Oklahoma Institute for Diversity in Journalism

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OIDJ Editor - page 24

OIDJ Editor has 297 articles published.

Looks aren’t everything

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Somewhere, an overzealous mother in her mid-thirties calls out: “Smile!” Her daughter, 5, stops mid-backyard-play, constructs her lips just so and freezes for the camera. “Look happy,” the mother says. The little girl stretches her mouth to the point her cheeks twinge. “Yay! Good girl!” “Oh, wait! No! You’re squinting. Let me take one more.” In a world where social media’s influence grows by the second, just smiling isn’t enough anymore. Users of Instagram and other social media find validation not in the quality of pictures, but in pursuit of the perfect moment. With so many competing for followers and…

Some flood victims denied insurance

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Earlier this year three feet of rushing water came up from the nearby creek and into Norbert Heckman’s home. The muddy water destroyed some things in its path, and rose as far as 18 inches. He moved into his home in Indiahoma, which is in Comanche County, in 2008, and was told he could not get flood insurance by Humble Insurance Agency. “When I asked my (insurance) agent if I could get (flood) insurance, he said I could not because I didn’t live in a flood zone,” Heckman said. A flood zone, sometimes called a floodplain, is a low-ground area…

Confederate flag not just about heritage

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Racism is nothing new—not around the globe and not in America. In 1619, slavery began in America. While the country has come a long way in nearly 4oo years – even electing a black president, some Southerners remain stuck in the past when it comes to issues like the Confederate flag. When I was little and growing up in northeastern Oklahoma, I remember going to the Saline courthouse with a friend and her parents to take pictures. There’s a tree there that everyone calls the hanging tree. Her dad told us stories about how people used to be hanged there,…

Sydney Schwichtenberg

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Sydney Schwichtenberg, who could pass for a human-version of the popular smiley face logo, tackles journalism in a deliberate way that allows her to excel. As a junior at Locust Grove High School, she serves as the main editor for the school newspaper. In her free time, she enjoys writing stories about mysteries and horror on a website through which she has won an award. “I have always been drawn to these two genres since I was a little kid,” Schwichtenberg said, adding that she hopes to publish many books in her future. In her extra time Schwichtenberg enjoys writing…

Skyla Parker

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Some people may say being in yearbook, volleyball and softball, and maintaining a 3.9 GPA is a nearly impossible task, but Skyla Jenai Parker has managed it throughout her high school career. She also is very passionate about music. She likes all genres, but gets tired of repeatedly listening to the same thing. “My dad always played music when I was growing up: everyday we would go in the car and listen to his Michael Jackson CD, the whole thing,” Parker said. She has stopped listening to the radio, and began looking for new music, finding an interest in newer…

Bailey Roach

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As a person of many talents, Bailey Roach has made an impact in quite a few lives over the last several years. She’s a junior advanced placement student who makes herself a part of her growing location. “I’m a part of BPA (Business Professionals of America) because I love helping people,” Roach said. “And in BPA, we do many things for the good of the community.” As a member of BPA, she helps her school raise donations and assist the community. She also volunteers for the Special Olympics and sells concessions at school carnivals. Roach is a member of the…

Cheyanne Weller

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Cheyanne Weller has adapted to living in different places, having moved from Oklahoma to Virginia and back. “Home is not a place, it’s a feeling,” she said. “I guess home is a place with family, friends and people I care about.” Moving and traveling have had their advantages, such as helping her gain social skills. “I do talk a lot,” she said. “When I was younger though, I was shy. Now people tell me I’m a social butterfly, but I don’t feel like I am.” Weller lives in Glenpool, Okla., with her parents and younger brother. She also has an…

Madyson Kendall

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Madyson Kendall pushes past the limits of living in small-town Indiahoma, Okla., by enjoying an out-of-the-box hobby. The 16-year-old participated in two beauty pageants since 2014. In her first pageant, Miss Teen Oklahoma City, she scored in the top 10 out of 75 contestants. At her second pageant, National American Miss, she did not place, but said she enjoyed the competition more because it encouraged confidence and promoted poised behavior. Madyson’s participation in pageants is not the only interesting thing about her. She also plays piano and sings. “My favorite song to play on the piano is ‘Fresh Pair of…

Alivia Rawls

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Alivia Rawls, 17, has dirty blond hair, lives in south Tulsa, and “love, love, loves creative writing.” Growing up with a homeless father with a mental illness has made her a determined person, even though he is not around. His situation helped Rawls become passionate about raising awareness of people with mental illnesses and advocating for them. Rawls also relies on creative writing as a stress outlet. The young writer was raised in a single-parent home and has three older siblings. At age 16, Rawls graduated from Oklahoma Virtual High School and received a full-tuition scholarship to the University of…

Taylor Ponds

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Taylor Ponds, 16, rolled groggily into the bathroom to start her morning ritual. She showered and listened to rap music, pausing frequently and skipping a song she just didn’t feel. She decided on J. Cole, and proceeded to spend an extra 4 minutes under the water because she wanted to listen to the song twice. “I love music,” she said. “I don’t know what I’d do without it.” After adding a final touch of lotion on her hands for the day, Ponds crossed the hall and helped her brother Malachi, 4. He is one of the more than 400,000 people…

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