perspective

A PRICE TO PAY

we're wrapping up this eye-opening series on the "why" behind each disparity that young people across our nation have spent time reckoning with. to students like Joey Chen, the misrepresentation, underrepresentation, and rampant discrimination that presently exists against asians in the united states is rooted largely in negative stereotypes that have long sustained normalcy—even from our childhood.

today, we are breaking barriers. we are redefining what normal should look like for young asian-americans in america looking to target generational ignorance so deeply rooted in culture.

A PRICE TO PAY

asian representation in mainstream american media largely falls under two categories: underrepresentation and misrepresentation. from childhood television shows to motion picture films, implicit bias and stereotypes against asian-americans are immensely normalized in this country. we are trying to understand why.

today, we're complicating this narrative by uplifting the revelations of Manya Tiwari and Oscar Lin, two high school students from Kentucky who find themselves questioning this norm, too.

A PRICE TO PAY

asian americans have long faced discrimination, but only in the midst of COVID-19, growing calls for racial justice, and the shifting rhetoric among politicians has this been exacerbated. as anti-asian american hate crimes increased by nearly 150% in 2020, many factors have played into this circumstance. in many cases, this discrimination is the most detrimental price that asian american immigrants have to pay when living in this country.

today, high school students Audrey Wirasakti and Anthony Ahn delve into their experiences with discrimination and how conversations like these can shift our outlook towards a more inclusive community for every individual.

as we transition back from a restful spring break and dive into a new series, we want this week's episode to serve as both a deep appreciation for the support we've received on this podcast and a moment to share some things about ourselves. every one of our listeners—from all 8 countries of the world—has helped guide us through the intricacies of podcasting, and we're beyond thankful. today, we want you to sit back and tune in to learn a little bit about us, some embarrassing stories, high school experiences, and ambitions for the future. we hope you enjoy!

IN OUR SCHOOLS

a gun is fired on school grounds in the United States two times each week. what if we had the power to reimagine what safety in our schools looks like? shifting this norm often means thinking radically, but with a clear path in mind: this is about our lives. from metal detectors to school ID badges to airport security-like hallways, many changes across public schools have looked and felt like bandaids on a bullet hole. however, institutional change recognizes the deeper systemic issue that often forces young people to fight an uphill battle to change this norm. 

as we bring our "in our schools" series to a close, listen to what Ike Wood and Sarhia Rahim, two activists and students from New York, have to say about their experiences and the striking statistics of gun violence in our schools.

IN OUR SCHOOLS

students across our country have immense strength, but very rarely do they hold a stake in changing the policies and systems that allow socioeconomic status, race, or gender to inform their learning experiences.

today, we sat down with high school students Leigh Walden and Jimmy Rodgers to learn more about what education justice looks like in this country. their words speak volumes for young people looking for a little hope in our world.

IN OUR SCHOOLS

returning to normalcy in public education means much more than wearing masks down one-way hallways or maintaining social distance during classroom transitions. to students and educators alike, these steps towards building back "normalcy" mean using this moment of reckoning to better understand the discrepancies in education and better serve students and teachers at its core.

today, high school science teacher, Zach Matson, and students Spandana Pavuluri, and Connor Flick dwell on the prospect of returning to in-person instruction, the difficult realities of distance learning and teaching, and bridging the gap between stories and statistics.

IN OUR SCHOOLS

public education has always been nuanced, but while students have often been at the forefront of its pivotal issues, they've very rarely been a part of the process of mending its system into one that works for all students. this week, we're excited to introduce our new series, "in our schools," where we'll highlight school reopening plans in the midst of COVID-19, gun violence in schools across our nation, and equity in our classrooms—all from the perspective of students.

the 2020-21 school year ~pandemic style~ brought so much uncertainty and confusion, especially among high school students, but being around close friends and hearing their stories and experiences often eased some of the stress. today, we caught up with some classmates about how we've adapted our lives in this moment, the way we feel about social media through historic times in our country, and our hopes for the (hopefully) not so distanc-ed future!

featuring Emily Simon, Sophia Voskuhl, and Rori Clark, we hope you enjoy this chaotic but lively and down-to-earth episode on our reflections of the year!

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

that's a wrap for our "what's at stake?" series! today, we provide some closure on this extremely insightful series that allowed us to learn so much about our community that we wouldn't have otherwise been acquainted with in our classrooms. in this episode, we delve into some powerful sentiments that we captured throughout the series, with a peek at our upcoming episode in the next weeks!

as always, thanks so much for your continued support!

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

at the foundation of some of the united states’ most heavily politicized social justice issues have been the fractures within an education system that hasn’t met the current moment. from history to civics, detrimental elements of american origins & democracy have often been put aside in an attempt to avoid politicization in the classroom—but, it took a pandemic & the largest racial justice movement in our nation’s history to illuminate the sheer fragility of this norm. yet, while educators were largely prepared, the systems at play weren’t ready to face this truth. for educators across the nation, the fissures in public education interrupted a moment of reckoning in this nation.

today, we amplify the perspectives of Whitney Walker and Stevie Lemons on how perceived standards of equity in education played an integral role in the 2020 election and how these teachers are speaking truth to power in their classrooms each day.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

amidst growing calls for racial justice, the united states law enforcement system was often center stage. from breonna taylor to ahmaud arbery to george floyd to countless others who faced injustice at the hands of the law enforcement system, an important chapter in our nation's history culminated in the largest civil rights movement to date. yet, in the 2020 presidential election, each candidate held a distinctly unique outlook on the dual justice systems in the united states that have long highlighted the grim reality of double standards in law enforcement. statistics point to a striking truth, but the stories behind them on both sides of the aisle provoke a critically relevant question—what's next?

today, we analyze the growing pains of our nation, the imperfections of our democracy, and the endeavors towards progressive solutions for a deeply unjust system—all through the eyes of Chris Sweat, a retired battalion chief at a local fire department.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

the year 2020 lacked clarity and certainty, togetherness and aspiration for what was to come. but, even as COVID-19 grasped the attention of politicians and citizens across the united states, a poignant issue at the forefront of the 2020 presidential election was also immigration. for some, it meant the prospect of a brighter future. for others, it posed a threat to the legitimacy of american democracy. but, for undocumented immigrants brought to the united states as children, a four-letter acronym meant a chance to live the american dream—DACA.

today, we listen to Noemi Lara-Rojo's side of the story—her outlook on the future of this nation and what the 2020 election meant to undocumented immigrants like herself and across the united states of america.

an incitement of an insurrection? what about a state-sanctioned act of domestic terrorism? these are just a few of the words that high school students across kentucky and the nation had about the attack on the capitol on january 6th, 2021. 

while it stood as a moment of reckoning and uncertainty for what’s to come, as well as an illumination of the sheer fragility of democracy, young folks, including Teagan Fowler, Jackson Greene, Islam Abushareah, Ava Hadland, and Amina Salahou, have a lot to say about what played out—and what it means for our future. 

welcome to perspective—a space to hear all sides of every story. from education to the environment, gun reform to elections, the opioid crisis to racial justice, these high schoolers are committed to allowing individuals from all walks of life to share their perspective, channeling the power to listen above everything.

be sure follow along with Pragya and Dory on instagram at @perspective.pd as they amplify the stories of folks across their community! :)