Savannah Athy-Sedbrook | STUDENT JOURNALIST
Features
Different hair types lead to demanding routines
Looking around at the Augusta community, it is hard to find places where diversity is present. As a reporter, I felt it was important to find the areas where it was there, whether that meant students who do not celebrate Christmas or the more obvious areas such as black-owned businesses. But then I heard students talking about their hair. It was too curly, too heavy, too straight, too hard to manage, and I realized, that was it. That was the wake up call everyone needed. For some people, maintaining their hair meant waking up before the sun so they could shower, dry and style their hair. Others had to receive specific treatment at their salons. This story included so much more than I thought it would, but it was so much fun to write and to learn about.
Wrestling encourages team bonding
Whenever wrestling is mentioned, it is alway debating over cutting weight, the long practices, the tough facade put on by the participants. Rarely ever do you hear about the camaraderie and brotherhood that develops through the sweaty hours spent practicing and competing. It was so interesting to me the way the boys would joke around and be there for each other in all types of situations. Not so often do you have the opportunity to witness high school students, especially boys, be so vulnerable. When I looked closer at the sport, it was obvious that wrestling was more than competing to them; their teammates were their lifelines, their support systems and most importantly, their friends.
School changes create mixed student emotions
Beginning the 2021 school year, a lot of new rules were being enforced; masks, temperature checks, social distancing. On top of that, we had a new principal take over who wanted to make additional new changes as his way of taking over the position. Students and even some staff has various opinions on how things should have been handled, and most were extremely annoyed at the seemingly small additions he had, including music playing a minute before the bell rang. By writing this story, I set the tone for our relationship with principal Rick Rivera, and put us in good standing for the future. I found a way to balance the student voices' and opinions while still giving him the opportunity to do the same.
Mentioned in The Wichita Eagle round up of high school journalism
Production of 'M*A*S*H' changes due to COVID-19
COVID-19 meant the shutdown of schools, businesses and more. It also meant the play students had worked so hard to prepare was canceled. When school began again the following semester, I featured the way new and returning students came together to put the show on in the fall. With struggles such as wearing masks with mics, having to remain distanced and working with a brand-new cast to recreate the show, it was a lot to cover. The upperclassmen were disappointed at having lost seniors from the previous years, and new students were struggling to adjust.
