This piece is amazing because it touch base with what teenagers think about some point in there academic career. Sarah Smith was letting listeners know that it is hard to go threw high school having baggage. To face her trouble with her parents getting ready to split up and family members being in the hospital can really put an effect on you. What I love best about this piece is that even though the piece is about bad times Sarah makes an ending saying that she is going to do her senior year and not drop out of school. She proves to listeners that you have to survive the bad times to get to the good times
I appreciate this piece so much. But I wanted to ask you a question, how did you feel after you wrote this piece? Was there any type of relief. Highschool can be very hard at times and for others all the time so I give you that respect for staying. I would have like to hear an interview on the guidance counselor, though. She was the one that instead of guiding you in the right direction she didnt, and there are so many students out there like you. I know I was one of them. The point of dropping out when you feel backed into a corner feels like the easiest way to go at times. I hope you finish. You have made a good piece that was personal. Your story is one of those stories where there could have been more interviewing. Good job and I hope you do well.
It's really refreshing to listen to a peice about dropping out that dosen't involve drugs or some other illicit activity. So many times when there is talk about a young person dropping out fo high school, it's because they made some bad decisions. But like in this peice, there are often other forces that affect one's perfornmance in school making it not a priority. I think that this peice is inspirational to those teens who are good people but just need some help handeling school.
This incredibly moving piece contains all the elements of excellent radio--a strong script, good sound quality, emotional yet natural voicing, and, of course, an engaging, thought-provoking story. I was captured by the producer's words, engaged by her honesty, and given a completely new angle on the experience of dropping out of high school. Editing for smooth voicing and perhaps adding music for variation could enrich this piece.
Wow that is allot of information in such a short piece. You have a good voice for radio and did good narration! You?re bringing up so many reasons as to why there are so many kids dropping out of high school. Unfortunately not everyone understands, and your piece helps make people understand a little more. It?s weird in your story you say nobody discouraged you from dropping out, sounding (in your voice) as if you wanted someone to discourage you, you should have dove deeper into that part. Also doing a piece like this is so easy, good writing and some recording. It would have been better if you picked up the microphone and did more recording and more interviewing, instead of telling, let us hear it! Good job on interviewing your mother although she sounded pretty nervous?it?s always hard to get the realness out of people when you have an eight inch microphone in their face. Lastly your piece brings light into an issue, and for once gives your (teen) perspective of ?what?s going on?. Nice JOB
Most of us have a very vivid mental picture of a high school dropout: an unemployed slacker, sitting on their parents' sofa, maybe a bag or two of Cheezits laying around. But the narrator of this piece debunks that stereotype with a well-spoken, well-reasoned explanation for her high school troubles.
The narrator sets the scene very well, and contradicts the dropout stereotype by not only thinking through her decision, but asking her counselor and parents as well (both seem to think she's responsible enough). However, she then dropped the bombshell on the listener that, two years later, she was still in school, without any explanation of what changed, why, or when. With a little more explanation, this piece would be an excellent counterpoint to lighter stories about high school life.
Comments for Hopeless in High School
Produced by Sarah Smith
Other pieces by Blunt Youth Radio Project
Rating Summary
6 comments
Kwabena Adomako Amankwah
Posted on July 30, 2007 at 05:38 PM | Permalink
Review of Hopeless in High School
Hopeless in High School
This piece is amazing because it touch base with what teenagers think about some point in there academic career. Sarah Smith was letting listeners know that it is hard to go threw high school having baggage. To face her trouble with her parents getting ready to split up and family members being in the hospital can really put an effect on you. What I love best about this piece is that even though the piece is about bad times Sarah makes an ending saying that she is going to do her senior year and not drop out of school. She proves to listeners that you have to survive the bad times to get to the good times
Adomako
Jaimita Haskell
Posted on September 18, 2006 at 02:41 PM | Permalink
Review of Hopeless in High School
I appreciate this piece so much. But I wanted to ask you a question, how did you feel after you wrote this piece? Was there any type of relief. Highschool can be very hard at times and for others all the time so I give you that respect for staying. I would have like to hear an interview on the guidance counselor, though. She was the one that instead of guiding you in the right direction she didnt, and there are so many students out there like you. I know I was one of them. The point of dropping out when you feel backed into a corner feels like the easiest way to go at times. I hope you finish. You have made a good piece that was personal. Your story is one of those stories where there could have been more interviewing. Good job and I hope you do well.
natalia brown
Posted on September 18, 2006 at 09:29 AM | Permalink
Review of Hopeless in High School
It's really refreshing to listen to a peice about dropping out that dosen't involve drugs or some other illicit activity. So many times when there is talk about a young person dropping out fo high school, it's because they made some bad decisions. But like in this peice, there are often other forces that affect one's perfornmance in school making it not a priority. I think that this peice is inspirational to those teens who are good people but just need some help handeling school.
Eilis O'Neill
Posted on July 22, 2006 at 07:00 PM | Permalink
Review of Hopeless in High School
This incredibly moving piece contains all the elements of excellent radio--a strong script, good sound quality, emotional yet natural voicing, and, of course, an engaging, thought-provoking story. I was captured by the producer's words, engaged by her honesty, and given a completely new angle on the experience of dropping out of high school. Editing for smooth voicing and perhaps adding music for variation could enrich this piece.
Rocky Tayeh
Posted on July 18, 2006 at 01:40 AM | Permalink
Review of Hopeless in High School
Wow that is allot of information in such a short piece. You have a good voice for radio and did good narration! You?re bringing up so many reasons as to why there are so many kids dropping out of high school. Unfortunately not everyone understands, and your piece helps make people understand a little more. It?s weird in your story you say nobody discouraged you from dropping out, sounding (in your voice) as if you wanted someone to discourage you, you should have dove deeper into that part. Also doing a piece like this is so easy, good writing and some recording. It would have been better if you picked up the microphone and did more recording and more interviewing, instead of telling, let us hear it! Good job on interviewing your mother although she sounded pretty nervous?it?s always hard to get the realness out of people when you have an eight inch microphone in their face. Lastly your piece brings light into an issue, and for once gives your (teen) perspective of ?what?s going on?. Nice JOB
Emily Raymond
Posted on July 06, 2006 at 11:07 AM | Permalink
Review of Hopeless in High School
Most of us have a very vivid mental picture of a high school dropout: an unemployed slacker, sitting on their parents' sofa, maybe a bag or two of Cheezits laying around. But the narrator of this piece debunks that stereotype with a well-spoken, well-reasoned explanation for her high school troubles.
The narrator sets the scene very well, and contradicts the dropout stereotype by not only thinking through her decision, but asking her counselor and parents as well (both seem to think she's responsible enough). However, she then dropped the bombshell on the listener that, two years later, she was still in school, without any explanation of what changed, why, or when. With a little more explanation, this piece would be an excellent counterpoint to lighter stories about high school life.