Monse, High School Student, CA
I think we are basically forced to go to school. If we don't go to school we can get in trouble - as well as my parents. And, we come to school for a better future.
Monse is a high school student in California. She was interviewed by a fellow student, Stacy, as part of a #schoolpartnership #studentvoice project with REENVISIONED, in which students interview each other and adults in their lives, and reflect together on school and what makes a good life.
Tell me about yourself how would your friends and family describe you?
I think they would describe me as a fun person and shy at times. I think my family would describe me as a crazy person and rude.
Ok, now to the next question.
Now, imagine you are all grown up. Let's say you're 30. What are three central things you think would make it a good life?
A good job, I'm still going to school, and probably have a good family
How do you imagine your parents answer about what make a good life is similar or different from yours?
I think it's different because my mom always tells me to keep going to school, look for a good job - they just have a different view than we do.
Nice nice.
What would you like school to do, ideally, to help you get to that good life?
Like what are some things that school can help you.
Just help and support on all your assessments. And it will also help if they put on programs.
How do you imagine what your parents would answer is similar or different?
I think similar because I think when we come to school they think we get a lot of help and a lot of support.
Do you think this school will do that for you? Why or Why not?
Right now it is because I have gotten a lot of help from the teachers and a lot of support. I have been getting myself into programs.
Ok that’s good.
Will your school play that role for all students in the school if not, why not?
I think they are cause you know there is a lot of help and nice teachers here.
A lot of people are graduating early.
Oh yeah, that's a good thing.
Why do you think we have a school as a a society?
[Monse *looks confused*]
Why do have do we have schools?
I mean, I think we are basically forced to go to school. If we don't go to school we can get in trouble - as well as my parents. And, we come to school for a better future.
Thank you for coming, and thank for your time.
10,000 Stories. One Shared Vision.
REENVISIONED is a national movement to redefine the purpose of school. We believe schools should foster flourishing individuals and a thriving democratic society. But what does it mean to thrive or flourish?
To answer this, we're building the world's largest collection of stories about what it means to live good lives and the role schools should play in helping create them: 10,000 stories from people across the country. We'll use the stories to learn about our shared values and dreams and to create a new vision for why we send our children to school.
We work with people like YOU across the country: Catalysts - individuals, classrooms, schools, and community organizations - who interview people in their communities and foster empathy nationwide by sharing the stories on our website and social media: Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook (@reenvisioned).