Hey everybody, my name is Charles Alexander Cook, but I just go by Alex. I have lived in Stockbridge, Georgia, which is in Henry County. However, I was born in Clayton County, where my mother lived the majority of her life. I have lived in the same house in Stockbridge for my entire life and I wouldn’t change a single thing about it. The house has four people living in it, my mom, dad, younger brother and myself. When I was in fourth grade, I switched from my 40-person school and started at Eagles Landing Christian Academy, or ELCA. This August, I will start my senior year at ELCA and I’m so excited for it.

While I have never had the opportunity to take a newspaper or journalism class, I have taken five different AP classes dealing with writing, history and research. Some classes include :AP Lang, AP Seminar, and AP United States History. I absolutely love writing and the creativity aspect of it. The rants or opinions that you can easily input through your words is one of the coolest things about writing to me. I think my personality is very easily shown through my writing and I think that is why journalism interests me. I can talk about anything through my personal lens and paint a picture that is beautiful and enjoyable to myself and other readers.

Something interesting about me is that I am a manager/assistant coach for three sports and four different sports teams. At my school, I help manage the football and baseball team and I act as an assistant coach for the varsity/j.v. basketball teams. I also act as an assistant coach for the Georgia Jayhawks, an independent AAU team out of Jonesboro, Georgia.

I absolutely love movies and will talk about any movie, any genre with anyone. Movies are another part of writing that interests me as the scripts go beyond just words and can make or break a movie and its quality. However, through all of my interests and passions, my favorite thing I do will always be related to basketball. Since the moment when I watched my first NBA game to the day I shot a basketball, I have been completely in love with the game.

Thanks so much for listening to a little bit about me!

Hi! I’m Burhann, I’m 16 years old, and I go to Buford High School (which is also the city I live in). I don’t have any journalism experience but I have been writing and a lover of reading since I was a little kid. I’ve been in the process of writing a coming-of-age novel for about three years, in which the plot of it has changed a total of five times and I’ve only started truly writing it for the past four months.

Journalism is not the major I plan to have in college, as I am more interested in literature and biochemistry. However, I’ve been in love with the news and media for years, and due to an early and ongoing obsession with Gilmore Girls (Rory specifically), I’ve always had an interest in journalism. Every now and then I’ll get the urge to write about the things around me and whenever I happen to come across a new interest, I express it through my writing. From think pieces about complacency in society and people in power to analyzing my favorite things in media, I’ve always inadvertently had a hand in journalism. Now, I want to become more confident in my own voice and the things that I have to say.

An interesting thing about myself is that I am a frequent lover of all things media, in which I go through phases of. Currently, I’ve been thrown back into my 10-year-long obsession with Spiderman, as Across the Spiderverse came out two weeks ago. I’m also interested in 2000’s – 2010 bands, and softer music in general (The Cardigans, 5sos, Lana Del Rey, Deftones, Leith Ross, and Faye Webster), and lastly a deep dive of anarchism/radicalism (which may have been a direct result of seeing Spider-Punk on my screen for the first time, but is not the only reasoning as to why I’ve taken interest).

Another interesting thing about me is that I love school and learning in general. I believe that by wasting educational resources, we’re doing a disservice to not just ourselves, but our curiosity and society as a whole. This school year, I fell in love with science, or more specifically, chemistry, and realized that I would also like to know more than two languages. Currently, I’m intermediate in French and am attempting to self-teach Spanish with the goal of being language certified in both by the time I graduate high school. I’m also on an all-AP ELA track in high school and plan on being dual enrolled the summer before senior year, with the goal of being able to skip my first year of college.

I believe that there is so much to be learned and with so little time on Earth, why waste the resources and materials handed to us? And while I could write of how the education system isn’t set up to support everyone and is at times set up for students to fail in terms of standardized testing and unavailable resources, this is about me, and I have thankfully always been in places where education and resources are always readily available to me. Due to growing up with immigrant parents who were nowhere near as fortunate as I am, I was always pushed to explore and take advantage of the resources given to me. So when a teacher pulled me aside, in March 2022, and told me that there was a creative writing camp she’d believe I would enjoy, I took advantage of that. Fast forward to today, June 19, 2023, I am here for the second year in a row, but this time to explore my own voice and what I am capable of.

My name is Sarah Buck. My actual name is Susan LaFon Buck but I really hated the name Susan. Susan is my grandmother’s name but Sarah is my other’s grandma’s name and what my parents almost named me. It’s confusing but my grandma’s names are: Sarah LaFon Lawrence and Susan Gail Buck so I’m named after a mix of both of them.

I was born in Newnan, Georgia on Oct. 30, 2009. I am an only child, but I have always had pets. We have three Jack Russels because they are my parents favorite breed and a rescue cat because we felt bad for him. I moved to Alpharetta in 2016 and I’ve lived there since then. I currently attend The Premo School. I’ve been going there for two years and I am now going into eighth grade.

I don’t really have any experience in journalism because my school is really small and we can’t start a program. When I was 7-10, I made multiple newspapers with my friends but they were not fact-checked, edited or good at all — so I wouldn’t count that as “journalism.”

We do do a lot of projects at school though and I did learn a lot about writing articles, bias and what to include when writing during our DACA unit. I have also written some about the news in Spanish for assignments. I have always liked writing, and I really enjoy creative writing and researching topics. I also have a big interest in true crime and I think it would be interesting to cover it, like in “Serial,” which is what sparked my interest in journalism. It’s one of my favorite podcasts and I feel like she does such a good job with not being biased. Because of the podcast I have always liked writing and I really wanted to try it out. Also, because of her podcast Adnan Syed was freed and I really hope I can make an impact like that.

Some interesting things about me are that I have been learning Spanish since I was 8 (with a tutor) and I am half fluent. I play bass and I write stories in my free time. I also listen to a lot of true crime podcasts.

I’m Gracin Harlow Stein, named after famous actresses Grace Kelly and Jean Harlow. I was born April 12th, 2010 and am entering eighth grade at The Premo School. I live in Marietta, Georgia, which is right outside of Atlanta. However, I was born in California, then I moved to Georgia, then Maryland, then California, then I moved back to Georgia. I have two brothers: Campbell, who goes by Cam, and Ryland. Cam is 8 years old and lives at home. Ryland is 15 years old and attends a boarding school in Utah.

I’m attending this journalism camp for two main reasons: I want to be a journalist and I like to write. My dream is to be a global travel journalist. Although I’ve never had any experience in journalism, I enjoy creative writing, specifically stories about crime. My favorite types of journalism are news and opinion pieces. I love writing opinion pieces because I can express my opinions without people telling me I’m too opinionated, which is something a teacher has said to me.

I wouldn’t say I’m any more interesting than the next person, but I still have unique aspects of my personality and life. I never read the news, but I read romance and fantasy books. Currently, I’m reading the fourth book in the ‘Lockwood & Co.’ series by Jonathon Stroud. I enjoy analyzing books and shows, looking at questions of why a character did something or why they didn’t.

Greetings everyone! My name is Keshondra Shipp. You all can call me Kee or Ms. Kee. I’m from the small town of Sylvester, Georgia. I just received my master’s degree in journalism and mass communication last month from the University of Georgia with a concentration in health and medical journalism and a certificate in African American Studies. I received my bachelor’s degree in English from Georgia Southwestern State University back in 2020. Go pandemic class!

Since attending UGA, I have been a research and teaching assistant in Grady’s Entertainment and Media Studies department and also worked as a reporter for The Red & Black, focusing on topics of breaking news and health and sciences. I am a proud member of the National Association of Black Journalists and the Association of Health Care Journalists.

Over the span of my journalism career and time at UGA I have had many opportunities and experiences. I’ve had the chance to interview Raphael Warnock during last year’s election season, go on a study abroad trip to Cuba, attend some journalism conferences on UGA’s dime and take advantage of so many other experiences.

Coming off a dominant national championship win against Alabama a few months ago, many say the Georgia Bulldogs are poised for another impressive season, It’s time to question if they will meet the all-time high expectations, despite a record setting 15 players being drafted into the NFL

“They’re talented players and hopefully they can fill the shoes of the ones that left,” said Claude Felton, a senior associate athletic director. “There was a time when those 15 guys who got drafted weren’t known either.”

Felton provided insight into how the program is run, including the process of recruiting and rebuilding year after year. He also spoke on the funding of the program, just for being in the SEC. “We received a $50 million check from the Southeastern Conference about a month ago,” said Felton. “Other schools like Vanderbilt received the same amount.”

All teams from the SEC are equal from a funding standpoint, but where they differentiate is in what they do independently to raise funds. Students have to pay a small athletic fee per semester to contribute. For fans and alumni who want season tickets, they must donate a certain amount to be eligible for the tickets. Amazingly, standard tickets have stayed the same price for three years now, according to Felton. All this contributes to the program’s budget.

Each school is allowed 85 football scholarships, so depending on how many holes and needs there are, the signing size will vary. According to Felton, the number is usually around 25 per year.

Some important players who moved onto the NFL are Travon Walker, Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt, George Pickens, and James Cook.

“Consistency is the key thing to maintaining the level we have experienced this past year,” said Felton. “If you look at the last 4-5 years, we’ve been in many bowl games.”

In fact, the Bulldogs have not only gone to bowl games, but have made two national championship appearances in the last six years. They have posted a 6-1 record in bowl games, and a 1-1 in national championship games.

There are no guarantees, but Felton is confident in the coaching staff, players, and program to do well this upcoming season. Although Felton acknowledges the Bulldogs lost several cornerstones of the team, he feels the 2022 team should be successful..

“It’s all about recruiting really,” said Felton. “We lost some good players, but that doesn’t mean upcoming players won’t become as good as the guys who left.”

I recently saw an ad in the Denver metro area for a car dealer that shocked me. Basic cars going for extreme prices. A 2022 Honda Santa Fe for $55,000, Hyundai Ioniq 5 for $60,000, and a Kia Sorento for $40,000.

How can cars be so expensive these days? Hundreds of millions of people rely on cars in their day to day lives, and many of them can’t spend very much money on a car. The nationwide chip and part shortages has Americans spending more than they can afford on regular products.

Christie Smith lives in Athens, Georgia and has been car shopping for months. “Im waiting until prices go down,” and then she said “I would get a Honda CRV, Toyota Rav 4, or Hyundai Tusan,” Smith said. Christie narrowed her search down to these cars. “Honda and Toyota had no cars on their lot.”

She explained that she could order a Honda or Toyota, however the dealers couldn’t lock in a price. If she ordered one of these, she would be locked into a contract to buy it, however not know the price until she gets the car. “Hyundai had Tusan cars in stock, but the dealer would add many fees to the price, and the car would be $8000 dollars more than the sticker price,” she said.

These are called scarcity tactics; dealers increasing the price because the cars are so hard to find. It is basic supply and demand, where low supply in addition with high demand equates to a large price. Smith currently has an eleven year old Honda CRV, that she bought new for about $27,000. Today, a Honda CRV would be around $35,000, however with the added fees, it could be $40,000.

Smith is in the same position as millions of people. A local Athens resident said that he bought his daughter a car, and it was the same model he bought his other daughter 5 years ago, and it was $5,000 dollars more than 5 years ago.

As the world opens up after experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic, and more ships with microchips come into America, car prices should go down; but until we see that day, people are going to have to pay more for cars.

   Since Covid-19, there has been a shortage of supplies at stores all around the world. Unexpectedly it is affecting families by not
having baby formula for their children.  

“I’ve seen some family request for donor breast milk to feed their babies “ said Britteny minor 

   Brittney Minor is an upcoming mother with her second child. As you can see people are desperate ! This shortage can be very harmful to babies that aren’t  even born yet. As we scroll through social media  we  can see that a lot of mothers are asking for money and help to get the formula they need to feed their babies.

   “It can make their stomach upset, it makes mom and dad not get enough sleep, it can also affect their nutrients and also causes pain to their stomach” -Brittany minor. These are the harmful things that babies are experiencing .

   Even family members getting affected. People are sending their family across states to go to stores that at least have some baby formula.” family members have been pitching in buying me diapers and stuff so i can be ready” -Brittany minor.

  Even though Brittany minor hasn’t had her child  she states that “I’m still scared  and worried my child won’t be able to get what it needs “.Parents are really hurting during this especially because they don’t know when this crisis will end

Joe dennis who is the camp director talks about his path from being a rockstar to a journalist.

“When I first moved here in Athens, Georgia I was a disk jockey on the radio,” states Joe. “So I would dress the part.”

At the beginning of Dennis’ career he majored in the music industry, but he got an opportunity and ended up majoring in journalism. Dennis’ interest sparked when he met a girl and got into journalism, but then found out how much he really enjoyed it.

Joe dennis has taught me and my class a lot about journalism and the journey and how to be the best journalist we can be . When camp ends i would take his notes and advise along with me in my journey .

Across the United States, high schools have been banning many books regarding critical race theory and LGBTQ content from being taught in schools or available in school libraries. While society may be becoming more progressive in recent years, the number of banned books has increased due to politics polarizing our society.

Dr. Kevin Burke, an associate professor of English education at the University of Georgia said, “Education is about what most ought we teach, and in what ways is it best to teach it.” 

In some cases the only place students have access to literacy is from their schools. And oftentimes, by taking these books out of school curriculums and libraries this can limit what students have access to and the types of content they are exposed to. 

Dr. Sara Kajder, also an associate professor of English education at the University of Georgia stated “You’re going to have a lot of folks who can access books because of their privilege, and a lot of folks who can’t. And that leads to other implications.” 

By restricting the types of content and underrepresented characters students are able to access, this can have an effect on how students perceive themselves and others. Dr. Burke spoke about an argument used in English called mirrors and windows. 

He said, “We read things to reflect our stories back to us in mirrors and we read things that don’t reflect back to us but to understand or to think with people and places and experiences that are different from ours in windows.”

By only having books available that reflect a single perspective, this can be damaging for students who don’t fit that perspective. It can also be damaging to society as only one type of identity is validated and displayed in the media, this can further isolate those who are different. 

Dr. Kajder said “Without books that help us see the world in new and expansive ways, if we’re walking around the world just with single stories, I think its going to make it so that we have even less ability to hold multiple ideas of being true at the same time.”

It’s extremely vital for young people to be able to have access to books that they can identify with and books that validate their experiences.

 “Theres something more dangerous in that the books right now that are being challenged are books that help kids see themselves,” said Dr. Kajder “If you’ve never had that joyful experience of relating to a character and seeing yourself in that character it’s limiting. It’s so limiting.”

Some may agree that it is parents or organizations that are challenging books. When kids read books that feature homosexuallity or ethnically diverse characters on their own, its not the kids who have an issue with the content, but their authority figures. 

Dr. Kajder said, “It’s very rare that theres a student who says ‘you know what, I’m not ready for this book’, or ‘I’m disturbed and disquieted by this book’.”

“Controlling the curriculum means that you have control in lots of ways over the information people have access too or dont have access too.” Said Dr. Burke.

By saying that controversial content in books are wrong, or removing contreversial books completely, teaches students to become ignorant to other people’s experiences. This is why it’s so important to try to fight the banning of books and keep books about all types of people in the hands of students. 

Cynthia Bolton is a high school English teacher from Rockledge, Florida. She said, “If we limit the materials students read we’re really limiting their experiences, and therefore kind of preventing them from being able to really unite a society and work with those who differ from themselves.”

“I think we do kids a really big disservice if we dont teach them to find books that speak to them for whatever reason those books speak to them.”

While challenging books is dangerous, some good can also come out of it. When books are being challenged, teachers may have to advocate for why a particular book is important. 

Bolton recollected on a time where she had to respond to a parent who challenged a book that she was teaching. She had to explain why the sensitive themes and topics discussed in the book were relevant and important.

“I think it was a good experience in the sense that we had to basically justify why we were teaching the titles, and that there was value and worth to the novel.” She added.

English teachers across the United States facing backlash for books they are teaching or telling their students about may not know what to do. Dr. Burke and Dr. Kajder both agree that its vital to have community backing when these issues arise. Dr. Kajder also makes a point that challenging a book does not equal challenging a teacher.

Teachers, parents, and community members must keep up the fight to have all types of books available to students and raise awareness about how important identifying with literacy is for everyone.

Dr. Burke said “There is an ethical obligation and a professional obligation to do what is best by our students and our communities and that inherently includes teaching about racial history and injustice and inherently involves teaching about the deep humanity of minority sexualities.”