The Blackman Voice

The Blackman Voice

The Blackman Voice
Michelle Loria

Michelle Loria, News Reporter

I’m a senior, and my pronouns are she/her. My hobbies are reading, writing about things that matter to me, singing, dancing, and acting. My favorite movies are The Beauty and the Beast and The Parent Trap. My favorite type of music is Hispanic music like Salsa, Merengue, and Reggaetón. My favorite TV shows are The Nanny and Boy Meets World. I’m also a Skittles lover, and my favorite foods are hamburgers and Tequeños (typical food in Venezuela). My pathway is arts, more specifically music, theatre, and musical theatre. My goal for this school year is to create more diversity in the school, both in extracurricular activities and in academic achievements. My goal for The Blackman Voice is to make students from other countries feel welcome to the staff and other clubs and activities. 

All content by Michelle Loria
Es importante que como adultos sepamos como mantenernos seguros en cualquier lugar.

Todos los adultos deben tener un conocimiento básico de los seguros médicos.

Debes aprender a controlar el estrés, en vez de dejar que el estrés te controle a ti.

El tiempo es un factor importante en la vida adulta, y hay que saber aprovecharlo de manera eficiente.

“Nadie sale de su hogar a menos que el hogar sea la boca de un Tiburón” -Warsan Shire

Un gran cambio – De Güigüe a Estados Unidos – Mi experiencia personal

Michelle Loria, Reporter
April 7, 2022
Michelle Loria won staff of the month for March for The Blackman Voice.

[Photo] Staff of the month – March

Savannah Brown, Graphics Designer
April 7, 2022
Al entrar en la edad adulta, los estudiantes de preparatoria deben aprender a manejar sus finanzas.

Finanzas 101

Michelle Loria, Reporter
April 7, 2022
“No one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark.” -Warsan Shire

A big change: From Güigüe to the United States – my personal experience

Michelle Loria, Reporter
April 5, 2022
Things to do at home during quarantine

Things to do at home during quarantine

Michelle Loria, Reporter
April 5, 2022
Finances 101

My favorite club is, without any doubt, International Club. It was forgotten by the student body and retaken with a new purpose, to bring everyone together, no matter their religion, culture, nationality, race, or language.

These students have worked to contribute to the student body, by bringing everyone together and sharing their different cultures.

Despite not mastering the American Culture, there was some basic knowledge that I wanted to try, like gingerbread houses during Christmas time. This is my first gingerbread house (although it looks more like a structure). I enjoyed doing it, and can't wait to do another one.

Outdoors was not the only love that grew in me, since photography also became interesting to me. This was a picture that I took last spring on my residency.

Books also became a hobby during my years in the US. Diving into new adventures and disconnecting from the world for a while, has been one of the greatest experiences that I lived here. Although I am rookie in books, it's been a pleasure to learn while I connect with other people's stories.

During my years here, a love for the outdoors and nature knocked on my door. Since then (in spring and summertime though, because I am still not used to the extreme cold weather here) I like to walk outdoors, and occasionally take pictures of trees, flowers, and the sky. This was last summer at The Parthenon.

Together with my family, we got an adventure in 2020. Despite the COVID situation, we made a trip to New York City for New Year's. It was a magical dream that came true. Just walking in the streets of the Big Apple gave us a lot of satisfaction and happiness because the best part was living this experience together.

My favorite place in Nashville is the Grand Ole Opryland. My family and I always have a great time when we go there. There's always something new to experience, the place is beautiful, and the ice cream is incredibly delicious.

Before COVID hit the state of Tennessee, I got the chance of singing with my friends during International Week at Elementary School. It was a fun experience, and my first time singing in public in the US.

For my 16th birthday, I went with some friends to skate. This was my first time skating, I fell so many times, and had a lot of bruises for weeks. But it is a great memory.

But more than school activities, I also had some adventures, discoveries, and experiences of my own. This is my first time doing a snow angel with real snow (not the three snowflakes that fell in 2019)

But students are not the only ones who left a mark on my heart, teachers also have a little space in it, where I save their memories and teachings.

And here is where my journey in the US starts. This was my first time having a dress-up day. The girls in my biology class, my ESL Biology teacher, and I agreed to wear red that day, and the memory stayed on my camera roll.

We also have extracurricular activities. But the difference is that to participate in them, you need to pay. My dad and my mom did a great effort to put me at an English Academy, where I participated for two years. (The date in the picture is wrong though)

This was my math group in the first quarter of 10th grade. I usually spent time with all of them and still have a great relationship with some.

The grading scale is also different from here. The highest grade in Venezuela is 20, and the one you need to pass is 10. This was my 8th-grade report card.

In the last school year, you must do a thesis to graduate. Technically you do big research about a specific theme, prepare for it, and present it to your class, teachers, and parents. If you fail the thesis, you are not able to graduate.

My favorite part of the end of the year was the parties. At the end of the year, we organized a party to celebrate everything we learned, lived, and enjoyed from each other during the school year. This was my 8th grade (and last) party. Between all our parents, we rent a pool, took food, and had a lot of fun.

10th and 11th graders (and 12th depending on the school) use a beige shirt with Navy blue formal pants.

At the end of each year, students make a presentation in which is based on their final grade. In 7th grade, we were assigned a municipality and had to do complete research on it and make support material (posters, mockups, etc.) We had to learn about everything in the municipality: weather, food, traditions, culture, geographic ubication, etc., and make a presentation in front of the entire school about it.

We had fun traditions too. Each time we have a shirt color change in our uniforms (starting 6th grade) all the class signs each other's current shirts with cute messages. The last shirt we sign is the 11th grade (or 12th grade) shirt. I could not get my blue shirt signed, because I was already in the US. But hopefully, I'll get my yearbook signed.

The problem with this system is that we joke around more than we do the work. This is the most perfect example of it (we used to take pictures every time we meet and do "work"). Which reminds me, my house was the center of everything. I barely went to my friend's houses, usually, everything was done at mine.

Another big difference is the school day. Students get out of school approximately at noon (except high schoolers, because they have a weird schedule, and every day they have a different release time). But most of the time it was around noon, so group work could not be done during school hours. So, students reunite in the afternoons at someone's house and do homework.

And the pictures ended up being our most precious jewel.

But at the end of the day, it was a fun experience.

And we probably failed trying.

Tumblr pictures in Venezuela were very popular by the time I was in 8th grade. So, my friends and I tried to imitate some of them.

Another thing is the PE uniform. Each school had a different requirement for this type of uniform. My school's uniform was green sweatpants and a white T-shirt with the school badge and green borders (which by the way CALLED TOO MUCH ATTENTION). Thanks to the situation in Venezuela, not all students could buy it, so they were allowed to use a white T-shirt with the school badge, and navy blue sweatpants.

Kindergarteners use a red t-shirt and navy blue sweatpants. From 1st grade to 6th grade, girls usually use a navy blue skirt (some schools require formal pants, it depends on the school) and a white shirt. Boys use navy blue formal pants, with a white shirt. From 7th grade to 9th grade, all students use a blue shirt (like in the picture) and navy blue formal pants. All students are required to use navy blue socks, black formal shoes, and put the school badge on their shirts.

One of the biggest differences between a Venezuelan school and a US School is the famous uniforms. But to explain uniforms. First, you got to understand how school is divided there. Elementary: from Kindergarten to 6th grade. High School: 7th grade to 11th grade. And yes, there's no middle school or 12th grade (Some schools have 12th grade, but it's not very common). He is one of my best friends. That was in the courtyard of my school, and that was our uniform.

Even though my parents got divorced when I was too young, I was blessed for growing up with both of them by my side. Coming to the US, and leaving my dad behind was not as easy as it seems. I miss every part of him, every single day, and there's no day I feel bad for not having him by my side. On the other hand, I know my mom has given all her efforts to keep me connected to him, which I appreciate so much.

Valentine's Day was not at its best in Venezuela in 2018. Thanks to the economic crisis, not many people could buy chocolates or roses. So my friends and I wear headbands with hearts; we called ourselves "Las extraterrestres del Amor" which the translation would be "The Aliens of Love", and walked through the village with a paper that said "Do you want a free hug?" and hug strangers on the streets to make them feel loved.

I used to see my family daily, or at least once a month. So, when I moved here, it was hard to get used to not seeing them anymore. The hardest part is seeing them grow because at the same time I am not seeing that growth, and I am also losing big things (weddings, birthdays, new members of my family).

Ruth is my best friend. I've known her since I can remember. We met each other almost every weekend. If I didn't go down to her house, she went to mine (we were neighbors, and our families are close friends). When I moved here, it was hard for both not to see each other grow. After all those years being together, we ended up separated by 4,505 kilometers.

Carnival is a big deal in Venezuela; it is like Halloween in the US, but with a different purpose. In Carnival, we use costumes, throw water bombs, go to pools, and have a parade, where the queen of Carnival and the people on floats throw candies to the people on the sides. In 2018, I dressed up as a cowgirl.

School events were very popular in Venezuela. At most of these events, we danced to "Llanera" music, which is typical music from Venezuela. This music is distinctive for its use of the harp, maracas, and a small guitar called "Cuatro." The typical clothing to do this dance was a "Llanera" skirt, which is a long skirt, and a "faralao" shirt (just like shown in the picture)

As a child, I grew up in a family full of love. In this picture, you can see the 4-year-old Michelle tasting a lollipop for the first time.

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Club Languages is a great way of meeting new people and get involved.

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The Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior class battle for the spirit stick.

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Senior Chandler White is crowd surfed during the March 9th pep rally.

The Freshmen crowd surf one of their classmates during the March 9th pep rally.

Senior Michael David Bowen is crowd surfed during the March 9th pep rally.

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The Alma Mater is sung during the March 9th pep rally.

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Junior Section

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