Reflecting on the blogging journey in this course, I’ve realized that my writing is quite dynamic – adapting based on the content I’m writing and, honestly, my level of interest in the topic at hand.

For example, one of my favorite blog posts to write this year was on recycling! This is a subject that I’ve been interested in for quite a while, and it’s always bugged me how wasteful our system is. This blog provided me a platform to both delve into the issue and deepen my own understanding. While writing, I went down a rabbit hole learning about the history of recycling in the US and how the system works today! I was especially intrigued to learn about recycling systems worldwide: living most of my life in America, I previously hadn’t considered alternative systems. Interestingly, many other nations far surpass us in terms of recycling efficiency. It’s also odd how we remain one of the few developed countries without an organized composting system: clearly, we have ample room for improvement regarding the 3 R’s.

As for my Voices novel, I chose to read The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, which I would highly recommend to rising seniors! The book details two light-skinned, black twin sisters whose lives diverged dramatically upon adulthood. Desiree marries a dark-skinned man and has a child, while Stella cuts off her family and passes off as a white woman. The novel traces their journeys, along with those of their daughters Kennedy and Jude, as they navigate their complex identities as black or mixed women in a white-dominated world. I found it fascinating how each character grappled with their racial identity, and how either their acceptance or rejection of it affected their relationships. For example, Stella’s decision to pass as white, lying to her daughter about her background, ultimately fractured their relationship and undermined her daughter’s sense of identity and security.

For students planning to read The Vanishing Half, I’d advise against breezing through it due to its complexity. Personally, I found that reading through the novel slowly helped me absorb all the details and gain a more nuanced understanding.

The Vanishing Half inspired my Voices Project, which focused on internalized racism and colorism among the black female community. I was surprised at how much I learned from my research, particularly about colorism, the differential effect of discrimination on black people of different skin tones. Through my digging, I realized its prevalence in media and wider society. For example, I was pretty shocked to find that among black female characters on TV, only 20% had darker skin tones! It was also disheartening to witness how internalized racism can manifest at such a young age. In the Clark doll study, watching children choose the black doll as “bad” while simultaneously acknowledging that the doll looked like themselves was incredibly saddening. Through this project, my eyes were opened to social issues that we must continue striving to address.

As I move forward beyond high school, there are a few things I’d say to future seniors. Firstly, cherish your relationships above all else – they’re far more important than external achievements. While this sounds obvious (and pretty cliche), there were times when, swamped with work, I tended to forget this. Additionally, I’d urge everyone to get involved and try activities just for the fun of it – after all, you only get one high school experience! I think I sometimes missed out because I felt obligated to focus on certain clubs, activities, etc. If I could redo high school, I’d seize more opportunities for fun and memories, whether events, games, dances, or more!

Moving forward into college, I’ll miss the friends I’ve made during these four years. However, I’m excited for what lies ahead of me – I can’t wait for the journey ahead!