This post was written by 2020 Young Explorer Zoë Jenkins. In middle school, I was placed into the gifted program. To me, it seemed like administrators put the gifted students into some of the lowest-performing schools in the district. The kids in the gifted program tended to be bussed in from the other side of town, and I felt like we were unfairly placed on … Continue reading Storytelling Is Essential in the Fight for Social Justice
This post was written by 2020 Education Fellow Andrew Brennen. One evening in early 2016, my classmates and I attended a school board meeting to lobby our elected representatives. Our presence in the room was unusual — typically students in Kentucky are invited to school board meetings to be seen, not heard. We planned to break that tradition, but by then, we were used to … Continue reading Seeking Solutions in Your Community? Try This Youth Leader’s Tips
Max Garon is a sophomore at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. He won the D.C. GeoBee three times and finished tied for seventh nationally in 2017. He traces his interest in geography to watching the 2010 FIFA World Cup and reading National Geographic books growing up. Edited excerpts of our conversation follow. Q: What was it like competing in the national finals? Max Garon … Continue reading Five Questions With a GeoBee Champion: Max Garon
Shriya Yarlagadda, a high school junior from Grand Blanc, Mich., credits the GeoBee with helping her develop self-confidence and a “more nuanced perspective” on world events. She finished second in the 2015 GeoBee national finals, and more recently appeared on the Jeopardy! Teen Tournament. Edited excerpts of our conversation follow. Q: How has studying geography made you more of a global citizen? Shriya Yarlagadda (SY): … Continue reading Five Questions With a GeoBee Champion: Shriya Yarlagadda
Matthew McDonald is a high school freshman from West Orange, N.J., which he calls “the best town in the whole state.” He won the 2019 New Jersey state GeoBee and is considering a career as a civil engineer or city planner. He spoke with us for our series “Five Questions With a GeoBee Champion.” Edited excerpts of our conversation follow. Q: You qualified for GeoBee … Continue reading Five Questions With a GeoBee Champion: Matthew McDonald
