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The School Newspaper of Southwest Career and Technical Academy.

Southwest Shadow

Southwest Shadow

Southwest Shadow

All content by Eriyale Williams
Confronting my internalized hatred

Confronting my internalized hatred

Eriyale Williams
May 4, 2020
For so long, I believed that I would only be happy if I were someone else. It took years of self-reflection to realize how wrong I was.
Rumor has it

Rumor has it

Eriyale Williams
March 14, 2020
Although spreading rumors and judging others is the basis of high school culture, it is not a tradition we have to keep.
Letter to Black voters

Letter to Black voters

Eriyale Williams
February 24, 2020
America’s infamous history has encouraged the silence and alienation of Black citizens—especially when it comes to voting. The systematic racism rooted in our culture has made it unreasonably difficult for Black citizens to understand their voice can be heard.
PODCAST: True meaning of Valentine's Day

PODCAST: True meaning of Valentine’s Day

Valentine's Day can be seen as a commercial holiday; however, others may see it as a chance to show how much they truly love their significant other.
PRO/CON: False reflection of our knowledge

PRO/CON: False reflection of our knowledge

Eriyale Williams
February 7, 2020
Cheating should not be encouraged between students, but the true measure of knowledge cannot be shown simply with letter grades.
PODCAST: Pros, cons of cancel culture

PODCAST: Pros, cons of cancel culture

Cancel culture has become a large part of our society with social media taking over our phones. Everyone can be canceled over anything.
Room for change

Room for change

Eriyale Williams
February 3, 2020
Even with the progress that has been made, there needs to be a larger emphasis on the safety and security of LGBTQ+ individuals.
Don’t be daft, there is no draft

Don’t be daft, there is no draft

Eriyale Williams
January 16, 2020
With recent speculations of war and high tension with the Middle East, this new year has brought terror for American and Iranian citizens.
The inevitable generational divide

The inevitable generational divide

Eriyale Williams
November 20, 2019
Age may only be a number, but it isn’t stopping younger generations from poking fun at those older than them.
SATIRE: Not so innocent creatures

SATIRE: Not so innocent creatures

Eriyale Williams
October 18, 2019
Not everything meets the eye–especially when it comes to the sky.
PODCAST: The top Universal Languages

PODCAST: The top Universal Languages

Eriyale Williams and McKenna Thayer
October 9, 2019
Individuals can connect in numerous ways other than speaking.
Sorry, I missed your call

Sorry, I missed your call

Eriyale Williams
October 4, 2019
If a prayer a day keeps the sadness away, how many nights do I have to pray to cure my depression?
PRO/CON: Veganism is not the only solution

PRO/CON: Veganism is not the only solution

Eriyale Williams
September 20, 2019
There is not simply one solution to combating global emissions, but by pinning the blame on individuals instead of corporations as a whole, we are ignoring the problem.
An internet epidemic: Cancel Culture

An internet epidemic: Cancel Culture

Eriyale Williams
September 19, 2019
People have nothing better to do than point out that mistakes and flaws of others, but it is about time we take a look in the mirror.
Home is where the heart goes

Home is where the heart goes

Eriyale Williams
August 29, 2019
Even though Vegas has beautiful memories and stories I will never forget, the fear of feeling stuck in my hometown has caused me to feel like sticking around will turn me into a failure.
PRO/CON: Don't fix what's not broken

PRO/CON: Don’t fix what’s not broken

Eriyale Williams
May 2, 2019
It may be too early for us to run to the election polls, so let's just stay with the twitter polls.
Check please

Check please

Eriyale Williams
April 15, 2019
Did anyone say, mid-life crisis? Or is that just me.
Prize of a lifetime

Prize of a lifetime

Eriyale Williams
March 25, 2019
No matter how many things I accomplish, it seems as if satisfaction is never part of the reward.
SATIRE: Finding fame, my true purpose

SATIRE: Finding fame, my true purpose

Eriyale Williams
March 4, 2019
There is no point in creating a life for yourself when you can hire people to manage that for you.
The B(lack) word

The B(lack) word

Eriyale Williams
February 21, 2019
I am not a person of color, I am Black–is that offensive?
PODCAST: The Instagram Crackdown

PODCAST: The Instagram Crackdown

Eriyale Williams and McKenna Thayer
February 15, 2019
An egg beat Kylie Jenner in the run for most liked Instagram post.
Always growing young

Always growing young

Eriyale Williams
January 31, 2019
Being the youngest has its perks, but it becomes harder as I grow up–especially as I watch my siblings figure life out so easily.
Point blank periods

Point blank periods

Eriyale Williams
January 23, 2019
Fear not, I assure you, periods are natural occurrences. Save the fear for something else.
All I want for Christmas is to cure my depression

All I want for Christmas is to cure my depression

Eriyale Williams
December 13, 2018
Avoid allowing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) to ruin your holiday spirit.
PODCAST: Santa's Coming To Town

PODCAST: Santa’s Coming To Town

Eriyale Williams and Alyx Beeten
December 9, 2018
The holidays are coming up, which means it's time for people to buy presents for their loved ones. As long as a gift comes from the heart, price should not matter.
An Hour in ... Physics

An Hour in … Physics

Eriyale Williams
December 7, 2018
Students were limited to the amount of items they can use for this year's egg drop.
A new bridge to build

A new bridge to build

Eriyale Williams
December 2, 2018
Unhealthy friends? In my inner circle? It is more common than you think.
SATIRE: How to get that bread

SATIRE: How to get that bread

Eriyale Williams
November 12, 2018
High school can be tough and fitting in makes it no better. How are you to obtain that grain without following all of the trendiest aesthetics?
Seniors carve Edgar Allen Poe stories onto pumpkins

Seniors carve Edgar Allen Poe stories onto pumpkins

Eriyale Williams
October 31, 2018
Seniors carve and paint pumpkins to analyze the meanings behind short stories.
Love in the time of social media

Love in the time of social media

From mutual internet friends to their wedding days, meeting online has become a social norm for many students and teachers alike.
Retrogrades are ruining society

Retrogrades are ruining society

Eriyale Williams
October 11, 2018
My life is falling apart but it’s not my fault– do you know how many planets are retrograde right now?
The double standard

The double standard

Eriyale Williams
September 24, 2018
I shouldn't have to worry about anything besides just being me.
Cocoa butter with cornrows

Cocoa butter with cornrows

Eriyale Williams
August 30, 2018
Braids do not define our character, they enhance it.
Construction delays POST program from moving into portables

Construction delays POST program from moving into portables

Eriyale Williams
August 30, 2018
Campus’ additional portable classrooms created for life development skills in the Pace Program.
State Board finalizes new high school diploma requirements

State Board finalizes new high school diploma requirements

Eriyale Williams
May 3, 2018

Starting with the Class of 2022, students will be required to earn 23 credits instead of 22.5 in order to graduate with a standard diploma. “Even with the basic classes I took, I still got way more...

‘Stop Smoking’ PSA’s to be displayed around campus

‘Stop Smoking’ PSA’s to be displayed around campus

Eriyale Williams
April 27, 2018
Projects are student-driven and are being mentored by Ms. Lori Martinelli.
'Dude. Be Nice' founder delivers message of kindness

‘Dude. Be Nice’ founder delivers message of kindness

Eriyale Williams
February 23, 2018
After making bad decisions during his high school experience, Brent Camalich started a company to inspire students not to do the same.
Reciting influential speeches in presentations

Reciting influential speeches in presentations

Eriyale Williams
February 2, 2018

From Steve Jobs to Martin Luther King Jr., students in Mr. Henry Castillo’s Freshmen Studies class were required to recite a well-known speech as public speaking practice. “I wanted students to...

Tent City volunteering with ‘Skate for Change’ founder Mike Smith

Tent City volunteering with ‘Skate for Change’ founder Mike Smith

Eriyale Williams
January 19, 2018
To spread awareness and to help the homeless community, Mike Smith, the founder of Skate for Change, will visit campus for the second time after school.
Finding happiness with anxiety

Finding happiness with anxiety

Eriyale Williams
November 14, 2017
Happiness can always be achieved.
An Hour In ... Drama Club

An Hour In … Drama Club

Eriyale Williams
October 24, 2017
Students practiced monologues during their second meeting.
We need to (climate) change

We need to (climate) change

Eriyale Williams
September 20, 2017
Climate change needs to be addressed in order to avoid our own downfall.