CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE
This audio interview is part of a series completed by STA journalism students who sat down with middle school students from around Kansas City. We hoped to find out the realities of middle school life, from dating to cliques, from playing violin to playing volleyball. The series was inspired by Ira Glass’s public radio show This American Life and its episode “Middle School.” Please check back each day for the next few weeks to listen to another installment.
by Emma Willibey
Eighth grader Isadora Comens has always experienced fairly enjoyable summer sessions at her signature violin camp. The one-and-a-half-week program, which features a variety of practice opportunities for string instrument players, has been a somewhat bland staple of her summer since she was merely five years old.
Although she did attend the camp solely on her instructor’s suggestion, it never seemed to be too much of a burden. However, her views on the program dramatically shifted based on her experience last summer, when the camp she typically considered tolerable was tainted by a few overly competitive group members.
“It’s usually just an okay experience,” Isadora said.
But now…
“I really don’t want to go back there.”
