​By Jaylon McCrea
 
Recycling is a huge concern that many people don't take into consideration. The problem with recycling is that there is a lack of education of proper management for the youth in the school system specifically the Rochester City School District. This is a challenge to many teenagers who really aren’t engaged in recycling, because they believe it doesn't affect them directly.
 
This has been a big concern for many years, as taking care of our environment is very beneficial to not only our city’s sustainability but also to the human race. In the RCSD this is a problem that exists mainly for teenagers and others, as there are not enough programs to support the knowledge of kids who want to be involved in recycling waste. The lack of education for the youth is caused by the school system itself. Recycling in schools tends to be very helpful, but also challenging at times. Due to students not being educated, they utilize recycling bins wrong. In various school districts, students, will throw away trash items that are not recyclable. This is a huge issue that is not heavily discussed in creating change in school meetings. This is a daily occurrence for which we must create solutions. 

​By Rachael White
 
Many students – mainly females – don't really plan on having children as teens, but sometimes this happens. Now they are out of high school and the next choice is college. But these students may wonder what colleges are going to accept a student with a child? And what if daycares are full and those parents are on the waiting list?  How will these parents juggle college and being a parent? That’s where things start getting harder for that student so now they have to depend on their families to do it.
 
Some of these families have few choices when it comes to their education and their children and that is to either focus on the baby and dropout of college or struggle and continue with their classes, work, and their kids. For some parents, they have to be really motivated.  East teacher Sarah Remelt states, “I really wanted the degree so I could start teaching.” Ms. Remelt went back to school when she had kids and remembers how she was treated because she had children.  “College does not care if you have other commitments in life. You need to fulfill your requirements for your degree or you do not get the degree.  Financially, the college paid for my masters because I was working for them while I got my masters. I worked on a grant to bring college classes to students remotely who were deaf and hard of hearing,” Ms. Remelt remembers. 
 
Not many colleges are putting those parents first in the financial side of the college experience, which is concerning. “They don’t give them more attention or preference!  Everyone is basically treated the same as far as I know.  It is all about a journey of learning and everyone does that in their own time. If you have other commitments (children), then it may take you longer,” stated Ms. Remelt.
 
Regardless of your commitments, it is still possible to get a higher degree even if you have children.  It may be a little harder or take you a little longer and you have to be creative about how you juggle things, but if there is a strong will, there is a way to accomplish your goal.