Oklahoma Institute for Diversity in Journalism

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2016 Archive - page 2

Week in review: OIDJ

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Coming here for OIDJ has been an extraordinary experience so far. On day 1 we basically got to tour a bit of the Gaylord Hall. Afterwards, we got the opportunity to introduce ourselves and get to know each other. Some of us made friends quite fast and some of us are now just coming out of our shells, like myself.  Everyone has been so kind and respectful to each other that it literally feels like we are family. After we played some get-to-know-you games we headed to our first session– blogging. I found this session useful because I wanted to blog about healthy eating and make a living…

The business of vaping

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The tobacco-based drug, known as cigarettes, has been around before the 1870s. During this time many long-term effects of its use have been discovered, such as cancer, asthma, and heart disease. Despite extensive research focusing on the negative sides of smoking, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that the leading cause of preventable death is smoking. Over the course of many years, cessation tools have been developed to help consumers kick their tobacco addictions. Nicotine patches, inhalers and gum have all been used, however, the first real breakthrough was made when e-cigarettes, commonly known as ‘vapes’,…

Skyla Parker

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From losing every single game Skyla Parker’s freshmen year at Harding Charter Prep High School, to setting records for the best volleyball season in school history Parker experienced both the ups and downs of being part of an organized sport. Parker, 17, said she worked hard to catch her coach’s attention and looked to varsity players to improve her game. In Parker’s point of view all of the hours that she put into volleyball her freshmen year paid off, as her goal of becoming a varsity player was achieved her sophomore year. However, junior year was when Parker and her…

Anushka Sukhadia

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Anushka Sukhadia, is a 14-year-old from Bartlesville that wears her heart on her sleeve. She always has a smile on her face and a positive attitude. She has a contagious smile and a desire to learn. Anushka finds happiness in swimming, something that at one point in her life brought her discomfort. She took some time to answer questions about herself during OIDJ week. Q: What do you like to do in your free-time? Hobbies? A: I read, listen to music, am interested in photography and competitively swim with my high school. I’d say that the majority of my time…

Destyni Williams

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If you ask Destyni Marie Williams what her interests are, the answer will surely involve writing. As a passionate copy editor on her yearbook staff at Edmond Santa Fe High School, she assumes most of the responsibility in her position editing the various stories that go into her high school’s yearbook. At the ripe age of 16 she has already declared a double major in professional writing and broadcast, with a minor in psychology or business. Driven is an understatement for Williams. In the long run, the goal for Williams is to become a New York Times Best Seller and…

Pooja Krishna

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Pooja Krishna, of Plano, Texas, will be a junior at John Paul II High School in fall. Her ancestors on the other hand, are from India and her great grandparents were the last generation there until they settled in Burma, located in the southeast of Asia. Both of her parents lived in Burma, until her father migrated to the U.S. in 1988 followed by her mother in 1996, due to the country’s government being corrupt. They hoped that in America, life would be better for them and their future children. When Pooja was in the fourth grade, her mother pushed…

Diana Lara

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She stood upon the carpeted floor of the church’s stage where the graduation of Santa Fe South High School in Oklahoma City was held and peered down upon the hundreds of faces that looked up at her expectantly. Straightening out the notes that lay on the podium in front of her, she took a deep breath and began her salutatorian speech. “Good afternoon my name is Diana Lara,” the words boomed from her microphone filling the silence of the room, “Buenas tardes, me llamo Diana Lara.” As soon as these words escaped her mouth, surprise and excitement erupted from the…

Naaman Henager

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Naaman Henager is an extraordinary human being. He appears to be shy, but that is not the case. He is involved in many clubs, is an AP student and an athlete as well. He wants to be involved in his community and make changes that he thinks are important. Sitting down with Naaman and getting to know him and having an honest conversation with him, you get a different feel than the quiet kid he presents himself as. Q: What clubs are you in and what are your roles in the clubs? A:Link Crew, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Council,…

Jeanette Thomas

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Jeanette Thomas is an eighteen-year-old from El Paso, Texas who moved to Lawton, Oklahoma six years ago. During her freshman year at her high school, Macarthur High, she joined Key Club. This helped show Jeanette that she loves to do community work. From there helping people, as Thomas said, became her passion, because she said she wanted to get involved in school. ” . . . it really humbles me every time I volunteer somewhere because it put me in the other peoples shoes every time.” Thomas said she thinks journalism is a way to help people. It’s something she…

McKayla Bowens

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McKayla Bowens or “MK” is a 15-year-old rising freshman at Bartlesville High School. MK got her nickname from a friend who wanted to differentiate her from all of the other girls who had the same name. Bowens recently moved to Bartlesville from Kansas to be closer to her extended family. Bowens enjoys writing, specifically romance and religion. She also enjoys singing and has an older sister to brother Santos. “[I like to write] romance because even though it doesn’t relate to my life I like the perspective,” Bowens said. Her religious writing goes a little bit deeper, and I focused…

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