Shantell Gonzalez is the commanding officer of Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program. The 16-year-old cadet knows the challenges of leading a company of males but trains as hard in the hopes of one day joining the military.
Produced by Nicole Barradas and Chloe Golan, students at Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High School in Miami, Florida.
Instruction provided by SRL Connected Educator Victor Fernandez.
Station support provided by WLRN.
A year ago, Elijah Durand never would have dreamed of joining his high school color guard. Now the only boy on the team, Elijah appreciates the creative expression, weaponry and competition involved in interpreting music and entertaining an audience.
Produced by Ashley Martinez, Erica Holm, Caroline Munoz and Demetri Yanes, students at Communications Arts High School in San Antonio, Texas.
Instruction provided by SRL Connected Educator Heidi Whitus.
Mentor support provided by Matt Ehrichs, Thaisi Da Silva and Jordan Vesey of the PBS NewsHour.
Anna Mikeska attacks the stereotype that women can’t be fighters in her coed self-defense classes. By practicing Krav Maga, a form of hand-to-hand combat developed by the Israeli army, she feels empowered and knows she can fight just as well as the boys.
Produced by Seth Denton, Cameron Kurtiak, Jacob Lineberry, Jordan Pippins, Erin Sanders, and Conrad Tolbert, students at Forestview High School in Gastonia, North Carolina.
Instruction provided by SRL Connected Educators Sally Griffin and Melissa Heilig.
Mentor support provided by John Bullington and Yolian Ortiz South Carolina ETV.
High school students Channell Rogers and Sierra Buster refuse to let gender stereotypes prevent them from pursuing a hobby they both enjoy, building, and a career goal they both aspire to, the construction business.
Produced by Jayla Hope, Jute’ius Jasper and Timia Moore, students at Hughes STEM High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Instruction provided by SRL Connected Educators Melissa Sherman.
Mentor support provided by Jason Dennison and Tim Kraus of CET.
Eva Klein never felt she had to “dress like a girl”, so why should she think twice about the sports she wants to play? With her mother’s support, Eva decided to play on all-boys football and rugby teams and is now being recruited by colleges around the country.
Produced by Avery Schroeder and Eva Klein, students at West Ranch High School in Santa Clarita, California.
Instruction provided by SRL Connected Educator Jennifer Overdevest.
Station support provided by PBS SoCal.
What started as making pillows in his mom’s basement turned into a clothes-designing passion that ultimately landed Zack Lindsey a spot on “Project Runway Junior.”
Produced by Abigail Anderson, Jailen Leavel and Roberto Mayo, students at Pleasure Ridge Park High School in Louisville, Kentucky.
Instruction provided by SRL Connected Educators Mary Dunn.
Mentor support provided by Kentucky Educational Television.
Adrian is the only male dancer on his high school’s Lariettes dance team. Many consider this brave, but according to Adrian he’s just is doing what makes him happy.
Produced by Karen Orduna and Alexandria Thompson, students at the Mesquite Student Network in Mesquite, Texas.
Instruction provided by SRL Connected Educator Shonda Tindall.
Mentor support provided by Thaisi Da Silva, Matthew Ehrichs and Jordan Vesey of the PBS NewsHour.
Hannah Miller loves dancing, but her true passion is flying planes. Although she knows the aviation industry is dominated by men, Hannah is earning her pilot’s license and hopes to become a full-time pilot one day.
Produced by Josephine Conley, Hadley King, Hannah Miller and Gigi Robertson, students at Dalton Middle School in Dalton, Georgia.
Instruction provided by SRL Connected Educator Gina Gray.
Mentor support provided by Jon Nelson of Georgia Public Broadcasting.
At Etiwanda High School, freshman Aleena Gomez and junior Harley Liera are the only girls on the school wrestling team. As female competitors, they also often grapple with the masculine stereotypes associated with the sport.
Produced by Amanda Bonet.
Instruction provided by SRL Connected Educator Bernadine Judson.
Station support provided by PBS SoCal.
DJ recently made the decision to openly identify as transgender at her school. While the New York teen was nervous about the reaction from her peers, DJ’s confidence gives her the strength to live her life.
Produced by Verliddia Jones, Tatyana Moses, Kenetria Redfern and Daja’vu Romer, students at Cheektowaga Central High School in Cheektowaga, New York.
Instruction provided by SRL Connected Educator Joel Malley.
Mentor support provided by Lynne Bader of WNED.
