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.
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.
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.
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.
High school senior Semra is a member of the LGBT community at her high school. As she gradually made the choice to forgo gender norms by wearing her hair short and dressing in men’s clothes, she was supported by her friends and family.
Produced by Lauren Helstad, Mya Long and Lauren Perry, students at Black River Falls High School in Black River Falls, Wisconsin.
Instruction provided by SRL Connected Educator Julie Tiedens.
Mentor support provided by Steve Bayless of Arizona Public Media.
Since seventh grade, Lexi Dressing has been tackling gender stereotypes as the only girl on her school football team. Now a junior, Lexi is the kicker for Nation Ford High School’s varsity team.
Produced by Sydney Miller, a junior at Fort Mill High School in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Instruction provided by SRL Connected Educator Karin McKemey.
Station support provided by South Carolina ETV.
Kalei Kipp is the only girl in Cedar Crest High School’s welding program. Even though only three percent of welders in the U.S. are women, instructor Mr. Grumbine says the few girls that have taken his class are some of his best students. Kalei is seriously considering a career in the field despite the lack of female representation and its reputation as a “man’s” job.
Produced by Jordan Brown, a sophomore at Cedar Crest High School in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
Instruction provided by SRL Connected Educator Chris Schwalm.
Station support provided by WITF.
