YouthSpeaksOut! is a monthly show by, for, and about young people. Seniors who graduated from Laytonville High in Mendocino County CA discuss school, college, racism, riots, pandemic, and isolation. 58 minutes
Great Audience response followed the airing. As is the new norm, I recorded these interviews via FaceTime and our less than perfect rural internet access. The three young women, Natalia, Caruna, and Eve graduated from Laytonville High School in June. They each received scholarships to amazing colleges and planned to move to them this fall. It turns out that the colleges decided to have this semester online because of Covid. 2 of the students began their classes last week and one is actually moving to Corvalis because 2 of her classes will be in person. They talk about the experience of attending college online, describe what their schedules are like, and what college via zoom and imperfect internet is like. I asked them if their goals were changing, how they were responding to BLM, Portland and the local fires. I am proud to work with these young women- they raise my confidence that the future will be in capable hands. I also am sad that their college experience is beginning at this strange confluence of Covid, civil unrest, and climate emergencies. Then again, I began college in 1966 and the whirlwind was just starting up then as well. To live in exciting times.