Student's View - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Volunteering in Northern Laos

growingupsc — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:01:49 +0000

Coco Kettmann shares her experience volunteering for child care in Luang Prabang, Laos, during a three-month family trip to Asia.

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A Kid’s Adventure at teamLab Planets Tokyo

growingupsc — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 06:53:32 +0000

One of the first things we saw at Narita Airport outside of Tokyo, Japan, after our eleven-hour flight from San Francisco was a big wall-sized poster with two people surrounded by a big room full of swirling color. I was amazed! It was an ad for teamLab Planets, a unique kind of museum, where I knew my mom and dad and my sister Anaïs already had tickets to visit a day and a half later. TeamLab Planets is a fun museum for kids in Tokyo. At their website, they say: “With your entire body, immerse, perceive and become one with the art.” And it really did feel like I “became one” with their different artworks. There were different big rooms with different things. One room seemed especially big and was really dark. It was filled with milky-colored water, up to your knees, and from up above a light shined down with a projection of koi fish swimming in the water. It was so cool, like the koi were swimming all around you, and if you touched one in the water, it would explode into colorful flowers. In one room you lay on the floor and looked up and it was like hundreds and hundreds of flowers were falling out of the sky or moving past you. One time it was just sunflowers, everywhere. Another time it was just red flowers. After you watched a while, it felt like you were moving, like you were sitting on a platform and were flying. I loved it. In one room there was a long trampoline kind of thing and the room was dark with stars projected on the walls and the ceiling. You waited a few seconds, and down below you would see a planet, and you could bounce on the planet and it made a musical sound. My dad said it was like playing the music of the spheres. Whatever that meant. Then when you jumped on the last planet, it exploded into a big black hole. It was so cool. There was also a coloring station where you had different oil pastels and could color in a bird or a dolphin or an airplane and then they would scan your picture into their app and your bird or dolphin or airplane would be projected on the wall. I like coloring and do a lot at home, and I loved using the pastels to color a bird. I colored the head light green and the beak yellow, and the wings and the body blue, purple and pink. I smudged it in different places to shade the colors. Then I gave it to one of the people who worked there and she scanned it into the app. Only a few seconds later my bird was flying across the wall, over a small city with little white houses and palm trees, and also some bigger buildings, surrounded by a lot of other birds and dolphins and airplanes that others had drawn. My bird, like all the others, was somehow now three-dimensional, not just a picture on a page. My dad took a video of me standing against the wall, holding up the picture, and it was really fun, because when I touched the wall, where my bird was flying by, the app was interactive and suddenly my bird rapidly flew away from me. It felt like my drawing had come to life. I would highly recommend a visit to teamLab Planets for any families visiting Tokyo. My whole family enjoyed it. It’s truly for all ages, and I’d never seen anything like it before. It’s my favorite museum ever. BY COCO KETTMANN

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Growing Up An Aspiring Chef In Santa Cruz

Jordan Chipman — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 15:27:37 +0000

Growing up in Capitola, I spent a lot of time outdoors – fishing off the wharf, biking with friends, and hanging out by the beach. I never imagined that I would be working in kitchens. But, at some point, cooking went from a hobby to something much bigger – my passion, my career, and my focus. Today, at 18 years old I am finishing my senior year at Soquel High School and working part-time at a one Michelin-starred restaurant, Chez Noir. Working in kitchens and balancing high school can make for a hectic schedule at times, but I love that kind of thing. It doesn’t feel like sacrifice, rather purpose. I first discovered my love for cooking when I was very young, cooking with my parents and my grandfather. I found it was very calming – something to focus on, a way to be creative. The way simple ingredients can be turned in to something incredible was captivating. When I was 15, I got my start at Trestles, in Capitola, and from there I havent looked back, only looking to grow with each step. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside amazing chefs at places like Trestles, Chez Noir, and Alderwood, each teaching me different equally important lessons. Being in this industry so young, a high-pressure environment isn’t very easy. In kitchens, perfection is the expectation and every plate matters. I have had trouble proving myself so young, but I quickly learned that showing up every day ready to learn, and ready to be part of the team is vital to success. Santa Cruz has been my inspiration since my start. The fog, the redwoods, the ocean, all inspires me in the kind of food I hope to create. One day, my dream is to open my own restaurant right here in Santa Cruz, a place that cpatures the spirit of the coast and earn michelin stars of its own.

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Rainbow Conference Offers Opportunities for Teens

growingupsc — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 20:05:27 +0000

The Rainbow Conference opens the door for our LGBTQIA2S+ teens and their parents/guardians as well as their adult allies. There is also an event for elementary school students and their families. It’s a day of celebration, community, and learning for our young people and the adults who support them in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. Students who have attended in previous years say it’s changed their lives and made them feel more welcomed in their homes, schools, and broader community. This free event takes place on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at Watsonville High School from 9:30 am – 2:00 pm and is organized through the Safe Schools Project. Read all about the three events that make up the Fall 2024 Rainbow Conference in the articles below. QUEER, TRANS, AND ALLIED STUDENT SUMMIT OF THE CENTRAL COAST Liberating Queer Youth with the Queer, Trans, & Allied Student Summit by Juniper Brown & Lynx Kelly The Queer, Trans, and Allied Students Summit has proved itself to be an empowering and liberating event for local LGBTQIA+ youth. In centering the protection and validation of queer youth, it has cemented its goal in providing a memorable experience for all who attend. Between an extensive resource fair with dozens of organizations, educational workshops, and an environment bustling with friendly individuals, you will find something to enjoy, even if it’s just the free breakfast and lunch! For many students and youth, the summit was one of their founding experiences in their local queer community. I know, for myself, Juniper, it was a formative moment in my queer journey. Not only being able to participate, to present a workshop, and lead a caucus, all of which are accessible to all youth that attend, but to simply witness the sheer joy everyone harbors during the event. At the summit, you will see what many describe as an inspiring opening ceremony full of keynote speakers, student talent, and even members of the student planning committee share their experiences in crafting such an event. You will have the chance to attend caucuses centered around certain identities, where you can have vulnerable conversations and make connections, such as the transgender caucus I led last year. Whether it be being transgender, non-binary, bisexual, on the aromantic/asexual spectrum, neurodivergence, or other identities that people may have! Similarly, there are numerous potential workshops to attend, both youth and adult led. Some touching on important topics; past examples such as “Healthy Relationships & Consent”, “Harm Reduction Tools For Youth”, and “Roots of Resistance: Social Movement History For Trans & Queer People of Color”. Others are recreationally educational, but well loved, such as “Identity Adventure with Dungeons & Dragons”, “Guinea Pig Care: The Queerest Pet” and “Drag 101: Crafting Your Drag Persona”. Another student on the student planning committee, Lynx, wanted to share their own experience as well. “I have known I was queer since I was 9, and I came out as transgender at 12. I’m now almost 16 years old, and nearly 2 years on testosterone. I grew up with lesbian great-aunts in a family that has always taken in, as our own, people whose relatives did not provide them that same unconditional love. With the few other queer people I met in school, I learned just how rare a family like mine was. I realized the value of a community full of chosen family members, but I didn’t know where to find it or how to create it. My middle school GSA had been practically nonexistent. Even when it was active, there hadn’t been much substance besides collective venting about bigotry. I thought the LOVE Club here would be similar, so I was hesitant at first, but I joined last year regardless. I’m thankful I did so, because last fall, I got to attend the Central Coast’s Queer, Trans, and Allied Student Summit: a large theater packed full of people who were just like me, yet each unique in their own separate and beautiful ways, a variety of foods to satisfy any diet whilst tying in the culture of our community, a selection of carefully thought-out items for attendees, all made free by the companies and organizations showing up with their support, caucuses for specific identities to find more comprehensive connection, and countless workshops catered to vast interests, everything and more than I could’ve ever imagined, all within the timeframe of one regular school day. It was the first time I had seen such a large amount of people with whom I felt I could sincerely set my worries aside.” Every year, the student planning committee collectively decides on a theme. This theme both influences the structure and aesthetic of the event, and also represents an important message they want to send. This year, the theme is “Corals & Queerness: Resilience in The Face of Adversity.” We draw a corollary between the resilience of queer youth, and coral reefs confronted with rising ocean temperatures. Despite the adversity we face, queerness persists. Using this image, we shed light on our ability to withstand anti-LGBTQIA+ bigotry and promote strength in our community. Established by The Safe Schools Project of Santa Cruz County, The Queer, Trans, & Allied Students Summit is available to all students grades 6th-12th from Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito Counties. Visit the registration link and sign up today at: SafeSchoolsProject.org/summit-queer-trans-allied-student-fall-2024 Juniper Brown, he/they, is a homeschool student from Santa County who identifies as a transgender man, and is intensely passionate about social justice and advocacy work. He is on the autism spectrum as well, with dedicated interests in the South American rodent family Caviidae, fine art, graphic design, and a skilled martial artist in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and boxing. Lynx Kelly, he/they, is a 15-year-old North Salinas High School sophomore from Salinas. He identifies as achillean, transgender, and a demiboy. They are passionate about social justice, intersectionality, and anti-capitalism, aspiring to become a lawyer and activist. PARENTS/GUARDIANS, EDUCATORS, AND ADULT ALLIES “UNDERSTANDING GENDER” CONFERENCE Understanding Gender and Supporting Our Youth by Andrea Damon & Michelle Brandt “Is this just a phase?” “Isn’t she too young to know?” “How did I not see the signs?” “Why are there suddenly so many trans kids?” Parents have a lot of questions about gender, whether they are raising a gender diverse child or just witnessing the increased politicization of transgender identities and the emergence of gender affirming practices in their children’s schools. Many parents may not know an openly transgender person in their personal lives or have any experience with the transgender community. So when a child, whether a toddler, a teenager, or a young adult, comes out to their parents as transgender or nonbinary, parents can be woefully unprepared. Luckily, in Santa Cruz there are places for these parents to turn. The Understanding Gender Workshop, part of the annual Rainbow Conference, is a chance for parents, guardians, educators, and behavioral health clinicians to gain a new or deepened understanding of gender identity and how today’s children and young people are experiencing gender in their lives. Workshop sessions aim to engage attendees who are brand new to thinking about gender, as well as those who have extensive knowledge or personal lived experience with diverse gender identities. In addition to introductory and advanced sessions on gender identity, this year’s workshop will feature sessions on the legal rights of transgender students, finding support within faith communities, and hearing the lived experiences of transgender young adults. Gender norms affect all young people. Learning about gender and working to create safe and affirming schools and families benefits our whole community. Schools that institute LGBTQ-friendly policies, such as creating Gender and Sexuality Alliance clubs (GSAs) foster better mental health in all students, including students who do not identify as LGBTQ. One study found that heterosexual boys in schools with GSAs attempted suicide half as often as heterosexual boys in schools without GSAs. Likewise, affirming families greatly reduce suicide risk among transgender, non-binary, and gender diverse young people. The Trevor Project in 2022 found that young people from highly supportive families were half as likely to attempt suicide as those in less supportive families. Educating and supporting families in affirmative parenting practices is one of the most effective interventions society can make to protect the mental health and lives of transgender and nonbinary young people. TransFamilies of Santa Cruz County has been providing information and support to families with transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive children since 2011, meeting parents with compassion and understanding as they enter into the often unexpected journey of parenting a gender diverse child, teen, or young adult. Providing monthly meetings, one-on-one peer support, education, and advocacy, TransFamilies works to make the lives of gender diverse young people easier by fostering affirming families and schools. Time and time again through our work with TransFamilies of Santa Cruz County we have seen children and families thrive when parents and children are supported and provided with accurate, unbiased information. One of the greatest fears parents experience is that their child will not have a happy, meaningful life after transitioning. Through our long-term relationships with families through TransFamilies meetings, we have the privilege of witnessing the growth and maturation of transgender young people as they transition, survive, and thrive into happy, healthy adults. Rebecca (not her real name) came to the group not long after her 17-year-old came out to her as non-binary as a high school senior. Rebecca was stunned by her child’s revelation and every question she asked or comment she made to her child seemed to create conflict and tension between them. She struggled to adapt to her child’s new pronouns. She felt desperate for help by the time she made it to her first group. Her experience at her first meeting was transformative. Listening to other parents share their stories, some of which mirrored her own, she felt a tremendous sense of relief. Rebecca shared that the strategies, information, and perspective she gained from connecting with other parents helped her repair her relationship with her child and to create an affirming environment at home where her child could thrive. Stories like this are the reason the volunteer leaders of TransFamilies continue their work to support and educate families in our community. If you or someone you know is struggling to understand and support their transgender, nonbinary, or gender expansive child, youth, or young adult, TransFamilies is here to help! The bilingual event is free and a light breakfast and lunch will be served. Preregistration is required. For more information or to register, please visit SafeSchoolsProject.org/adultsummit or send an email to gendersummitsc@gmail.com Andrea Damon (she/her), Group facilitator for TransFamilies of Santa Cruz County and co-organizer of the Understanding Gender Conference Michelle Brandt (she/her) Director of TransFamilies of Santa Cruz County and co-organizer of the Understanding Gender Conference RAINBOW GLITTER KIDS Shine Bright: How to Be an Affirming Parent by Rainbow Glitter Kids Planning Committee Raising a child is a journey filled with countless questions, deep joy, and unexpected twists. What if the most important gift we could give our children wasn’t the right school or the latest gadget, but the unwavering affirmation of their true selves? Imagine a future where every child knows they are valued and loved for exactly who they are. Children blossom when they feel supported and accepted. Affirming parents and guardians play a pivotal role in nurturing their children’s self-esteem and sense of belonging, providing a safe space for children to express their true selves without fear of judgment. Being an affirming parent means listening with an open heart, embracing your child’s uniqueness, and standing by their side with unwavering support. This unconditional acceptance helps children build a positive self-image and fosters resilience. Teaching children about acceptance and kindness from a young age fosters a culture of understanding and respect, benefiting everyone by reducing discrimination and promoting social harmony. Inclusive communities are stronger and more resilient, leveraging the strengths and perspectives of all their members. Research from the Family Acceptance Project® highlights that families play a critical role in...

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How Silence Can Speak A Thousand Words

growingupsc — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 22:49:43 +0000

National Day of Silence was a foreign concept to me until my freshman year in high school. National Day of Silence is a national peaceful protest where queer people and allies participate in a vow of silence to bring attention to the discrimination that queer individuals experience. I quickly learned that it is not just about silence; it is a powerful statement. The silence speaks volumes—it is a testament to the struggles, the resilience, and the solidarity of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and its allies. When I first heard of the National Day of Silence, I felt inspired and eager to make the day count for activism and awareness. I was ready to lend my silence as a voice for those who had been silenced by discrimination, bigotry, and hate. When I woke up on a crisp Friday morning, I was prepared to rest my vocal cords and stay silent for the queer individuals who have suffered from discrimination. I had a sticky note explaining I was participating in the vow of silence so I could inform teachers and fellow students. Many other students were unaware of this event and swiftly joined in by resting their voices for the day to bring awareness. I went the rest of the day without uttering a syllable. Every moment I was silent, I was in deep thought about the plethora of hate this nation has seen, but also how far the LGBTQIA2S+ community has come. At the end of the school day, our school’s Queer Straight Alliance and everyone who participated in the National Day of Silence, “broke their silence” and reflected on their experience. I have participated every year since that day, which has profoundly impacted me. My next year participating, I was familiar with the territory. I noticed many more allies and students participated and took it much more seriously.This day made me truly reflect on how much of an impact the queer community can have on each other. For me, and for countless others in Santa Cruz County and beyond, the National Day of Silence holds a special significance. It is a day that reminds us of our shared humanity, our shared struggles, and our shared dreams of a world where love knows no bounds and silence is no longer necessary to be heard. The more people participate in this vow of silence, the stronger our community will become.The National Day of Silence has evolved from a distant concept to a deeply personal and transformative experience for me. As I’ve witnessed the evolution of participation and awareness, I’ve realized the transformative power of collective action. Every vow of silence, every shared moment of reflection, contributes to a broader movement towards equality and acceptance. Sion Erkiletian, they/them, is a 16-year-old junior at Delta High School in Aptos. They are part of Santa Cruz County’s Queer and Trans Youth Council and Youth for Environmental Action. Sion has a passion for social justice and animals. Sion has always sought to make a difference in their county. (Photo credit: Rebecca Stark Photography) Sion Erkiletian (credit: Rebecca Stark Photography)

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Robot Bees and AI Cars Teach Tech

growingupsc — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 20:11:45 +0000

Students across Santa Cruz county will be learning computer technology from the most unlikely of teachers – robotic bees and artificial intelligence toy cars.As computer technology becomes more of a necessary skill in the classroom, teachers throughout Santa Cruz county are finding unique methods of teaching these skills at a young age.Dozens of educators and industry partners from across Santa Cruz county gathered on Thursday, Sept. 14 at the Santa Cruz Office of Education to discuss new exciting methods of teaching students computer technology.Many of those attending are members of the CSTA – Computer Science Teachers Association – who strive to encourage and assist the rapidly modernizing field of computer science.Just like many others in the room, Stephanie Sumarna (a former third grade teacher herself) works with the Santa Cruz County Office of Education.She acts as a distance learning TOSA – Teacher On Special Assignment – with the objective of teaching the fundamental principles of computer science to impoverished regions of Santa Cruz county.“The idea is that we want to make computer science accessible to all students in our county,” said Sumarna. “We want to eliminate the barriers.”At the beginning of the K-12 education spectrum, Bee Bots give building blocks for more advanced levels of computational thinking for kids ranging from Kindergarten to Second Grade. It’s the starting hive toward mastering computer skills.The way her Bee Bots work is with buttons at the top that move the robot six inches in either direction that allow the kids to tackle the concept of cause and effect in controlling computer technology.Early-aged technology activities including Bee Bots are designed to enhance social and emotional learning skills, which is the biggest difference that Sumarna sees in the students that use them.“One of the skills I always tried to get my students to do was how to work together and share the load when solving problems,” she said. “I think computer science has students doing that naturally.”One step more advanced than the Bee Bots is Luma – a programmable robot designed for grades 4-6.Much like the Bee Bot, Luma also builds student collaboration and identification of problems while building upon elementary tools for coding.C.J. Runyon works for Pitsco education to build student’s strength in STEM, and allows kids to have invaluable hands-on experience working with robotics.“You have some students who’ve had exposure, and others who haven’t,” said Runyon. “One of my goals is to get teachers more comfortable using coding because they have a lot on their plate.”The room full of county educators walked across the street for a tour of Joby Aviation.With some of the greatest engineers and computer scientists in the country working for them, Joby designers were hard at work creating drones whose mission it is for them to save a billion people one hour every day as the Uber of the sky.Many schools send their students to similar tours to witness the limitless possibilities.Jack Michael, who helps establish career pathways for K-12 students through the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, believes students should pursue the field of computer science “Because it’s interesting now as a teenager and there are a lot of opportunities for good paying jobs down the road.”Michael helps students receive financial aid, as well as funding school technology services such as Robotics Clubs in which students get to work together and expand upon their curiosity for computer technology.Teaching students the basics of this technology through simplified games will form an early understanding of computational thinking – which expands into more complex coding such as Python and C++ as they enter high school and college level courses.Chris Miller, CEO of a local software developing company, works with the County Office of Education for a pilot program that teaches artificial intelligence to K-12 students by programming a toy car to drive itself.“It’s an easy and approachable way for kids to get into computer science and artificial intelligence through gamification,” said Miller.This is done after school through a virtual program that allows students to utilize Python coding to train a computer model.In a world where AI is becoming more prevalent in the lives of many for functions that oppose creative learning, these skills become increasingly important.While technology will continue to improve and methods of teaching along with it – educators across Santa Cruz county will find ways to ensure every student has access to learning skills of computer technology – one bee bot at a time.By Quinn Southall

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A Brave Space for All

growingupsc — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 14:58:07 +0000

By Sion Erkiletian, Juniper, and Daphne The Queer, Trans & Allied Student Summit of the Central Coast has a special place in my heart because of how much fun I had when I attended last year. It was a very powerful experience, and I made lifelong friends that will forever be in my heart. When I first got to the summit, I was immediately given a warm welcome by friendly attendees, kind volunteers, and I realized I wasn’t alone. I observed delighted youth from different counties participating in activities, and it felt impactful to be in a space so unapologetically queer. My name is Sion Erkiletian, and I am a part of the Student Summit Planning Committee. There was a wide diversity of workshops that taught valuable lessons not only about relevant topics, but also about myself. I attended workshops like the Women and Feminism and the STI prevention workshop, which taught me how to set boundaries and be myself to the fullest extent. I also attended the trans identity caucus, where we had inspiring and vulnerable discussions about what it meant to be trans and how our identity affects our daily life. The conversations held there were necessary and cathartic for many of us, and gave me a chance for my voice to be heard and for my identity to be seen. I know I’m not the only one who had an unforgettable experience, as Juniper, another Student Planning Committee member, as well as our incredible graphic designer, found that “The Summit was one of the first times I felt recognized for my interests, identities, and connections to the queer community. It provided me with an outlet to share my knowledge with [like-minded] peers and feel acknowledged, and it continues to do so.” Daphne, another member of our Student Planning Committee, recalls attending their first summit as a junior. “I remember hearing my friends talk about it all through middle school but never being able to attend, and then after COVID, it really took a while for me to get comfortable again, especially in queer spaces. I attended a great workshop on the art of Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, and had a really fascinating conversation with a member of that year’s Planning Committee, which is what motivated me to join it this year: so that I could recreate that experience for other kids.” The Summit is open to all students grades 6-12 from Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties at Watsonville High School, Sept. 30, from 9:30am-2pm. There is complimentary breakfast and lunch, and students receive free goodie bags that have fidgets, stickers, and much more! The event is put on by the Safe Schools Project of Santa Cruz County. You can learn more and register for the Summit at SafeSchoolsProject.org/summit-queer-trans-allied-summit-fall-2023 Writers: Daphne is a senior at Harbor High and a student leader with ASB, Queer-Straight Alliance, and the Project LIT book club. Juniper (he/they) is a transgender homeschool student who is extremely passionate about LGBTQIA+ and social justice issues. Sion is a queer, cat-loving junior who has a burning passion for Social Justice and LGBTQIA+ rights, and enjoys spending time with loved ones.

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Elemental Tree Network Offers Natural Help for Trees

growingupsc — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 16:06:55 +0000

Over 300 years have passed since California first felt the effects of colonization, but a key victim’s story is still unsung. Siena King, 32, and Sprout Weinberger, 26, are tree specialists tending to Santa Cruz and the greater Bay Area with one thing on their mind: restoration. Siena and Sprout founded Elemental Tree Network, a queer women-owned company, in 2021 inspired by regenerative action and traditional ecological knowledge. Sprout, a soil scientist, oak specialist and arborist was born and raised in Malibu. She moved to Santa Cruz to study Biology and Horticulture at Cabrillo which led her to Santa Cruz Permaculture Program in 2018, where she met Siena: her partner in life and business. She later went on to earn a degree at UC Davis in Environmental Science and Management with a focus on Soils and Biogeochemistry. Siena is a Santa Cruz local who has worked as a property caretaker for many years. Her passion for ecology and holistic health are the backbone of the organic principles that Elemental Tree Network is based on. “As women, we have intuition with how to nurture and be present in this work. It’s not about a bottom line, it’s about doing what’s best for the trees.” Siena said. Their knowledge, first-hand experience, and numerous mentors, have helped Siena and Sprout to implement a natural, chemical free method of disease mitigation and treatment for various tree diseases including the seemingly incurable: sudden oak death (Phytophthora ramorum). A key contributor to the ecological destruction we see today is the lack of land stewardship. “People do not know they need our services… they don’t know their tree is sick or stressed.” Sprout said. Indications of imbalance include insect activity, bare soil, canopy dieback, and bleeding cankers on the bark.Elemental Tree Network offers tree health care from a prescriptive approach: fertilization using organic amendments, soil remediation through compost and mulching, diagnosis of plant disorders and treatments including surgical removal of infections, cauterization with fire and application of a proprietary medicinal wood sealant. Siena says, “Our approach is with the intention of inspiring a deeper connection with the landscape we are living with. We share our knowledge to maintain a healthy ecosystem and help others have a healthier relationship with the beings around them”. Siena and Sprout can be contacted through their website, www.elementaltreenetwork.org, their Instagram @elemental_tree_network, or through their phone number 310.525.8201 to provide diagnosis, treatment, and education to your backyard. By Daniella Blomquist

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Addressing Period Poverty and Menstruation Stigma

growingupsc — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 16:20:07 +0000

Period poverty is defined as the struggle those who have a menstrual cycle face while trying to afford menstrual products. Despite not being able to control a menstrual cycle, those who have one are still left to purchase products that some cannot afford. I believe that menstrual products should be an approved item to purchase using government subsidies or covered through medical insurance. To help alleviate this problem for our local community, I have started a school club called “That’s on Period Project.” That’s on Period Project’s goals are to raise awareness about the stigmas surrounding menstruation, to raise money to purchase period products and to organize period product drives. We aim to partner with local organizations who support those in need, and to provide donations of the menstruation products for those in need. Recently That’s on Period organized a drive where Mount Madonna School students, parents, faculty and staff donated about 110 packages containing period products. The chosen recipients of this drive are the Watsonville-run Center for Farmworker Families’ Oaxacan Community Shed, a non-profit organization dedicated to education, advocacy, and support for farmworker families and Gilroy’s Community Solutions, which provides services for families and individuals of all ages who are facing times of crisis, ranging from mental health and substance use to domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. The Center for Farmworker Families’ Oaxacan Community Shed was chosen because of the large number of the migrant families living in Watsonville who are in desperate need of assistance to meet essential daily needs like personal hygiene products, including period products. Some of the families utilizing this organization’s resources must choose between feeding their children or purchasing items like tampons and pads. For these families accessing period products is a luxury instead of a basic human need that should be fulfilled. One of the reasons Community Solutions was selected is because they serve survivors of domestic violence who flee their homes without personal belongings like clothing and toiletries. Providing period products to these families and individuals is one way we can ensure all of their basic needs are met while they receive additional services to keep them safe from violence. I am inspired by the Mount Madonna School sixth grade to twelfth grade students, their families and faculty and staff who donated the products to help their local community members surrounding an issue that is somewhat taboo to speak about. It was encouraging to see my peers of all genders understand the very real predicament those with periods face when deciding to purchase food or pay an electric bill over obtaining period products that would allow them to experience menstruation in a more dignified and comfortable way. Access to menstrual products supports those who have experienced menstrual cycles ability to fully participate in society with confidence and without the fear of embarrassing bleed through – not to mention compromising their health due to the increased risk of urogenital infections from using inadequate period products. Sophia Manzur is a junior at Mount Madonna School. To donate menstruation products or funds to purchase menstruation products to the That’s on Period Project, contact Sophia at thatsonperiodproject2020@gmail.com or on Instagram at: instagram.com/thatsonperiodproject

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Transitioning from High School to College

growingupsc — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 18:37:06 +0000

In the media college is portrayed as the golden years of youth, celebrated as the best time in one’s life. Coming into college there are so many expectations, it’s a burning fire of both excitement and anxiety. For years I dreamed of the college application process, opening my letter to my dream school, UCLA, and starting out on the best four years of my life. I got that far, Now with the first quarter complete it’s still the hardest transition I’ve ever had. Although things are definitely not what my senior self expected, I’m slowly figuring it all out. Within the first few weeks of college everything that I once associated myself with was stripped away. I no longer had my friends, my sport, or my established position in the community. Moving from a school that encouraged all students to have an active voice, to a university that can drown out all but the very loudest was stifling to say the least. My college in particular is very competitive, with many clubs having lower acceptance rates than the school itself. I didn’t make it into a single one of my top choice clubs. Without the structure and organization I was used to, the passionate and determined version of myself I once knew faded away. In high school I was as a social butterfly, willing to befriend anyone. In college for the first time I am finding that people aren’t as willing to welcome me into their social circles like back home. I’ve found that friendships of convenience happen all too quickly. In just three months people I thought would be with me all four years have come and passed. I find myself questioning my core values and beliefs constantly, trying to hold on to the pieces of myself that once defined me so clearly. It’s a confusing and lonely feeling. I find myself unsure of who I am and hence unsure of who is best for me. All of this sounds terrifying but in the chaos of finals week I have been able to process these and find some conclusions to carry forward into winter quarter. First, a lack of stability will always be scary especially straight out of the structure of high school. I found that the feeling of existential crisis that came as a result of losing the things that defined me back home. I’ve had to realize that I no longer have to be defined by the version of me that people once knew. College is a completely new environment and if you can lean into the excitement of discovering who you are now, instead of longing for who you were then, you might just discover some unconventional experiences. The more I watched my friends post about how much fun they were having the more it made me wonder why I wasn’t finding the same happiness. When I took a step back and considered what I needed out of friendships I found that I had the pieces that make me happy, I was just too busy comparing them to what makes others happy. In all honesty, I am not where I thought I would be a year ago, but I’ve learned it’s okay to not know exactly where I am in life. This is the hardest transition of my life so far. I am proud of myself regardless of what expectations I have met. Grace Timan, 18, from Watsonville, wrote about her senior year at Mount Madonna School last year and will continue to post updates about her transition to UCLA. She plans to major in public affairs with a minor in media literacy. She’s worked at Cafe Rio and Flats Bistro in Aptos and Zelda’s in Capitola.

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