Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Multimedia: Darius Goes West Carnival 2
Photos: Devyn Post, Emily Soroka, Alaina Boyden and Toju Mikie
Soundslides: David Garcia, Emily Soroka and Paxton Swisher
Multimedia: Darius Goes West Day Carnival 1
Photographs by Devyn Post, Emily Soroka, Toju Mikie and Alaina Boyden
Soundslides: Nicole Alanko, Suleiky Guerrero, MaLea Berry and Thomas Colantuono
Review: The Last Resort
The Last Resort? I don’t think that’s a very appropriate name for a restaurant this good.
When we walked into the restaurant the first thing I noticed was the friendly, cozy atmosphere. The grill is very small, quaint, and dimly lit with very artistic light fixtures. It combines regular walls and brick walls, and has a very old fashioned bar with antique liquor bottles for decorations. The tables are small, and seat two or four, so to accommodate our large group we had to push several tables together. The un-uniformed waiters and local artwork on the walls gave the restaurant a cool, artistic feel. Our very kind waiter, Derrick, was very conversational and polite. When we walked in at 11 in the morning the restaurant was not very crowded, but by 12 it got to be bustling.
There was a small wait for our food, but it was definitely worth it. I ordered the salmon bruschetta for $6.75, and it was delicious. It consisted of grilled Atlantic salmon on toasted sourdough with chopped tomatoes and basil atop a black bean puree and cilantro crème fraiche. A mixed green salad with balsamic vinaigrette was on the side. I ate every last bit. The salmon might have been the best I’ve ever tasted, but I wish there would have been more of it. It was only a small portion. I was a bit wary of the black bean puree and cilantro crème fraiche at first, but it was surprisingly good. The portions of food were not very large, but I was still sufficiently filled up.
And now onto the dessert. The Last Resort Grill has a very large array of layer cakes and cheesecakes. Different kinds include a raspberry cake, German chocolate cake, vanilla bean cheesecake, and many more. They even have a special “Last Resort” cheesecake, and that is just what I ordered.
The Last Resort cheesecake has a mix if Bailey’s, Kahlua, and Frangelica with a chocolate graham crust and whipped cream. The cheesecake was extremely rich and perfectly whipped. It has a very deep coffee flavor accented perfectly by the chocolate in the crust and drizzled on top. I think it tasted perfect with a little bit of whipped cream in every bite to tone down the coffee flavor.
I got the chance to taste different cakes as well. Classmate Alaina Boyden chose the German chocolate cake, which was huge. It was a deep chocolately cake with coconut-pecan frosting. I found that I did not like that German chocolate cake as much as others that I’ve tasted, but it was still very good.
Next I got to taste classmate Kathy Garner's red velvet cake. I consider myself a red velvet cake expert because it’s my favorite kind, and I have tasted many. This one was not the best I’ve ever tasted, but was still very good. I just wish there could have been more cream cheese frosting. The presentation of the cake itself was beautiful, and Kathy even said, “This cake is gorgeous.” The last cake I got to try was instructor Geoffrey Graybeal's lemon spice pound cake with marshmallow frosting, which was delicious. It was very light and fruity and the marshmallow frosting was the perfect touch.
So in conclusion, The Last Resort Grill is neither lacking in food nor in atmosphere, and I highly recommend visiting it if you have the chance. I, myself, will be returning as soon possible to try some more of their wide array of dishes.
Olivia Baker, 15, is a sophomore at the University School of Jackson in Jackson, TN.
When we walked into the restaurant the first thing I noticed was the friendly, cozy atmosphere. The grill is very small, quaint, and dimly lit with very artistic light fixtures. It combines regular walls and brick walls, and has a very old fashioned bar with antique liquor bottles for decorations. The tables are small, and seat two or four, so to accommodate our large group we had to push several tables together. The un-uniformed waiters and local artwork on the walls gave the restaurant a cool, artistic feel. Our very kind waiter, Derrick, was very conversational and polite. When we walked in at 11 in the morning the restaurant was not very crowded, but by 12 it got to be bustling.There was a small wait for our food, but it was definitely worth it. I ordered the salmon bruschetta for $6.75, and it was delicious. It consisted of grilled Atlantic salmon on toasted sourdough with chopped tomatoes and basil atop a black bean puree and cilantro crème fraiche. A mixed green salad with balsamic vinaigrette was on the side. I ate every last bit. The salmon might have been the best I’ve ever tasted, but I wish there would have been more of it. It was only a small portion. I was a bit wary of the black bean puree and cilantro crème fraiche at first, but it was surprisingly good. The portions of food were not very large, but I was still sufficiently filled up.
And now onto the dessert. The Last Resort Grill has a very large array of layer cakes and cheesecakes. Different kinds include a raspberry cake, German chocolate cake, vanilla bean cheesecake, and many more. They even have a special “Last Resort” cheesecake, and that is just what I ordered.
The Last Resort cheesecake has a mix if Bailey’s, Kahlua, and Frangelica with a chocolate graham crust and whipped cream. The cheesecake was extremely rich and perfectly whipped. It has a very deep coffee flavor accented perfectly by the chocolate in the crust and drizzled on top. I think it tasted perfect with a little bit of whipped cream in every bite to tone down the coffee flavor.
I got the chance to taste different cakes as well. Classmate Alaina Boyden chose the German chocolate cake, which was huge. It was a deep chocolately cake with coconut-pecan frosting. I found that I did not like that German chocolate cake as much as others that I’ve tasted, but it was still very good.
Next I got to taste classmate Kathy Garner's red velvet cake. I consider myself a red velvet cake expert because it’s my favorite kind, and I have tasted many. This one was not the best I’ve ever tasted, but was still very good. I just wish there could have been more cream cheese frosting. The presentation of the cake itself was beautiful, and Kathy even said, “This cake is gorgeous.” The last cake I got to try was instructor Geoffrey Graybeal's lemon spice pound cake with marshmallow frosting, which was delicious. It was very light and fruity and the marshmallow frosting was the perfect touch.
So in conclusion, The Last Resort Grill is neither lacking in food nor in atmosphere, and I highly recommend visiting it if you have the chance. I, myself, will be returning as soon possible to try some more of their wide array of dishes.
Olivia Baker, 15, is a sophomore at the University School of Jackson in Jackson, TN.
Big Daddy Weems
By: Olivia Baker & Ella Sivertsen, M&M TIPsters
Darius Weems. A man on a mission: raise awareness about his condition. The 20-year-old Athens resident with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy wants the world to know about the number one genetic killer of children in America. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, or DMD, is a disease that deteriorates the muscles in the body, taking the ability to walk, do basic physical activities, and eventually, the victim’s life. Darius lost his brother Mario to DMD when Mario was nineteen. For this reason, in 2005 when he was fifteen, Darius and his friends created the film Darius Goes West about his journey from Georgia to California to get his wheelchair pimped on MTV’s "Pimp My Ride."
Mario was the most significant inspiration for Darius to make the trip to California. Darius says that Mario never let DMD stop him from being joyful and moving forward. “When life got hard and my brother was still happy, and he still kept the smile on his face, it kinda makes me want to keep on living and not think about the bad things and just be happy for what I’ve got," he said. This encouragement motivates Darius to get out there and make some good out of what he has. It’s certain that Darius aspires to be like his big brother and to carry on Mario’s legacy. Now, with DGW, Darius can carry it on in a much larger impact than he thought.
“We took this trip and thought it was a silly trip for me to get out of the house and stuff and we became, like, big movie stars,” Darius said. “None of us expected it to get this big.”
Since the movie, Darius finds that he is very busy with interviews and appearances. Whether it’s a Skype chat or a TV show, Darius is constantly spreading the word. To those who want to make a difference like he does, he said, “If you have something you’re passionate about, bring it to the people. Without the people you have nothing.”
His wit and positive outlook on life help everyone, healthy and disabled, young and old, to look to the future with hope, live in the moment, and smile.
Obviously, Darius is more famous than ever. “It just feels good that I’m famous for a reason,” hesaid. “People recognize me for all the things that I’ve done.”
Darius now has many opportunities to continue the domino effect. Last year, he traveled to forty-seven out of the fifty states. He’s appeared on several television shows, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and has met celebrities including Kanye West, William H. Macy, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck; he’s even received a letter from Beyonce Knowles. Fame hasn’t changed him; he uses it to further DMD awareness.
Soon, in fact, he hopes to develop a rap career, using his music to earn funds for a cure. Darius started rapping at age 15 before filming Darius Goes West. Over the past five years, he has written about five studio raps, including “On a Mission” and “Momma I Made It.” His songs are inspirational because of how they pertain to what he’s been through. He has been working with a producer and has some recording equipment at home. He hopes to release an album once he has enough songs out there.
Being a rapper, Darius himself appears to have a certain swagger. On the day of the interview, he wore black jeans, a black shirt, a black hat, and a cross necklace. On a new diet plan, he’s slimmed down over the past few years. He seemed rather quiet, but conversational, and still had that good humor about him and laughed on several occasions. Darius has definitely matured even more in wisdom since he began publicizing his message on the big scale; nevertheless he is friendly and likes to smile.
About the documentary: When Darius was young and his mother told him of his condition, he didn’t understand fully at first. What it meant to him was simply that he easily suffered from fatigue and was slowly losing his ability to walk and to do strenuous activities. It didn’t get Darius down. Being confined to a wheelchair from the age of ten years didn’t change his charismatic, social personality. He enjoyed making friends in school and at his camp for those with disabilities. At camp, he was so loved by all of them that he considered himself more of a counselor than a camper. He befriends almost everyone he meets, including his “brothers”, Andrew “Corn Rows” Carson, Ben “Darius’ Little Do-boy” Smalley, Collin “Diaper Baby” Shepley, Daniel “the Crazy Driver” Epting, Dylan “the Eye” Wilson, John “T-Barn” Hadden, John “Lawn Chair” Harmon, Jason, “that Other Big Scary Guy with Long Hair” Hees, Kevin “Weird” Weir, Logan “the Boss” Smalley, and Sam “Doesn’t Have a Cool Nickname” Johnson, who went with Darius “Big Daddy” Weems on the journey of a lifetime.
Then he and his friends set off, and Darius was excited. He had never been out of his county, and now he was embarking on a trip across the country with his closest friends, to experience things and see sites he never had before. Athens let them out with style, declaring that day, July 22, the official Darius Goes West Day. Darius was fueled by his anticipation to try new things, and even when there were problems with the bus, wheelchair accessibility, and the wheelchair, he kept an open mind at all times, always with good humor and joy. He loved every event of the trip, especially the Grand Canyon. “Coming from home all the way to the Grand Canyon… it was, like, pretty emotional,” Darius says. Although MTV refused to “pimp” his wheelchair, Darius still made and makes an impact by showing the world that DMD can’t stop him from changing it.
Darius at a Glance:
Favorite city: New York City
Favorite video games: NBA2K, Call of Duty, Modern Warfare
Favorite basketball player: LeBron James
Favorite team(s): Cavaliers, but is going to change to Miami next year.
Favorite rapper: Nas
Favorite place he’s visited: Grand Canyon
Favorite food: Meat Lover’s Pizza (definitely not wasabi!)
Favorite color: Black
Favorite film: Darius Goes West!
Darius Weems. A man on a mission: raise awareness about his condition. The 20-year-old Athens resident with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy wants the world to know about the number one genetic killer of children in America. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, or DMD, is a disease that deteriorates the muscles in the body, taking the ability to walk, do basic physical activities, and eventually, the victim’s life. Darius lost his brother Mario to DMD when Mario was nineteen. For this reason, in 2005 when he was fifteen, Darius and his friends created the film Darius Goes West about his journey from Georgia to California to get his wheelchair pimped on MTV’s "Pimp My Ride."
Mario was the most significant inspiration for Darius to make the trip to California. Darius says that Mario never let DMD stop him from being joyful and moving forward. “When life got hard and my brother was still happy, and he still kept the smile on his face, it kinda makes me want to keep on living and not think about the bad things and just be happy for what I’ve got," he said. This encouragement motivates Darius to get out there and make some good out of what he has. It’s certain that Darius aspires to be like his big brother and to carry on Mario’s legacy. Now, with DGW, Darius can carry it on in a much larger impact than he thought.
“We took this trip and thought it was a silly trip for me to get out of the house and stuff and we became, like, big movie stars,” Darius said. “None of us expected it to get this big.”
Since the movie, Darius finds that he is very busy with interviews and appearances. Whether it’s a Skype chat or a TV show, Darius is constantly spreading the word. To those who want to make a difference like he does, he said, “If you have something you’re passionate about, bring it to the people. Without the people you have nothing.”
His wit and positive outlook on life help everyone, healthy and disabled, young and old, to look to the future with hope, live in the moment, and smile.
Obviously, Darius is more famous than ever. “It just feels good that I’m famous for a reason,” hesaid. “People recognize me for all the things that I’ve done.”
Darius now has many opportunities to continue the domino effect. Last year, he traveled to forty-seven out of the fifty states. He’s appeared on several television shows, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and has met celebrities including Kanye West, William H. Macy, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck; he’s even received a letter from Beyonce Knowles. Fame hasn’t changed him; he uses it to further DMD awareness.
Soon, in fact, he hopes to develop a rap career, using his music to earn funds for a cure. Darius started rapping at age 15 before filming Darius Goes West. Over the past five years, he has written about five studio raps, including “On a Mission” and “Momma I Made It.” His songs are inspirational because of how they pertain to what he’s been through. He has been working with a producer and has some recording equipment at home. He hopes to release an album once he has enough songs out there.
Being a rapper, Darius himself appears to have a certain swagger. On the day of the interview, he wore black jeans, a black shirt, a black hat, and a cross necklace. On a new diet plan, he’s slimmed down over the past few years. He seemed rather quiet, but conversational, and still had that good humor about him and laughed on several occasions. Darius has definitely matured even more in wisdom since he began publicizing his message on the big scale; nevertheless he is friendly and likes to smile.
About the documentary: When Darius was young and his mother told him of his condition, he didn’t understand fully at first. What it meant to him was simply that he easily suffered from fatigue and was slowly losing his ability to walk and to do strenuous activities. It didn’t get Darius down. Being confined to a wheelchair from the age of ten years didn’t change his charismatic, social personality. He enjoyed making friends in school and at his camp for those with disabilities. At camp, he was so loved by all of them that he considered himself more of a counselor than a camper. He befriends almost everyone he meets, including his “brothers”, Andrew “Corn Rows” Carson, Ben “Darius’ Little Do-boy” Smalley, Collin “Diaper Baby” Shepley, Daniel “the Crazy Driver” Epting, Dylan “the Eye” Wilson, John “T-Barn” Hadden, John “Lawn Chair” Harmon, Jason, “that Other Big Scary Guy with Long Hair” Hees, Kevin “Weird” Weir, Logan “the Boss” Smalley, and Sam “Doesn’t Have a Cool Nickname” Johnson, who went with Darius “Big Daddy” Weems on the journey of a lifetime.
Then he and his friends set off, and Darius was excited. He had never been out of his county, and now he was embarking on a trip across the country with his closest friends, to experience things and see sites he never had before. Athens let them out with style, declaring that day, July 22, the official Darius Goes West Day. Darius was fueled by his anticipation to try new things, and even when there were problems with the bus, wheelchair accessibility, and the wheelchair, he kept an open mind at all times, always with good humor and joy. He loved every event of the trip, especially the Grand Canyon. “Coming from home all the way to the Grand Canyon… it was, like, pretty emotional,” Darius says. Although MTV refused to “pimp” his wheelchair, Darius still made and makes an impact by showing the world that DMD can’t stop him from changing it.
Darius at a Glance:
Favorite city: New York City
Favorite video games: NBA2K, Call of Duty, Modern Warfare
Favorite basketball player: LeBron James
Favorite team(s): Cavaliers, but is going to change to Miami next year.
Favorite rapper: Nas
Favorite place he’s visited: Grand Canyon
Favorite food: Meat Lover’s Pizza (definitely not wasabi!)
Favorite color: Black
Favorite film: Darius Goes West!
A Life with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
By MaLea Berry, Paxton Swisher, and Kathy Garner
M&M TIPsters
Judging by the look on his face, it is apparent that Darius Weems does not let his disability get in his way. Even in the face of the number one genetic killer of kids, this 20-year-old Georgian still lives his life to the fullest. Darius has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, or DMD. To the amazement of those watching, however, Darius--who had never left Athens before--went on a cross-country quest with eleven of his best friends to get his wheelchair pimped on MTV’s "Pimp My Ride." A documentary was made about the trip and the movie was dubbed “Darius Goes West.” The main purpose of this trip, however, was to raise awareness about DMD.
According to Medline Plus, symptoms of the disease usually focus on the loss and degeneration of muscle function. Those diagnosed usually lose the ability to walk by age 12. However, immobility such as bed rest is not recommended, as it can make the disease worse. Other symptoms include an abnormal heart muscle (known formally as cardiomyopathy), enlarged calf muscles that are eventually replaced by fat and connective tissue (known formally as psuedohypertrophy), deformities of the chest or back such as scoliosis, and respiratory disorders such as pneumonia in later stages of DMD. Less common, but still present in some cases, are varying degrees of mental retardation, congestive heart failure, and irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias). There is no known cure, but gene therapy may become available in the future.
There's more to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy than just the physical component. Yes, you lose your ability to pick up your favorite toys, or hold your new puppy, or even turn a doorknob by yourself, but there's also an emotional aspect of the disorder that makes the life of a person with DMD much more complicated. Imagine having your mind set on doing an action as simple as grasping something with your hand and picking it up. Now imagine the frustration that would rise up through you if you couldn't get your hand to clamp your fingers on it.
In the documentary Darius Goes West, Darius tries to hold the phone up to his ear while talking to his mom, but when it falls to the floor, he can't bend down to get it and has to ask his friend to do it for him. When he goes to take a drink, he holds the glass in his mouth and has to 'throw em back' in order to drink it. Even then Darius remains upbeat.
“It really didn’t get me down,” he said. “I felt like I couldn’t let it beat me down or I could just live. I felt like just living with it and not thinking about the bad parts of it would help me get through everyday life.”
Anna, a blogger in an anonymous DMD support group on Experience Project, explained in a blog post about having Duchenne, "The biggest way the DMD has affected my life is my relationships with others. It has made me not very confident and afraid of what people will think of me if they found out I have DMD.”
Dealing with the disorder causes people to have to grow up just as rapidly as their disorder attacks them, and life becomes more precious when you know you don't have a good chance of living for long. The average life expectancy for a person with DMD is somewhere between their late teens/early 20s to around age 30.
Some people, though, don't let their disorder dictate what they do with their life. Josh Winheld, author of Worth the Ride, was diagnosed at age 4 and by the age of 10 he was wheelchair bound. In his book, he wrote, “I believe society often underestimates the complexity of living with a disability-the joys, the challenges, the ordinary, the extraordinary..." and went on to explain how he wanted to thank his family and friends for helping him without rendering him useless.
Anna, who experienced the rarity of being diagnosed as an adolescent, said that she looks to God for guidance and strength. She may not have much in her arms and legs, but "the strength of her faith" she said, really helps her get through her bad days, when she feels afraid of "not being able to have any independence".
Kathy Garner, 15, is a sophomore at Ursuline Academy in Dallas, Texas.
Paxton Swisher, 15 years old, is a sophomore at Parish Episcopal School in Dallas, Texas.
MaLea Berry, 15, is a sophomore at Paideia School in Atlanta, Georgia
M&M TIPsters
Judging by the look on his face, it is apparent that Darius Weems does not let his disability get in his way. Even in the face of the number one genetic killer of kids, this 20-year-old Georgian still lives his life to the fullest. Darius has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, or DMD. To the amazement of those watching, however, Darius--who had never left Athens before--went on a cross-country quest with eleven of his best friends to get his wheelchair pimped on MTV’s "Pimp My Ride." A documentary was made about the trip and the movie was dubbed “Darius Goes West.” The main purpose of this trip, however, was to raise awareness about DMD.
According to Medline Plus, symptoms of the disease usually focus on the loss and degeneration of muscle function. Those diagnosed usually lose the ability to walk by age 12. However, immobility such as bed rest is not recommended, as it can make the disease worse. Other symptoms include an abnormal heart muscle (known formally as cardiomyopathy), enlarged calf muscles that are eventually replaced by fat and connective tissue (known formally as psuedohypertrophy), deformities of the chest or back such as scoliosis, and respiratory disorders such as pneumonia in later stages of DMD. Less common, but still present in some cases, are varying degrees of mental retardation, congestive heart failure, and irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias). There is no known cure, but gene therapy may become available in the future.
There's more to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy than just the physical component. Yes, you lose your ability to pick up your favorite toys, or hold your new puppy, or even turn a doorknob by yourself, but there's also an emotional aspect of the disorder that makes the life of a person with DMD much more complicated. Imagine having your mind set on doing an action as simple as grasping something with your hand and picking it up. Now imagine the frustration that would rise up through you if you couldn't get your hand to clamp your fingers on it.
In the documentary Darius Goes West, Darius tries to hold the phone up to his ear while talking to his mom, but when it falls to the floor, he can't bend down to get it and has to ask his friend to do it for him. When he goes to take a drink, he holds the glass in his mouth and has to 'throw em back' in order to drink it. Even then Darius remains upbeat.
“It really didn’t get me down,” he said. “I felt like I couldn’t let it beat me down or I could just live. I felt like just living with it and not thinking about the bad parts of it would help me get through everyday life.”
Anna, a blogger in an anonymous DMD support group on Experience Project, explained in a blog post about having Duchenne, "The biggest way the DMD has affected my life is my relationships with others. It has made me not very confident and afraid of what people will think of me if they found out I have DMD.”
Dealing with the disorder causes people to have to grow up just as rapidly as their disorder attacks them, and life becomes more precious when you know you don't have a good chance of living for long. The average life expectancy for a person with DMD is somewhere between their late teens/early 20s to around age 30.
Some people, though, don't let their disorder dictate what they do with their life. Josh Winheld, author of Worth the Ride, was diagnosed at age 4 and by the age of 10 he was wheelchair bound. In his book, he wrote, “I believe society often underestimates the complexity of living with a disability-the joys, the challenges, the ordinary, the extraordinary..." and went on to explain how he wanted to thank his family and friends for helping him without rendering him useless.
Anna, who experienced the rarity of being diagnosed as an adolescent, said that she looks to God for guidance and strength. She may not have much in her arms and legs, but "the strength of her faith" she said, really helps her get through her bad days, when she feels afraid of "not being able to have any independence".
Kathy Garner, 15, is a sophomore at Ursuline Academy in Dallas, Texas.
Paxton Swisher, 15 years old, is a sophomore at Parish Episcopal School in Dallas, Texas.
MaLea Berry, 15, is a sophomore at Paideia School in Atlanta, Georgia
Growing Up a Paideian
By MaLea Berry, M&M TIPster
"You don't wear uniforms?!"
"You get to call your teachers by their first names?!"
"You don't have a cafeteria?!"
These are the questions that I constantly have to nod my head and smile to when I'm explaining to people what my school is and how we operate. Since kindergarten, I've gone to this place that now feels like home. This school where you see just as many students with shoes as those without them. This school where a group of 5th graders could cover politics and the election, the stock market, the Biggie-Tupac rivalry, and take out the recycling and compost bins all within one class period. This school where the World Civ teacher is also the bowling coach and the guy who plays Buddy Holly albums over the speakers at basketball games. This place I love; Paideia School.
Whenever I tell people about my school they either raise their eyebrows with a look of doubt in their eyes or tell me how lucky I am and that they wished they went there too. The school is located in a part of Atlanta that is bustling with all types of people, religions, ethnicities, and activities, so of course the school reflects on its area. Our dress code is: Wear clothes...that fit...and don't show too much. The majority of the school is made up of "lifers" (those of us who have been there since pre-k or kindergarten), and almost none of them have ever opened a cafeteria milk carton in their lives. We call our headmaster Paul, because that's his name.
In the school's description it says, "Paideia's philosophy is based on the belief that schools can be informal and individualized yet still educate well. The school offers a challenging curriculum that emphasizes individual achievement...," and that's exactly what we do. Paideia, as far as I can tell, focuses on students as people, instead of just focusing on having us get worksheets done. They focus on helping us to mold ourselves into our own individuals.
In jr. high, I was put in a class that did a lot of writing. I love writing fiction, so I was excited and couldn’t wait to start writing stories. The first day, however, I walked in and my teacher, Jennifer said "We don't do any creative writing in this class. It's all personal. We want you to talk about life experiences and grow from them."
Those two years of jr. high did not only consisted of regular classes like grammar and lit. We also had classes like Time Management and Organization, Race, Class, and Gender, and GOALS, a 45 minute emotional check-in where we addressed personal or general issues and made long-term and short-term goals for ourselves.
My favorite time in school—other than Zoo Day in kindergarten, where Zoo Atlanta would come to the school and bring animals—was Jr. High because I saw so many of my peers make positive changes and they taught us how to be people. We learned about each other and our society.12 and 13-year-old students made realizations that some adults still haven't made about the world we live in, and the people in it. Those two years were key years for me, because I think I needed to be able to understand my peers in order to gain stronger relationships with them.7th and 8th grade is where those relationships blossomed.
What I like the most about Paideia is just how the student-to-student and student-to-teacher relationships are so strong and the people really begin to feel like family. As cliché as that sounds, it's so true for those of us there. Paideia is a small school, with around only 900 people for the whole school (pre-k through 12th grade). For sports, we’re a 1A school (the smallest possible sizing category), but after a while you realize that you pretty much know everyone, and everyone knows you. People there, students, parents and teachers alike, love the closeness and communal feel that comes with being a Paideian.
This past year I was a freshman. I feared the jump from jr. high to high school because of how high school has always been portrayed in movies and books. I expected to be ignored and buried under my school work, but now realize how crazy it was for me to feel that way. I met more people that I thought I'd never talk to, like juniors and seniors, and learned things about peers that I would have never known if I had been afraid of exploring it.
Generally, class sizes range from 20 to maybe 26 students, so for the semester, you really have time to get to know the people in your class. A lot of the time, when we do activities or assignments in class, they are group or partner activities, which lead to conversation amongst all types of students.
Our school does things a little differently than other private schools. Instead of having one block schedule that we follow for the whole year we have two long term semesters and two short term semesters. This means up until Holiday Break (the week before Christmas-New Years) we have six classes a day ranging from 40-50 minutes. Some people have orchestra/band or art/photography during a period, while others have study hall. Some students take seminars or AP classes later on in their high school career. When we get back from the break, however, we don't have our regular classes. We have "short term" which lasts for a month where we take "alternative learning" classes. All types of classes are offered.
Many people looking in have the misconception that we just sit around doing nothing for a month. However, even with all the cool alternative class offerings, we all still take our required core classes during both long and short term. For example, freshman are required to take Making Healthy Life Decisions at some point during their 2nd short term, and Algebra II students have to take geometry during either short term. My first short term I had classes like Poetry, Chess, and Word Games, and the 2nd short term I had classes like Race and Ethnicity and The Science of the Brain. In those courses I made friends with people throughout all class years, and I still actually learned something. Describing our short term and long term to strangers or to other private schools is never easy, because they assume we just cut off school for 4 weeks. They question what goes on during the month where we’re not taking regular classes like specifically Algebra II or biology and they think two months of our learning isn’t worth much. Much to their chagrin, however, that's not the case at all. Paideians believe just as much in learning about social interactions as they do in learning about math and science.
Like I stated earlier, our school is focused on helping us grow not only as students, but as people, too. When discussing our framework of values and attitude towards learning, our website says, “We should teach our students to use reason and logic and to apply these tools to engage with the world. Schools often err on the side of stressing the competitive and private nature of learning. We should impart the value that learning can often be a cooperative effort in which shared ideas enhance each student's experience and understanding.”
So far, in my 10 years here, I’ve experienced every aspect of what separates Paideia from other private schools, in Atlanta, and just in general.
“We hope that our students will be prepared not only to live in the world but to improve it.”-The Paideia School Framework of Values.
If that doesn’t accurately embody what Paideia hopes to represent, I don’t know what does.
MaLea Berry, 15, is a sophomore at The Paideia School in Atlanta, Georgia.
"You don't wear uniforms?!"
"You get to call your teachers by their first names?!"
"You don't have a cafeteria?!"
These are the questions that I constantly have to nod my head and smile to when I'm explaining to people what my school is and how we operate. Since kindergarten, I've gone to this place that now feels like home. This school where you see just as many students with shoes as those without them. This school where a group of 5th graders could cover politics and the election, the stock market, the Biggie-Tupac rivalry, and take out the recycling and compost bins all within one class period. This school where the World Civ teacher is also the bowling coach and the guy who plays Buddy Holly albums over the speakers at basketball games. This place I love; Paideia School.
Whenever I tell people about my school they either raise their eyebrows with a look of doubt in their eyes or tell me how lucky I am and that they wished they went there too. The school is located in a part of Atlanta that is bustling with all types of people, religions, ethnicities, and activities, so of course the school reflects on its area. Our dress code is: Wear clothes...that fit...and don't show too much. The majority of the school is made up of "lifers" (those of us who have been there since pre-k or kindergarten), and almost none of them have ever opened a cafeteria milk carton in their lives. We call our headmaster Paul, because that's his name.
In the school's description it says, "Paideia's philosophy is based on the belief that schools can be informal and individualized yet still educate well. The school offers a challenging curriculum that emphasizes individual achievement...," and that's exactly what we do. Paideia, as far as I can tell, focuses on students as people, instead of just focusing on having us get worksheets done. They focus on helping us to mold ourselves into our own individuals.
In jr. high, I was put in a class that did a lot of writing. I love writing fiction, so I was excited and couldn’t wait to start writing stories. The first day, however, I walked in and my teacher, Jennifer said "We don't do any creative writing in this class. It's all personal. We want you to talk about life experiences and grow from them."
Those two years of jr. high did not only consisted of regular classes like grammar and lit. We also had classes like Time Management and Organization, Race, Class, and Gender, and GOALS, a 45 minute emotional check-in where we addressed personal or general issues and made long-term and short-term goals for ourselves.
My favorite time in school—other than Zoo Day in kindergarten, where Zoo Atlanta would come to the school and bring animals—was Jr. High because I saw so many of my peers make positive changes and they taught us how to be people. We learned about each other and our society.12 and 13-year-old students made realizations that some adults still haven't made about the world we live in, and the people in it. Those two years were key years for me, because I think I needed to be able to understand my peers in order to gain stronger relationships with them.7th and 8th grade is where those relationships blossomed.
What I like the most about Paideia is just how the student-to-student and student-to-teacher relationships are so strong and the people really begin to feel like family. As cliché as that sounds, it's so true for those of us there. Paideia is a small school, with around only 900 people for the whole school (pre-k through 12th grade). For sports, we’re a 1A school (the smallest possible sizing category), but after a while you realize that you pretty much know everyone, and everyone knows you. People there, students, parents and teachers alike, love the closeness and communal feel that comes with being a Paideian.
This past year I was a freshman. I feared the jump from jr. high to high school because of how high school has always been portrayed in movies and books. I expected to be ignored and buried under my school work, but now realize how crazy it was for me to feel that way. I met more people that I thought I'd never talk to, like juniors and seniors, and learned things about peers that I would have never known if I had been afraid of exploring it.
Generally, class sizes range from 20 to maybe 26 students, so for the semester, you really have time to get to know the people in your class. A lot of the time, when we do activities or assignments in class, they are group or partner activities, which lead to conversation amongst all types of students.
Our school does things a little differently than other private schools. Instead of having one block schedule that we follow for the whole year we have two long term semesters and two short term semesters. This means up until Holiday Break (the week before Christmas-New Years) we have six classes a day ranging from 40-50 minutes. Some people have orchestra/band or art/photography during a period, while others have study hall. Some students take seminars or AP classes later on in their high school career. When we get back from the break, however, we don't have our regular classes. We have "short term" which lasts for a month where we take "alternative learning" classes. All types of classes are offered.
Many people looking in have the misconception that we just sit around doing nothing for a month. However, even with all the cool alternative class offerings, we all still take our required core classes during both long and short term. For example, freshman are required to take Making Healthy Life Decisions at some point during their 2nd short term, and Algebra II students have to take geometry during either short term. My first short term I had classes like Poetry, Chess, and Word Games, and the 2nd short term I had classes like Race and Ethnicity and The Science of the Brain. In those courses I made friends with people throughout all class years, and I still actually learned something. Describing our short term and long term to strangers or to other private schools is never easy, because they assume we just cut off school for 4 weeks. They question what goes on during the month where we’re not taking regular classes like specifically Algebra II or biology and they think two months of our learning isn’t worth much. Much to their chagrin, however, that's not the case at all. Paideians believe just as much in learning about social interactions as they do in learning about math and science.
Like I stated earlier, our school is focused on helping us grow not only as students, but as people, too. When discussing our framework of values and attitude towards learning, our website says, “We should teach our students to use reason and logic and to apply these tools to engage with the world. Schools often err on the side of stressing the competitive and private nature of learning. We should impart the value that learning can often be a cooperative effort in which shared ideas enhance each student's experience and understanding.”
So far, in my 10 years here, I’ve experienced every aspect of what separates Paideia from other private schools, in Atlanta, and just in general.
“We hope that our students will be prepared not only to live in the world but to improve it.”-The Paideia School Framework of Values.
If that doesn’t accurately embody what Paideia hopes to represent, I don’t know what does.
MaLea Berry, 15, is a sophomore at The Paideia School in Atlanta, Georgia.
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