By Kaitlyn Poole
Paris Braggs was at school when she walked over to her bag and opened it, making sure that everything still looked the same as when she left it before going to take a state test. She then started scrambling through her bag, realizing with shock and horror that all her money was gone. Her $60 of birthday money was now just $5. She hadn’t even been allowed to enjoy her money before it was all taken away. When she saw this, she felt undermined, disrespected and hurt.
Braggs felt that the school administration didn’t care because they brushed it off and told her that there was nothing that they could do, because it was cash. Their response to the situation made the high-school student feel ignored and, as a result, Braggs began to withdraw and distance herself at school.
Braggs is now 17 and is going into her senior year at Callaway High School. She previously had attended Murrah High School but transferred during her 10th-grade year. When describing the change, she says, “It’s a school … it’s cool.” Braggs doesn’t typically participate in school activities because she enjoys being alone.
Braggs is shy and quiet and has been this way since she was a child. She then lived with her grandmother in Jackson, Miss. Braggs would stay in the apartment watching cable TV each day until she felt that she had seen enough. She would then ride her bike around the apartment complex. “I always knew to be in before 9 because that’s the time my mother got off,” Braggs says. She adds that “having a curfew to get home when I was younger helped me learn time management throughout school and life.”
The second-year YMP student-mentor did not enjoy her time at Murrah, saying that a single word would describe her experience at the school: “traumatic.” Some events that happened at Murrah included her getting robbed, someone bringing a gun to school, daily fighting—and even shots being fired in the gym. The worst experience was a student jumping off a bridge. These events caused Braggs to want better for herself. She says that she would like to one day gain the courage to speak out about how public schools in Jackson could be better.
The upcoming senior admits that she did the bare minimum throughout her time at Murrah. Since she has gone without teachers for months at a time due to shortages—even once going the entire school year without a full-time teacher—Braggs lost her motivation for school. For the 2024-2025 school year, though, she is working hard to make up for her academic experiences so far. She wants to get into college, and to do this, she is aware that she has to change her ways, as the difficulties that she faced resulted in her grades slipping.
Being at the Youth Media Project for two summers has helped Braggs boost her overall confidence. When the 17-year-old was accepted to return to the program again, she knew that she couldn’t let the opportunity slip by her. YMP allows her to keep her mind active while having fun and making new connections. “Being here helped me to thrive in a professional environment and handle real-life responsibilities,” Braggs says. Being part of the Youth Media Project helps boost her confidence in her academic life and allows her to feel she can manage school better.
Another way that YMP has had a positive impact on the student’s life is by allowing her to see that what she has learned in school is paying off in the real world. “This internship helped bridge the gap by showing that school all pays off in the end,” Braggs says, citing the program’s role in inspiring her to reinvest herself in her schoolwork.
Through her YMP participation, Braggs gained valuable skills in journalism, storytelling and media production. This experience not only boosted her confidence but also provided her with a platform to voice her perspectives and share stories from her community. It helped her develop a sense of purpose and direction, ultimately influencing her career path and personal growth. Her involvement in the project exemplifies how individuals can empower young people to make meaningful contributions and discover their own potential, she says.
Braggs plans to attend Mississippi State University to jump-start her career in education. She wants to teach math to lower elementary students. She gained a love for math when she was younger, so she would like to return the favor for her future students—and to give what she never received.
Click here to read more about Kaitlyn Poole, who wrote this piece about fellow Youth Media Project student journalist Jeremy Thomas.
