Thomas A. Edison Jr./Sr. High School is off to a hot start, contrary to the weather, in 2017. As January comes to a close, a fine group of students are looking to improve their own lives as well as the lives of others and a young boy is looking to make the everyone’s day shine a little more.
Student Spotlight: Harley Paris
Hidden behind a blanket of long blonde bangs and a quiet, calm demeanor is 12 year old, Harley Paris. Harley Paris is a newcomer to Edison Jr/Sr High School, this being his 7th grade year, and he has already made an impact. So much so, that he is the first student to be personally nominated by our principal, Ms. Pepa, for a student spotlight.
This past December, Harley raised the most donations, both money and food, (all by himself) for Edison's annual food drive. This is old news for Paris; throughout his entire elementary school career he had been the highest donator in all of his school’s fundraisers. In total, Harley raised around $400 for the food drive this year, but according to him that's on the “low-side”.
This spotlight is not the only time the young Paris has been noticed for the remarkable acts of kindness he has performed.
During his 6th grade year, Paris raised the most money of the entire city for that year’s food drive and was able to present his massive donation directly to Edison’s former principal Mr. Bush at a school board meeting, in January 2016. When asked about this moment, Harley’s face lit up and his shyness seemed to pass away.
“I just thought it was really cool,” responded Paris, “The whole experience was just so nice.”
It is truly terrific what this student has done for the school community. He is the first to admit he is no more clever or more astute or more superior than his peers around him, but that he is simply someone who just cares and wants to make a difference in the world. Not many people in the 7th grade are thinking about the effects of their actions as much as Harley does on an everyday basis. Day in and day out, Harley Paris just wants to make everyone’s day a little bit brighter.
Harley is a normal kid, partakes in normal activities, such as play video games and root for his favorite NFL team, the New Orleans Saints. What is not normal about him is how extraordinarily genuine the youngster is.
He is amongst the most well liked students of his teachers and the faculty.
His mother stated, “In grade school, many of [Harley's] teachers would choose my son to sit with students who were being bullied or those who were unpopular.”
She even recalls a time when specific teachers were requesting for Harley to be in their class. For many children around his age, Harley is seen as their only friend.
“I just want to be nice,” adds Harley. “I do not get how people can be so mean.”
For being only 12 years old, Harley has very high expectations for himself. He wants to be a nuclear physicist and uncover the powers of nuclear energy. He admits that a second option could be something to do with engineering. Whatever Harley decides to do, expect him to do it with a smile on his face and love in his heart.
Gardening Club
Behind the guidance of Edison's science teachers, Ms. Kelley and Mr. Ness, the Environmental Science classes have planned to create a school garden.
For the better part of the first semester, the Environmental Science teacher, Ms. Kelley, has been prepping students on the idea of a school garden. The idea grew steam and led by juniors Destiny Martinez and Tiana Stewart, it became a full-fledged movement.
“At first it was an idea for a project for class, but it soon became something we wanted to pursue further,” comments Tiana Stewart.
Every Monday after school the club meets up to plan and set up their garden for the spring.
“[The club] is something I always thought would be a good idea, a moment for everyone involved to make a difference in the school community,” says Destiny Martinez.
The Edison Environmental Science Club, or Gardening Club for short, is open to all students at Edison. Each member learns to grow whatever they want, and by the end of the year they would hold some sort of harvest festival to try out all of their new food. Among the food they are looking to grow are watermelons, squash, tomatoes, onions, garlic, green peppers, hot peppers, cucumbers, green beans, pinto beans, and possibly more depending on input from around the school. Basically, the club just wants to grow as many different foods as possible to try and discover things they have never tried before.
“You may not like something store bought, but fresh crops are completely different in terms of taste and texture. They offer an entirely new experience,” comments Mr. Ness.
And to achieve their ultimate goal, Ms. Kelley and the Gardening Club have reached out to companies and universities who donate supplies such as gloves, seeds and various gardening tools specifically to schools looking to grow their own garden. Hopefully with the help of this experience, these students can return home and influence their parents to grow a home garden.
“The more young people learn about harvesting their own food,” adds Mr. Ness, “the more positive change people can have on the entire world’s economy and thus the Earth’s environment.”
Right now the Edison Environmental club is attempting to make a small change in hopes it can grow into a larger one.