Stacy, High School Student, CA
I think we have schools as a society to makes us learn something because without school we don't have a career and without a career we don't have a job and without a job we don't have money to pay bills.
Stacy is a high school student in California. She was interviewed by a fellow student, Monse, as part of a #schoolpartnership #studentvoice project with REENVISIONED, in which students interview each other and adults in their lives, and reflect together on school and what makes a good life.
Tell me about yourself: how would your friends describe you?
My name is Stacy. friends would describe me as a really fun, outgoing and adventurous person. My family would describe me as just one word: crazy.
Can you take me through your day at school today? What was the best part?
The best part was just seeing my friends
When do you feel the most alive at school?
I feel more alive when I'm playing soccer.
What are the best parts of your life right now?
The best part of my life right now is just my mom, my brother and my boyfriend.
When do you feel like life is really good?
Life is really good when I just get together with my family and friends and we just do like a barbecue and just chill.
Now, imagine you are all grown up. Let’s say you’re 30! Take three post-its and draw or write on them three central things think would make it a good or successful life?
Three central things would be family, career and a good house.
How do you imagine what your parents would answer is similar or different?
They would answer different because they would be more superficial - like success and happiness.
What would you like school to do, ideally, to help you get to that good life?
I would like school to have classes that would benefit me in what I want to do and not put any obstacles in my way.
Do you think this school will do that for you?
So far it has done it.
Will your school play that role for all students in the school? If not, why not?
Yes, I've seen it. Students graduate early from here and afterwards they go to a college.
What do you think is the most important thing you're learning in school?
I think in my advisory class I'm learning important things. For example, on Thursdays we do a class meeting and they show us how to de-stress ourselves from school and other school- related things.
Who has been your favorite teacher until now? Why?
I love all my teachers, so far I don't have a favorite.
Can you tell me be about a time when you learned something and it felt really good and empowering, like you just wanted to keep learning more?
Honestly I have not learned anything that has caught my attention.
Why do you think we have school as a society?
I think we have schools as a society to makes us learn something because without school we don't have a career and without a career we don't have a job and without a job we don't have money to pay bills.
10,000 Stories. One Shared Vision.
REENVISIONED is a national movement to redefine the purpose of school. We believe schools should foster flourishing individuals and a thriving democratic society. But what does it mean to thrive or flourish?
To answer this, we're building the world's largest collection of stories about what it means to live good lives and the role schools should play in helping create them: 10,000 stories from people across the country. We'll use the stories to learn about our shared values and dreams and to create a new vision for why we send our children to school.
We work with people like YOU across the country: Catalysts - individuals, classrooms, schools, and community organizations - who interview people in their communities and foster empathy nationwide by sharing the stories on our website and social media: Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook (@reenvisioned).