"Ignore those who tell you which way to go without first understanding where you are." - James Pierce

Teens are facing numerous challenges, and in this episode of Express Yourself!™ host, Diya and reporter Allison are talking about the issues surrounding academics, friendships, family, social media, A.I., and more! In Allison's segment, The New Classroom, she shares the statistics that the U.S. is home to upwards of 5.3 million multilingual learner students, representing more than one in ten school-aged students. Yet their reach extends even beyond that proportion: 55% of educators teach at least one multilingual learner. A.I. can be helpful, yet can also hinder, because A.I. is not culturally neutral. Critical thinking skills are fundamental for language development. A.I. should serve as a scaffold, not a crutch.

Diya tackles social media and friendships. Whether it's TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, or Facebook, many teenagers struggle with the idea of when to stop scrolling. Some ways to cope with social media addictions are enforcing time limits, finding other hobbies, setting phone-free times, using websites or ad blockers, or seeking out a trusted adult. Along with making sure you are spending the right amount on social media, balancing your academics is truly necessary. Keeping friendships in your teenage years can sometimes be a struggle. It is also important to choose friends who are supportive, respectful, and encourage positive choices.

Remember, there aren't problems without solutions, even for teens!

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Impact of Financial Literacy

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." – Benjamin Franklin

Were you taught about finances when you were a teen? The majority of schools don't teach financial literacy, which is a critical skill for life success. Host Julia Howe interviews teen, Sahishnu (Sai) Manivannan, who discusses how financial literacy, combined with early educational intervention and opportunity access, is the key individuals need to build stable financial habits to be passed down for generations. He started a free platform, Finlingo, to help students learn about finances. His goal is to have this program integrated into elementary schools in five states within five years. Julia investigates side hustles. What are they? Why have they become so popular? Which side hustles are actually good ideas for teenagers? Which ones pay far less than they appear to? And which ones are simply scams? She provides statistics and important information on the side hustle economy and how these correlates to financial literacy.

INVEST in learning how to make informed, responsible financial decisions. Financial literacy is imperative to independence.

BIO: Sahishnu (Sai) Manivannan

Sahishunu is a rising senior at The Davidson Academy of Reno, Nevada. They are interested in behavioral economics, finance, and legal studies. They just completed a free Google extension named Finlingo, which works like Duolingo but for financial literacy. Check it out in the store if you would like to see some of their work firsthand! In their free time, they love to play tennis, snowboard, and read up on the latest financial news! https://www.Finlingo.org

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"The future belongs to those who prepare for it today." — Malcolm X

Radio host Saanvi Phaneendra welcomes Express Yourself's newest reporter, Allison Lu as they discuss what the future will look like. Saanvi talks about AI data centers in space in her segment Space Spotlight, while Allison discusses equality in educational systems in her segment, The New Classroom. Saanvi talks about the earliest chapter of what could become a totally new kind of space race. Not a race to the moon or to Mars, but a race to build the computers that will power our future in the sky above us. Allison explores what schools are currently doing for refugee and multilingual students, where support still falls short, and what a truly equitable classroom of the future would look like. The goal is not simply to help students adapt to a new environment; it should empower them to thrive within it.

Whether it's a data center orbiting Earth or a classroom trying to give every student a fair shot, the future is being built right now by people who choose to prepare. This is our future!

Bio Allison Lu

Allison is a rising senior in Houston, Texas. Besides running her non-profit organization, Allison can be found swimming competitively, playing the violin with her orchestra, and listening to her favorite artist, Noah Kahan. She also enjoys to co-leading her school's Student Affairs Council and East Asian Affinity Group. In her segment, The New Classroom, she will be reporting on educational equity in the United States, with a primary focus on refugee and multilingual students. Instagram Handle: allisonzlu

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