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Must See: Youth Take Over KQED TV

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This April, nearly 50 Bay Area high school students will appear on KQED’s television channels as part of the annual Youth Takeover. These students not only starred in these videos, they produced them. They used this platform to explore a wide range of issues that matter to them, from recommending tactics for better mental health to raising alarms about the spread of misinformation on social media and AI sources. The youth-produced pieces aired in between regularly scheduled programming on KQED 9 and KQED+.

Enjoy all the stories from these insightful and talented young people below:

Abraham Lincoln High School – San Francisco, CA

Advice to Our Freshman Self –  Emma, Emily, Anthony, Kim, and Vanessa share heartfelt advice with their freshman selves, encouraging involvement, self-care, and authenticity as they reflect on lessons learned throughout high school.

ChatGPT – Owen, Brandon, Mason, Ashen, and Jayden highlight the importance of questioning the accuracy of AI-sourced information.

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Misinformation – Daniel, Qiyang, Richard, and Noah share how easily misinformation spreads, especially on social media, and urge viewers to be patient, verify facts, and rely on credible sources before sharing or reacting to information.

Phone Addiction – Peter, Janet, Sophia, Amy, and Martin encourage viewers to break free from the draining pull of constant screen time by reconnecting with real-life activities that bring joy and balance.

Smash and Grab – Kendra, Alli, Aaron, Sean, and Alex share a fictional news report about a car break-in caught on camera in the Bay Area.

The Gym – Dexter, Kevin, and Coco explore how regular exercise and gym workouts can boost mental health.

Burnout – Annabelle, Sophia, Margaret, and Gena discuss the impact of stress and burnout on students and adults, offering simple self-care strategies like walking, meditating, cooking, and taking breaks to help manage overwhelm and improve well-being.

Ida B. Wells High School

Post-COVID Struggles – Cam shared her experience struggling to find balance and stability in a post-COVID world.

Juneteenth Celebrations – Jolene shares her reflections on the vibrant and unifying experience of attending the Juneteenth celebration in the Fillmore neighborhood in San Francisco.

Narcotics Anonymous – Josceline shares her eye-opening experience when a summer job connection led to attending a Narcotics Anonymous meeting, where powerful stories sparked personal reflection

Negative Self Talk – Malia shares her personal journey of struggling with self-doubt and academic burnout, leading to a turning point that inspired a school change and a renewed commitment to self-growth.

Abandonment – Melanie shares her experience growing up in a household filled with conflict and constant intervention from social services and struggling with loneliness, academic challenges, and a desire to break the cycle of chaos.

Independence High School – San Francisco, CA

Museums – Students from Independence High School discuss how museums showcase how history, culture, and creativity evolve over time, offering a space for personal expression and interpretation.

Milpitas Innovation Campus High School – Milpitas, CA

The 80% System – Patrick and Sameer share what they know about the 80% system, encouraging creators to reduce pressure by focusing on getting most of a project done before refining it, allowing for a more enjoyable and flexible creative process.

South Korea Martial Law – Bryan shares his perspective on recent political events in South Korea.

Woodside High School – Woodside, CA

Filmmaking – Aaron shares how movies have profoundly influenced his life, inspiring him to pursue a filmmaking career by showcasing their unique ability to tell deep, impactful stories through elements like color, music, and cinematography.

Electric Car Mandate – Ewan explores the upcoming 2035 electric car mandate and its impact on car enthusiasts, as major automakers rapidly shift toward electric vehicles.

Grandparent’s House – Keegan reflects on his attachment to his grandparents’ house, where he spent the first year of his life and created lasting memories.

Learning in a Distracted Generation – Maggie explores how Generation Z’s learning habits have shifted due to increased media intake, and she encourages peers to embrace focus and hard work.

Parenting Boys vs Girls – Maya explores how parents often raise sons and daughters differently, sharing her personal experiences and research that show boys are frequently given more leniency while girls face stricter rules and expectations.

Bike Life – Ralphy shares his experience of the rise and fall of the “bike life” movement in Redwood City and the Bay Area, highlighting how the pandemic briefly revived this active outlet for youth.

Animal Shelters – Sarah raises awareness about the overcrowding crisis in Bay Area animal shelters and urges the community to help through adoption, fostering, and donations to give shelter animals a chance at a better life.

Explore more Youth Takeover pieces on the showcase.

Educators: Get Involved

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