This editorial represents the opinions of all 14 editors.
Students from all grade levels attended a mandatory assembly last Monday in the theatre to listen to professional teenager Mike Smith inspire with his story of courage, community, and compassion.
While Smith was an engaging speaker, there were some objectionable parts of his presentation that ran contrary to the overarching point he seemed to be making. He talked about overcoming stereotypes and reaching out to different groups of people but made sweeping generalizations about girls who followed models for their body on Instagram, immature boys who played video games, and reiterated the outdated stereotype of insecure, self-obsessed millennials. As he talked about the importance of inner beauty and character, he mentioned his “hot wife.”
The undertone of some comments during the presentation like how Smith took Calvin “under [his] wing” also made it seem like Calvin needed to be saved — there was a connotation of dominance.
Yet despite its minor flaws — some of which were clearly intended for comedic effect — the overall message of giving back to the community and being part of something larger than yourself was very relevant. As March rolls around and freshmen, sophomores, and juniors map out their course schedules for next year while seniors anxiously wait for the unknown, the assembly served as a reminder that our concerns are narrow-minded. There are bigger things than one’s GPA, and one’s worth in society is not dependent upon one college’s verdict. However, it remains to be seen what exactly the impact of this presentation will be. When Keith Hawkins spoke last semester, he brought with him the new Buddies program. This time around, it is up to the students who felt inspired to change the culture of our school.
