Teen Volunteer Who Shook Things Up
When you want to pick up a new book, the decisions that go through your mind probably are limited to do you want to read your book on your Kindle or in paperback or which book on the summer reading list looks like the shortest option. However, have you ever wondered how you would make that choice if you didn’t have access to any books at all?
When Ryan Trainer, started volunteering at his local library in Redwood City, all he originally thought about was reading to children for a Boy Scout merit badge. Yet as his reading sessions went on, he quickly understood that ”one of the things that really makes a tremendous difference in developing early reading skills…is the presence of books in the home” Ryan recently told Good Morning America. Thus at the ripe young age of 11, Ryan began to organize book drives to help increase young student’s access to reading materials. Over the course of 6 months, Ryan’s efforts led to the donation of 25,000 books that were shipped out to 12 charities, 8 schools, and 7 literacy programs.
Though 25,000 books would be a great success for anyone, Ryan decided he wanted to do more and recruited more teens to help gather more resources in the fight to improve literacy rates in his local community. Now, not only has Ryan’s efforts led to the creation of new chapters of his youth literacy council, but young students now also benefit from math, science and financial literacy classes.
In the end, Ryan just wants to remind everyone that in order to make a difference “it really only takes one person. The Truth”.
If you want to learn more about Ryan’s accomplishment, check out his Good Morning America profile here.
Contributed by Matt Zonis
Teen Athlete Dominates in Wheelchair Tennis
Conner Stroud is not your average tennis player. The 15-year-old athlete from North Carolina has proximal femoral focal deficiency, or PFFD. People impacted by this rare condition are born without legs.
In spite of his disability, Conner has defied all odds by becoming one of the best junior wheelchair tennis players in the world. His wheelchair is fully-equipped with a built-in security strap for himself, a back pocket for holding his racquet, and spokes for storing tennis balls.
Conner is currently the top-ranked junior wheelchair tennis player here in the U.S. He’s even played in several tournaments overseas. At home, the successful sophomore is a starter for his high school tennis team. Although he’s confined to his wheelchair, Conner still has the courage to compete against able-bodied players. Last season, he even held the No. 3 rank on his team.
Even though he loses many of these school matches, Conner’s positive attitude and competitive spirit keep his passion alive for the sport. He’s still a reigning champ in the world of wheelchair tennis. His perseverance and remarkable hand-eye coordination have enabled him to accomplish extraordinary feats in the game.
This summer, Conner was just one of three teens chosen to represent the U.S. in the biggest junior wheelchair tennis team competition in the world: The World Team Cup. Throughout the event, he participated in six games, which were all held in Turkey. Conner won five of these matches.
Aside from wheelchair tennis, Conner spent several years competing against able-bodied players. He would show up to these matches on rubber stoppers, which he attached to the stumps of his legs. Nevertheless, Conner still managed to beat a few of his opponents.
His tremendous talents have even been recognized by tennis legends. In 2013, Conner got a chance to practice with some of the best players in the sport, including Andy Roddick and Jim Courier. He even got to meet with his favorite player, Rafael Nadal.
After meeting with Conner, Nadal made the following statement to reporters: “He’s playing tennis. That’s a great example that you can be happy even if life doesn’t give you everything. It’s a big example for me and should be a big example for a lot of people.”
Contributed by Nedda Grady
Teens Making a Difference – Amandla Stenberg
Hunger Games actress Amandla Stenberg, who played the character Rue in 2012’s first installment of the franchise, has received mass acclaim for a video she made in her history class titled, “Don’t Cash Crop on My Cornrows.” Throughout the video, the precocious 16-year-old discusses the issue of cultural appropriation, speaking out about its impact in the media and other aspects of our society.
Stenberg begins the video with a discussion of black hair, and how styles like cornrows and braids are intrinsic to black culture—specifically as a way of keeping black textured hair unknotted and neat. She continues to remark upon the inflating popularity of “clothes and accessories associated with hip-hop” among white celebrities as well as in the fashion industry that have lead to offensive stereotypes, further oppressing an entire subset of people.
“That itself is what is so complicated when it comes to black culture,” Stenberg states in her video. “I mean, the line between cultural appropriation and cultural exchange is always going to be blurred. But here’s the thing: Appropriation occurs when a style leads to racist generalizations or stereotypes where it originated but is deemed as high-fashion, cool, or funny when the privileged take it for themselves.” In her closing statement, Stenberg quotes a question which had been proliferating social media for several months: “What would America be like if we loved black people as much as we love black culture?”
When Stenberg’s video went viral, her message was amplified. Her discussion of the issues associated with appropriation black culture was given widespread attention—an indication that people are beginning to listen. Amandla has helped spur important conversation on the subject of race and why we should respect another’s culture. Stenberg has become an influential role model for youth and adults alike—for anyone who wish to treat race and culture with the respect it deserves.
Contributed by Sophie Emigh
Teachers Making a Difference – 5 You Won’t Forget
As you make your way through school, you’ll learn from several teachers in the process. However, some of them will leave lasting impressions in your mind that will stick for years to come.
These 5 teachers have received recognition in the news for their positive impacts:
David Menasche: After receiving the traumatic news that he had developed untreatable brain cancer, this English teacher didn’t let his disappointing diagnosis get the best of him. When he was too weak to continue teaching, the brave educator from Florida set off on a journey to 31 cities across the country to reunite with 75 of his former students. They described him as a beloved teacher who made a tremendous effort to be present in the lives of his students.
Cheryl Tolbert: As a dedicated middle school music teacher, Cheryl has been touching the lives of her students for 46 years. For the past 9 years of her career, she has been guiding some of the most troublesome students at Crawford Middle School in Kentucky. With her strict, disciplinary teaching style, Cheryl has taught these kids how to succeed and achieve their goals. Most importantly, she has shown her students that music can help you get through the tough times in life.
Anne White: This high school Spanish teacher from Wisconsin uses highly creative strategies to keep her students engaged and ensure that they never forget the language. She spices up her teaching routines by adding in a few fun and unique activities, ranging from Spanish lip-sync battles to Latino line dancing sessions. Anne also likes to send her students on special academic trips that enable them to study abroad and embrace the Spanish culture. Many of her former students still keep in touch via email and Facebook, and some even stop by to visit on occasion.
Derrick Griffith: This 42-year-old educator from New York managed to make a lasting impact on all of his students before he was killed in the recent Amtrak train accident in Philadelphia. He devoted much of his career to assisting underprivileged students in inner-city schools. With the help of a few colleagues, he founded the Teaching and Learning Institute at East High School in Rochester. He is remembered as an extremely caring teacher and dedicated mentor.
Jennifer Brown: This applied physical science teacher was named Alabama’s Teacher of the Year for 2015-16. After teaching her 10th grade students for 16 years, she realized the true impact that teachers have on shaping future generations. Jennifer helps her students excel by making them active participants in the classroom. She wants to inspire other teachers to follow this trend.
Contributed by Nedda Grady
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- Next Page »