A couple years ago, an editor of the Wildcat Roar started the “Issue Issue”—an issue of the newspaper dedicated solely to issues that students on staff are interested in and want other people to learn more about. The editors have kept this annual issue alive to give these students a chance to speak out about what they want to change in the world. The reason why we do the “Issue Issue” is to allow the staff members to go in-depth on a pressing and current issue in order to enlighten our readers and bring about some change. Whether it is halfway across the globe in North Korea or right here at home dealing with materialism, these stories that staff members have written this issue shed light on something they care about in the world.
As high schoolers, this opportunity is invaluable. Teenagers seem to have opinions on almost every subject, and in order to be heard, they need some sort of platform to get those opinions out there instead of simply complaining about it to their friends at the lunch table. This issue of our newspaper is dedicated to these issues—these staff members are sharing their passion for issues and causes all across the globe with our school community. Through these articles, our staff members hope to be heard and taken seriously so that readers can understand what they are writing about and have a reaction that will help shed light on some of these topics.
Staff members have not written these articles simply to spout information and statistics about topics that many people may not know about. Although that is important, these students want to take it a step further and try to give practical, realistic solutions to solve whatever problems or issues their stories address. And although that may be difficult, that is what the “Issue Issue” really is about—not only sharing statistics about what is happening in the world, but offering solutions to these issues that they are passionate about.
The stories in this paper are all issues that our staff members are interested in and want to voice their opinions about. This edition of the Wildcat Roar is filled with stories and ideas ranging from toddler pageants and self-image to high school relationships to the need for rebuilding of homes after natural disasters. Although they are diverse, we believe that our readers will be interested by some of these issues and take notice of them after reading what we have to say.
Middle school students at our school have done an excellent job recently of voicing their opinion to the rest of the student body and trying to get something done about what they think is important in the world. They want to build a well in Africa through an organization called Samaritan’s Purse, and through speaking in chapel, organizing a “jeans day” for students, and placing water jugs for cash in various places around the school, they are working towards meeting their goal. They are a good example for the rest of the school of how hard work and getting opinions out there really does make a difference. They got up in front of the entire school and shared what they’re passionate about and what they want to change in the world, and that has set an amazing example to the rest of the school. By these middle school students coming before everyone to share their opinion and gain support, they will change a little part of the world in Africa. So many times we underestimate power that our opinions and passions have, and these middle school students are a good reminder that we can make a difference if we really care about something and want other people to care about it too.
In this “Issue Issue,” we use this paper as our own platform to share what we are passionate about and why these issues must be given some attention. While all the stories are very different and written by very different people, we all, through this edition of the Wildcat Roar, are trying to make these issues more known and get something done about what we believe in.
