By Jena Olson
Students in The AjA Project have been reflecting on the positive and negative sides to socializing in City Heights as a teenager. One student, Michael, 16, is picking up that narrative with two images: one that represents a negative side and one that represents a positive side.
“Something that I would like to say about socializing as a teen in City Heights is it’s hard for some kids to go on the right path in life because of their surroundings. The friends they hang out and grow up with.
“In City Heights, it’s honestly not hard for young teens to purchase tobacco and alcohol products. Some people at the age of 18 will buy it and then give it to minors, or some store owners will even sell it to minors.
“In order to reduce the population of young smokers, I want to inform them with the risks of smoking and what it will do to your body with fliers, commercials and anti-smoking clubs.”
“This picture represents life and opportunities to be successful. Even if you grow up in a area that may be frowned upon like City Heights, there are still some really good opportunities that schools have to offer that a lot of other schools to don’t have to offer. For example, some people laugh at my school because of the area it’s in and what goes on in and around it. When they don’t know the really good things it has to offer so you can be successful in life.
“I want to show people the positive things City Heights has to offer and take people’s eyes away from the negative things.”