USA vs. Jamaica: The Pinnacle of Track and Field Rivalry

June 11, 2026June 12, 2026 ~ kayacollins102 ~ Leave a comment

By Kaya Collins
Forsyth Central High School

12 seconds.

That’s about the longest a professional track and field sprinter will be on the track racing during a competition.

In 12 seconds history can be made, dreams have a chance to be fulfilled and hearts are broken.

Track and Field is an individual sport. Each athlete is responsible for every loss, every upset and every win. This makes every moment so much more passionate and important. Like every sport, professional track and field has had long standing rivalries that push athletes to their limits and make each athlete want that beautiful gold medal just a little bit more. The most notable of those rivalries is the competition between American and Jamaican runners. For decades now, competitors from these two countries have battled closely and hard for first place.

The USA has long been known and recognized for its astounding athletes. Not many in the world are willing and able to compete successfully against USA’s runners. But Jamaica stands out. For decades now, Jamaican runners have gone head to head with Americans in a fight fueled by national pride, tradition, and athletic culture.

The Paris summer Olympics 2024 showcased this rivalry in one of the closest men’s 100 meter dash races in Olympic history. USA’s Noah Lyles won gold after a neck and neck finish with Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson. The race was so close that announcers actually stated, or assumed, that Thompson had won the race before results were posted, and ended up being incorrect. Lyles winning the 100m mens final that year, especially with the race being so close with a Jamaican runner, only further fueled the rivalry between countries.

From old competitors like Jamaican Usain Bolt and American Justin Gatlin to modern day Kishane Thompson and Noah Lyles, the USA vs. Jamaica rivalry has made its impact and continues to showcase phenomenal athletes and promising talent for future competitions. The next championship meet is September 2026.

Now the question is, will the rivalry continue with each country securing wins back and forth?

Or will a champion emerge and settle the long lasting struggle?

Is College in the U.S Really the American Dream?

June 10, 2026June 12, 2026 ~ kayacollins102 ~ Leave a comment

By Kaya Collins
Forsyth Central High School

College tuition, student loans, piles of money for average education, and…wait – free education across seas?

Graduating students in America already have so much to worry about when making the transition from high school to higher education. Tuition is just one more stress factor that gets thrown into the mix. People from all over the world make the move to the U.S. for college. It’s the “American dream” to come study, live and thrive in the U.S. But what if it turns out that university in Europe is actually more cost effective, simpler and just happens to be outstanding education?

Hearing something like “low cost” may sound like low funded schools and poor education, but universities in Europe are actually found to have simpler yet more effective learning structures while remaining cost efficient and affordable. According to GBSB GLOBAL, bachelor’s and master’s programs are shorter in Europe while maintaining low-cost or free tuition. This allows students to focus more on their education and then entering the workforce much sooner than average American students, as well as sustain a higher quality of life throughout their college years.

European universities are more often built into their cities in contrast to American colleges which commonly have their own “college town” and communities. Students in Europe are able to live, work, study and socialize in these major cities which allows them to be more independent and thrive as young adults. Students can view this as a positive or negative and that entirely depends on the individual’s personality and skills.

Trigger warning: Admissions.

One large stress factor for students in America is the admissions process in their senior year of high school.

Essay this. GPA that. Clubs and sports and test scores this.

It can quickly get suffocating. Universities across seas still have an admissions process of course, but schools tend to focus more on grades and test scores of classes related to the intended major of the student compared to the complex route the U.S. takes. This way, students are able to focus on their specialized interests and skills and truly prepare for higher education before they even graduate high school.

American universities have great pieces to offer and provide incredible opportunities for students, but may not be worth the heavy costs that come attached with exceptional, cost effective schools in Europe.

Forget the “American dream” for a moment. Instead, switch to the mindset “when in Rome” and head on over.

College Affordability: US vs Europe

Kaya Collins

June 8, 2026June 12, 2026 ~ kayacollins102 ~ Leave a comment

Hi, I’m Kaya Collins. I’m 17 years old and soon starting my senior year at Forsyth Central High School. I’ve lived in Forsyth County my entire life and I love it but can’t wait to leave and experience more. I have one younger brother starting 8th grade in the fall and a dog named Ozzy. My dad is from upstate New York and my mom is actually from Poland. Having a parent who came to the U.S. on her own at an age younger than I am now has completely changed my perspective on the world, people and how to live your life fully. I’ve learned that anything really is possible and if you want to do something badly enough in your life, you’re able to accomplish it if you try. I also think it’s really important to find something that you love to do the rest of your life instead of working mindlessly at a job you dread until retirement.

I don’t actually plan on going into journalism once I graduate high school. I’ve always struggled with not being good at the things I enjoyed and then being good at things I don’t have a huge passion for. The closest I got to finding something that checked both of those boxes was writing. Specifically writing for absolutely anything sports related – sports journalism. That was it, my plan. I figured I could be decent at it and wouldn’t mind pursuing a career in it for the rest of my life. Then came the questions and grilling. Adults always asking, “So what job do you want to have?” or “Where is that job going to take you and what do you want it to do for you?”, and then one day somebody asked me why. “Why do you want to write?”. I couldn’t come up with an answer. That’s how I knew I wasn’t going to write for the rest of my life. I have so much respect for good writers and I enjoy it myself, but I was finally able to decide that it wasn’t truly a career I saw myself in.

I do also play a sport. I’ve run three years so far for our high school track and field team and it’s the most incredible experience. The connections that you make with people from the long meets and cold practices together are something so valuable that it’s hard to express. The thought of next year being our last together is almost crippling. I really don’t know who I would be without running and the people I met through it so it will always be a little part of any personal statements or pieces I write.

I may not become a writer but writing will always be apart of me and act as an outlet for all of the stories that I’ll experience and collect as I keep getting older.