Drop-out students learn to start over

By Linda Hou, Miami 2007
Originally published in The Central High Times.

The many students who returned to Central after dropping out came back with different reasons and motives.

For sophomore Laura Franklin, coming back was what she always wanted.

“I never really wanted to dropout. It was my only alternative,” Franklin said. Franklin dropped out of Hillcrest last year because she and her friend Kelsey felt threatened by another group of students.

“They were threatening and calling us names,” Franklin said, “The day we dropped out, some girl punched …[Kelsey], and the teacher didn’t do anything about it.”

Forget Hollywood and Bollywood — Here comes Novelawood!

By Arelis Hernández, Washington, D.C. 2004
Originally published as part of the New York Times 2007 Student Journalism Institute. Arelis Hernandez was recently named one of the UWIRE 100, a yearly compiled list of the country’s top college journalists.

Telenovela actress Jenny Arraiz, 28, by Marie de Jesús/New York Times Institute

As a little girl in Venezuela, Jenny Arraiz was never allowed to watch telenovelas. Her mother said there was too much kissing, but that didn’t stop Jenny from sneaking a peek as the blind Topacio — the title character in a 1984 hit — married a rich man and regained her sight.

Twin Cities Dragon Festival 2008

By Ian Yue, New York 2006
Originally aired on KFAI, July 14, 2008.

July 12-13, 2008, marked the 12th year of the Twin Cities Dragon Festival, the state’s largest festival celebrating Asian American culture. While the event featured various cultural performances, martial arts demonstrations, and lots of Asian cuisine, a major focus was on the Dragon Boat Races. KFAI’s Ian Yue was on the scene for the weekend event.