience at school, as well as distractions they may have caused. The survey asked the students to rank what they found to be most distracting, from one (being the most distracting) to five (being the least distracting). Survey topics include: friends, cellphones, people in the hallways, crushes, boyfriends or girlfriends, and homework for another subject than the one they should be working on. For the first group of 12 to 15-year-olds, they said that people in the hallway don’t really distract them at all. They also said

friends and the cute boy or girl that they have crush on are the biggest things to force their minds to wander. The second group, 13-to 17-year olds, told me that their cellphones are the most distracting thing in their classes. What least distracts them is completing homework for another subject. I also asked the students to give tips that they think would help other students. Here are their top five tips:

•

Go to a quiet section of the library to study • Work alone when you have a time limit • Go to a tutorial session before or after school • Turn your phone off during study time or school hours • Get a good night’s rest The survey shows that in different age groups, there are different distractions. Many people have different ways of getting distracted at school, whether it’s the new kid in class that you want to meet, or the new funny video your friend uploaded on Vine. In addition to my peers’ tips above, here are a few other tips that I think can help teens lessen the distraction at school and home:

•

Prioritize what you need to do when around friends. • Go to quiet area when you study. • Sit away from friends in class to focus. • Find different ways to enjoy studying (make flashcards, a song or have a study group with people who don’t make you lose focus). • To manage time, make a list of all homework and projects with chores at home.

School just started, so keep these tips in mind while at school for a successful school year. Tyler, a junior at Arabia Mountain High School, is 16 years old and loves to dance!

PAGE 21

TEEN SPEAK: VOX writer Tyler talked to Dion Sands, a junior at Arabia Mountain High School, and asked him a few questions about distractions he faces at school.

1 .Why do you think there are distractions at school? I think there are distractions because school is boring. There are many other things to do like checking Instagram, and look at other people that are at school. Teachers have lectures (sometimes — it depends on the subject) and we think, Oh my gosh! I have 50 minutes left in this class! So our minds wander. When classes are fun, we don’t get as distracted because we want to pay attention. I tend to feel that at many times, when I get several good grades in class, I start not to pay attention and talk to my friends, because I know that I am going to pass the next test.

2. What distracts you the most in class? Other people. I am a social butterfly, so when I see other people, I am going to talk to them. You want to interact with people, and sometimes you want to say one word, but it ends up turning into a whole conversation. The conversations cause me to miss the important things that my teacher is telling us about upcoming tests and homework.

3. How do distractions affect you and your school work? I don’t hear what the teacher says. The teacher might be saying something important, and I won’t hear because I am having a side conversation. Sometimes I’ll ask my teacher why he/she didn’t pick up an assignment, and they will tell me that they did three weeks ago. But I didn’t hear him/her say they were collecting it, because I was talking. So you miss out on important things. Read more of Tyler’s interview with Dion Sands on the VOX website, VoxTeenCommunications.org!

EDUCATION PAGE 22

VoxTeenCommunications.org VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2014

Is There Life (or Work) Out There?

One VOX reporter asks recent college grads about their prospects out of college By Rashah Neason VOX Staff

igh school seniors spend a lot of time preparing for tests in order to get into college, studying for college level classes, and searching for the perfect college/university that we will one day call a second home. With all that, it makes life after college feel like it’s a millennium away.

But what happens after we receive our undergrad diploma? Will we further our education or jump head first into our chosen career? The job market is competitive, and with the Economic Policy Institute reporting the unemployment rate in May for all college grads over the age of 25 was at 8.5 percent, it’s questionable how much our degree will help us in years to come. On top of that uncertainty, there’s student debt. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Consumer Credit Panel, Equifax, and The Washington Post, 45 percent of people had student loan debt in 2013. Too much debt can make it hard for graduates to take that adult leap and buy a house. That leaves us deciding whether to live at home with our parents to save some extra

money, or continue to embrace the independent life and find a place that we can call our own. I spoke with two recent college graduates to find out what their future plans are. The first is Christopher Hawthorne, a graduate of Morehouse College, who majored in English. While in college, he interned with the DeKalb County Juvenile Court and Turner Networks. He plans on living on his own while attending law school in the fall. His degree will allow him to attend professional school and will later provide him with potential networking opportunities. When asked if he had any advice for

college-bound high school seniors, he said to “Develop good organizational and study habits now. Enjoy the social aspect, but keep a balance with your studies.” Our next graduate, Jamal Neason, attended Albany State University with a double major in early childhood education and health/ physical education. He now plans to go to grad school while living at home to save money. When he was in college, he did student teaching and field observation, and he feels his degree will give him an edge in the job market. When asked if he had any advice for high school seniors, he replied, “Follow your dream, whether that involves school, traveling, or doing something you’re truly passionate about regardless of what anyone says.” With this great advice from both graduates, my fellow high school students can go forth and conquer the world with our dreams, skills and passions. Although life after college may seem far off, it won’t be long until we’re the ones receiving our final diploma. We’ll be the ones embracing this scary and exciting thing called life.

Rashah, 17, is a senior at Woodland High School. Art at left by Hallie Hartley, VOX Staff.

VoxTeenCommunications.org

EDUCATION VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2014

I HATE SCHOOL! A common refrain that plagues teens, and why you should think twice before saying it next time By Christian Stallworth VOX Staff

hate school” is a common phrase high school students use. The importance of education tends to be undermined by tedious tests, seemingly pointless subjects and the weight of grades. Let’s face it: most students would not attend school if it wasn’t legally required. When I hear someone say they hate school, I can relate. I once hated school, too. The teachers would enforce unreasonable rules, raise their voices, show little care for us, and load us down with work. There were people in the halls and in the classroom who I did not necessarily get along with, either. Waking up early every day was a drag, and sitting still for an hour in each class was too difficult. Slowly, I began to dread going to class. I started to lose my motivation. But right before I fell off the edge, my mother

completely changed my view of education and school.

Changes in attitude One day, when my mother and I were talking, she shared an inspirational story with me about how education and school became her last hope. Her mother and father were not around, and she lived in a house with many of her young aunts and cousins. They all lived with her grandma, who at the time was cruel and over-protective. She was not allowed to go anywhere with her friends, and she did not feel loved. When her parents finally did pop up, my mother had already become accustomed to being without them. Eventually, she became engaged at school as a way to escape the monotony of home life. She spent time at the library, where she could escape her reality. When she was reading, writing and studying, the problems in her home life seemed less important, or diminished. She

realized that having a horrible childhood didn’t have to be the cause of a corrupt adulthood. Despite having no ability to change her situation at home, she did have the ability to change her future. From these conversations with my mom, I took two valuable lessons. One, in those times where I feel I cannot change my situation, I can change how I let it affect me. And two, when all else fails, I will have my education to fall back on. Today, my mom is an extremely successful technical engineer, and she makes enough money to support herself, my brother and me. She provides us with what we need and want (she can also still be a full-time “shopaholic” on the side). Every day, I witness the effects of working hard, staying focused and how she uses school and her education to her full advantage. The day after I heard my mother’s story, I walked into school with a new perspective. The teachers and students no longer affect my mood or attitude toward school, because I realized that school is not forever. And even though school bothered me at one time, I know it determines the way my life will go in the future. I could not imagine having daily life struggles or not being able to support my family. Doing great in school results in one less problem later on.

Tips and tricks to enjoy school more My advice to my peers is to forget the people who make school dreadful for you. Instead, bring your own fun to it. Think of it as a game. You will feel so much better after you win it. Get ahead and reward yourself with a delicious snack or simply more free time. Feeling accomplished is one of the greatest feelings in the world.

PAGE 23

Furthermore, do not procrastinate. Make friendly jokes in class about the subject, ask questions and be yourself. I know sometimes people look at you like you’re weird when you ask too many questions, but at the end of the day, it is your education. I also notice that, when teachers are harder on us, we are hesitant to ask questions because we feel intimidated. But teachers are there to help us and push us. They get paid so little, and we forget that they chose to be teachers. When you’re taking notes, write them how you will remember them best. When memorizing words, pick a part of the word and try to match it to its definition. It helps to make up a story or relate it to your life. For example, the word gallant means strong or brave. The “gall” in the word makes me think of gallop, which is what horses do, and horses are strong. It is that simple. When you see the word on a quiz or a test, you will automatically zero in on “gall,” which will trigger the story and definition. When you are creating interesting ways to remember information, you’ll find yourself too busy to be on your phone and getting distracted. Besides, texting and doing work at the same time causes you to be up late and be sleepy in the morning. I notice when I put my phone on silent and move it away from me, I get my work done much faster and have free time before I go to sleep. Remember that school isn’t forever, and you are also not a kid forever, so make the most of it now. As my mom showed me, your struggles do not define or determine your success, but your ambition, hard work and hope do. Christian, 17, is a senior at North Springs High School.

PAGE 24

VoxTeenCommunications.org VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2014

“The Scar Boys” by Len Vlahos

2048: A Numbers Game

By Lydia Mathis

By Sharmaine Fisher

re you bored out of your mind? Looking for a challenging game to play? Have chores to do and need a way to slack off? Then hop on the computer and visit http://gabrielecirulli. github.io/2048/ to play “2048.” Created by Italian web developer Gabriele Cirulli in just a weekend, this addictive puzzle game is almost an exact copy of the games “Threes!” and “1024.” Despite not being entirely original, the game’s website got more than four million visitors within a week. To play “2048,” you can use the arrow keys to slide tiles up, down, left, and right on a 4-by-4 grid, combining tiles of the same number to get a higher value. The primary objective is to get a tile containing “2048”, although you’re more than welcome to continue the fun by

Sharmaine, 17, is a senior at Lovejoy High School. Image above courtesy of Google Play.

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Lydia, 17, is a senior at Tri-Cities High School, and can always be found reading a book. Image above courtesy of Amazon.

getting tiles with multiples of the game’s namesake -- 4096, 8192, 16384 and even 32768. If you fill up the grid and can’t make any more moves, it’s game-over. I find this game to be a fun way to kill time and compete against friends. I love how the rules are so simple, yet playing the game itself requires a moderate level of thinking. Plus, the animation of the sliding tiles simple fascinates me. Want to take this game on the go? Worry not. You can download the 2048 app for free on Google Play and the iOS App Store. The original includes the classic, time trial, and multiplayer modes. Due to the game’s open-source code, various other versions of the app exist, including those with mission challenges, survival modes, practice modes, and themes from Dr. Who, Tetris, Flappy Bird and more.

VOX Staff

arry Jones sits down to write a 250-word college essay for the “faceless admissions professionals” at the University of Scranton, only he deems that a person can’t possibly describe who they are in 250 words. So this 250-word essay turns into a novel. Through his “essay,” he tells his traumatic story of how, when he was 8 years old, he was tied to a tree by bullies and how that tree was struck by lightning, leaving his face and neck covered with hideous scars. He describes his slow mental and physical recovery: being bullied, finding a friend, forming a band, and, of course, meeting “the girl.” This story is truly compelling. The novel captures the feeling of a kid who is not only being tortured by people, but also himself. This is not just a story about creating a band, but also about overcoming obstacles, making friends, being yourself and so much more. Everyone, especially teenagers, knows how hard it is to be themselves, but Harry has to deal with a mutilated face alongside the pressures and emotional drama that most teens deal with. As the story unfolds, we get to see Harry grow up and become a shy, introverted kid who can’t even stand up to his only friend, because he can’t afford to lose him. While Harry evolves, readers are allowed to reflect on their own childhoods, what they faced growing up, and the circumstances that made them

who they are and how they dealt with their own struggles. Harry says it best: “I understand that it's not where I end up that matters, but how I get there.” One of the most important things to me in this story is how we are brought along on this journey with Harry, and how it actually feels like he is talking directly to me, as if we were friends. Not only is it easy to feel as if Harry is a real person, but it is easy to relate to Harry due to the fact that he feels what most of us feel: shy, uncomfortable with our bodies, all while searching for a way to project who we really are underneath our outside appearances. Moreover, like most people, he found something that allows him to get away from it all and be himself. For some, that is reading or dancing or maybe even acting. But for Harry, that something is the sweet, melodic sounds that come from his guitar. In the novel he says, “Music I discovered that night, was a sanctuary, a safe place to hide, a place where scars didn't matter, they didn't exist.” Being in that band helps Harry through his struggles. This way of finding harmony in troubled times is the reason why this novel resonates and stays with readers for a long time. This novel is a definite must-read because everyone can find something they love or relate to in it.

VOX Staff

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REVIEWS

BY LUCY RODRIGUEZ | VOX STAFF

VoxTeenCommunications.org

Tears By Dallas Gordon VOX Staff I wonder if the pain I hold Rests in my eyes Is my smile now Less than ten thousand miles I weep then hurt then weep again Thinking in my head… I am really my only friend… I wish I could tell you every tear I’ve cried was of joy But I’d be lying because I could never Attest to what joy is Is it because I’m sensitive Or is it a test of God? I want to give up; this is my best... But I keep trying day by day Knowing that all I need is hope and Faith. God, I ask you to hold me and keep me Tight Because without you I won’t win this Unworldly fight.

THE WALL VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2014

Summer in the City More photos from summer’s VOX Media Cafe photography camp

The Boulevard By Christina Lucas VOX Staff I looks now out of window, And pensive eyed I sees a road. Wonders I - where does it go? And does I have the right to know, The things that road will undergo? The things that happen on a road! No ends it has, this lovely road, But only shifts and turns, and so I knows that she exists below, The wisest thing that is a road. Road high now - but somewhere low. And someplace covered up in snow, Oh miracle that is a road… I wonders where my road will go.

PAGE 25

PHOTOS, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A WOMAN TAKES SOME TIME TO READ IN THE PARK (HALLIE HARTLEY). A COUPLE SHARES AN INTIMATE MOMENT AT THE INFAMOUS WOODRUFF PARK (INDIA ANDERSON). AMIDST THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF PEACHTREE STREET, A CHESS PLAYER MAINTAINS HIS FOCUS ON THE CHESS GAME HE’S PLAYING (ALLISON FIVEASH). ATLANTA POLICE DEPARTMENT DETAIN SOMEONE DOWNTOWN AS PATRONS ACROSS THE STREET ENJOY LUNCH (SIMONE SANDERS).

THE WALL PAGE 26

VoxTeenCommunications.org VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2014

PHOTOS, CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: CAUGHT THINKING AT THE FOUNTAINS (HUNTER TYSON). A GENTLEMAN DOWNTOWN SHOWS OFF HIS EXQUISITE STYLE (AMARIS POWELL). JOHN PORTMAN’S PEACHTREE CENTER BUILDING MAZE (DORI BALSER). STICKERS EVERYWHERE (EURIAH RHODES). A WOMAN PROSELYTIZES IN WOODRUFF PARK (BREANA REYNOLDS). A DODECAGON GREEN SPACE IN A CONCRETE JUNGLE (GRACE REEVES). READING IN A QUIET AREA OF WOODRUFF PARK DURING LUNCH (TAYLIN-DESTINY MORRIS). A DOWNTOWN AMBASSADOR SPREADS SOME GOOD CHEER ON A HOT JULY AFTERNOON (HALLIE HARTLEY).

VoxTeenCommunications.org

HOROSCOPES + DONORS VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2014

Horoscopes

Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 22) Precision is key, but at times, it is better to loosen up. Libra (Sep 23 - Oct 22) Be the change and peace you want to see. Never forget: what you have to say is important. Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21) Go out and have some fun. You deserve it. Maybe even be a little mischievous. Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21) Stop with all the busy work! Relax watching

VOX THANKS ITS DONORS VOX Teen Communications connects diverse metro Atlanta teens to resources for building their confidence, increasing their capacity to meet life’s demands and ensure future success. Thanks to these corporate and community supporters for providing free educational opportunities for teens.

some movies, or even just listening to music. Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19) Don’t stress so much. Yes, things get a little confusing, but everything will solve itself. Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18) You might think you know everything, but take some time and find out the facts about certain things first.

Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20) Someone shines with charm and may be hard to resist. Watch out for love. Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 19) Don’t let your short temper get in the way of optimism. Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20) Generosity is the best form of self-indulgence.

Gemini (May 21 - Jun 20) Take some time to meditate, or your restlessness will get the upper hand. Cancer (Jun 21 - Jul 22) Your loyalty toward others can come off as clingy. Take some time to yourself and find a place to think. Leo (Jul 23 - Aug 22) Encourage the people around you, but don’t do it for your own vanity.

— By Manuel Portillo and Lucy Rodriguez / VOX Staff ART BY MANUEL PORTILLO | VOX STAFF

Thanks to our 2014 VOX Media Cafe Volunteers:

Corporate Superheroes - $25,000 or more

CLINT ALWAHAB ANDREW BACCHUS CHESTER BANASZAK, III ERIN LEVIN BERNHARDT DUSTIN CHAMBERS PAMELA DEMBO RALPH V. ELLIS CHRIS HELLMAN RYON HORNE

Corporate Heroes - $10,000 to $24,999

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Superhero ($25,000 and up) United Way of Greater Atlanta

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Heroes ($10,000 - $24,999) AEC Trust The Atlanta Foundation The Atlanta Women’s Foundation Nordson Corporate Foundation

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Champions ($5,000 - $9,999) City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs Mary Allen Lindsey Branan Foundation

Corporate Champion $5,000 to $9,999

PAGE 27

Corporate Leader $2,500 to $4,999

In-Kind Support for VOX: Aerobase Group, Allied Advertising, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta, The High Museum, Highland Bakery, Kilpatrick Townsend, Nick Strangis

AD SLATON JESSICA TEAL ROBBIE THARPE DAVID TULIS MICHAELA VINCENT JOEL WILLIAMS NATALIE YARBOR CHRISTINA ZDANOWICZ

ALL ABOUT VOX PAGE 28

VoxTeenCommunications.org VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2014

VOX connects diverse metro Atlanta teens to resources for building their confidence, increasing their capacity to meet life’s demands and ensuring their future success.

CONNECTWITHVOXONLINE

VOX serves teens across Atlanta in three key ways:

FACEBOOK.COM/VOXROX

1. In our afterschool program: Up to 100 teens participate throughout each school year on VOX’s teen staff where publishing is a vehicle for leadership development. At our downtown Atlanta newsroom, teens tell stories through traditional journalism, first-person non-fiction essays, poetry, art, video, audio, photography and more. While teens create printed content for the VOX Teen Newspaper and digital content for the VOX website, they also hone their voices as leaders by co-facilitating workshops, serving as paid interns, serving on the VOX Board of Directors and many other ways. 2. In our community workshops: VOX partners with schools and nonprofits in Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett and Clayton counties to bring workshops to teens in these places. We will serve more than 1,000 teens during the 2014-15 school year with workshops around the topics of essay writing, journalism 101, creative self-expression, youth voice and more. 3. As an audience of readers: VOX provides resources and stories to more than 30,000 teens in metro Atlanta through our printed and digital content. We print the VOX Teen Newspaper five times each school year and distribute the paper to more than 300 locations around metro Atlanta, including schools, youth-serving nonprofits, libraries and more. Wherever teens are, we try to be there as well. Additionally, all of the printed content, along with weekly web-only content, is published on the VOX website and shared via VOX’s social media channels.

Through VOX’s work, teens across metro Atlanta will be better prepared, connected and valued. We will always strive for VOX to be the place where teens speak and Atlanta listens. Check out more about VOX Teen Communications on our website: VoxTeenCommunications.org!

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Sign up to be on the teen staff: goo.gl/xZYZxT (Application deadlines are November 2 and January 15), or scan the QR code above!

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Sign up to be a VOX Newspaper distributor: goo.gl/ORhhfV (for locations in the five-county metro area only), or scan the QR code above!

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