A Plus 2/4/09: English High's Risa McKenzie
POSTED: 10:04 am EST January 31,
2009
UPDATED: 6:07 pm EST February 4,
2009
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BOSTON -- Every two weeks, NewsCenter 5 presents a high school senior who has taken the lessons of the classroom and applied them to life. This week's A Plus student is English High School's Risa McKenzie.
Meet This Week's A Plus StudentNewsCenter 5's Shiba Russell reported that Risa clocks in 20 to 30 hours a week as executive producer of the school's newscast, editing, brainstorming and leading her classmates from one deadline to the next."You just want to have her around, she's contagious," said TV Production teacher Xavier Rozas.As the senior likely to be named valedictorian, National Honor Society president and co-editor of the school newspaper, Risa is considered one of the best and brightest."If I don't do my homework I feel guilty. If I don't come to school I feel guilty," said Risa."The workload doesn't really matter to her. It's about getting it done. If she takes it on she's going to do it," said friend Shana Auguste.Risa lives on one of the most dangerous streets in Roxbury, but inside Risa's home is a woman who demands peace and hard work."Her great-grandmother is not to be trifled with," said Rozas."If I got a C on my report card she would be like, 'hey you gotta boost this up to a B plus because I'm not having it.' She really pushed me," said Risa.Nana Beatrice has raised Risa since the age of 4. Her great-grandmother's life lessons stuck even when Risa's 55-year-old grandmother suddenly died. Risa's grades stayed on top, but inside she was hurting."I just didn't really like myself last year. I would look in the mirror like I hate that girl," said Risa."She had been down for some time and she tried to pick herself up, and then finally she called an intervention on herself, gathered all of us around, the television production and journalism kids around, and she apologized to us for not being there," said Rozas.At just 18 years old, she is wise beyond her years and a picture-perfect example of grace and inspiration.If you know a special student who truly makes a difference in his or her classroom, e-mail us your nomination. Please include your phone number.
Meet This Week's A Plus StudentNewsCenter 5's Shiba Russell reported that Risa clocks in 20 to 30 hours a week as executive producer of the school's newscast, editing, brainstorming and leading her classmates from one deadline to the next."You just want to have her around, she's contagious," said TV Production teacher Xavier Rozas.As the senior likely to be named valedictorian, National Honor Society president and co-editor of the school newspaper, Risa is considered one of the best and brightest."If I don't do my homework I feel guilty. If I don't come to school I feel guilty," said Risa."The workload doesn't really matter to her. It's about getting it done. If she takes it on she's going to do it," said friend Shana Auguste.Risa lives on one of the most dangerous streets in Roxbury, but inside Risa's home is a woman who demands peace and hard work."Her great-grandmother is not to be trifled with," said Rozas."If I got a C on my report card she would be like, 'hey you gotta boost this up to a B plus because I'm not having it.' She really pushed me," said Risa.Nana Beatrice has raised Risa since the age of 4. Her great-grandmother's life lessons stuck even when Risa's 55-year-old grandmother suddenly died. Risa's grades stayed on top, but inside she was hurting."I just didn't really like myself last year. I would look in the mirror like I hate that girl," said Risa."She had been down for some time and she tried to pick herself up, and then finally she called an intervention on herself, gathered all of us around, the television production and journalism kids around, and she apologized to us for not being there," said Rozas.At just 18 years old, she is wise beyond her years and a picture-perfect example of grace and inspiration.If you know a special student who truly makes a difference in his or her classroom, e-mail us your nomination. Please include your phone number. Copyright 2009 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
