Editor’s Note: Aaron Anderson of Springdale High School, Bethany Joseph of Har-Ber High School and Kellen Boyett of Shiloh Christian School were named to NWA Media’s All-Academic Team based on nominations from school officials. Team members were asked their opinions on issues pertinent to themselves and their future.
What do you think will be some of the biggest challenges for your generation?
Aaron Anderson: I think that many of the struggles my generation will encounter will be because of ideologies instead of economic downturns or unstable relations with other countries. With the increased communication of the technological revolution, ideas and movements will travel faster than they ever have before. My generation will be much more involved with the affairs surrounding them and will need to be able to discern how to best react to movements such as the Arab Spring or the domestic waves of neoconservatism.
Bethany Joseph: The biggest challenge is to be taken seriously. The older generations view my generation, “The Lost Generation,” as that: lost. We are not given credit for being innovative, creative and enlightened. Instead we are bashed for not conforming to the old traditions. We will have major problems with the economy and the fear of it imploding, environmental issues concerning landfills and oil reserves, an unstable government, thanks to deficits and flaring foreign affairs. Therefore, we need the older generation to believe in us because we are inheriting many problems.
Kellen Boyett: I think some of the biggest challenges for my generation will be adjusting to work after school. Our generation has been blessed with technology to where everyone has had a cellphone and a TV for many years. But because of this, I believe that we have become partially separated from needing to think critically and articulate our thoughts and feelings into words as well as struggling to connect with other people.
How do you think Springdale schools have prepared you for those challenges?
Anderson: This school is very aware of the unique distinctions it holds apart from other schools. I felt that I have become more culturally aware and receptive toward other cultural influences while attending my school. Much of the student body focuses on independent growth and realizes the importance of learning over having gaudy buildings. SHS has allowed me to understand the necessity of being a world citizen.
Joseph: Springdale schools have prepared me to see beyond my horizon because they offer a wide array of AP classes. I have taken courses such as AP Environmental, AP Comparative Politics and AP U.S. Government. All have enlightened me to see the problems of the future, but I have hope.
Boyett: My time at Shiloh has helped me with this problem immensely. Although I have only attended Shiloh for the past two years, I have been challenged academically and spiritually. Through my early college classes and others at Shiloh, I have learned to think critically better than I ever have before without feeling like I am having another person’s views forced upon me.
What advice do you have for incoming freshmen?
Anderson: Being involved within the local community is one of the most important things you can do in high school. This could be through ringing bells outside of a grocery store for The Salvation Army, being an active member of a local church or even establishing a D&D (Dungeons & Dragons) game with your classmates. I found that the most helpful things in my school career often came from things I was involved in outside of school.
Joseph: Life is not high school. It prepares you for life. Don’t get bogged down by petty people or circumstances. Girls aren’t going to remember that you had a horrible hair day or that embarrassing shirt your mom made you wear. It is not abnormal to be ambitious. In fact, that is what is going to get you ahead. Be true to yourself. You’re going to get burned and people will fail you and change. But hallelujah, God never does. Cling to him and he will direct your paths.
Boyett: My biggest piece of advice for incoming freshmen would be to enjoy your time in high school. My freshman year I was so scared of moving into high school that I really let that affect my schoolwork as well as my interactions with friends. Although it may seem bigger or much different, it’s really just the same idea of going to school and there are many people that will help you with adjusting to the newness of it.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Anderson: I really don’t know where I’ll be in 10 years. Hopefully I will be doing something that I enjoy, but I honestly don’t have a certain idea about what I will do. I hope that in whatever I do, I am able to make an impact on the world around me.
Joseph: I see myself being graduated from college with degrees in business honors and business management from Texas A&M. I will have expanded my jewelry business to stores throughout the South. I will be married and starting to have kids. Because I believe being a mother is more important than a life full of money, I will be a stay-at-home mom and balance my business at home.
Boyett: Man, 10 years seems like a long time away, but in 10 years I hope to see myself getting settled into a career somewhere in the business world and starting a strong Christian family with a great Christian woman. Past that, I’m not really sure. I’m just excited to see what great plans God has for my life during my time at Ouachita and past that.