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East Lake grad responds: Verbal attack is not the way to deal with censorship

 
Angelina DeVincenzo, East Lake High class of 2014
Angelina DeVincenzo, East Lake High class of 2014
Published June 23, 2014

Editor's note: East Lake High graduate Angelina DeVincenzo, above, was moved to share a different opinion about her school after reading a letter from graduate Jessica Klein to East Lake High Principal Carmela Haley ('Why high school felt like a prison to me,' June 11) recently published here, in tbt* and on tampabay.com.

I completely agree that East Lake is blessed with excellent teachers. The teachers previously noted should be recognized, along with countless others. I also agree that at times it was extremely difficult to retrieve information regarding college applications and college scholarships from our guidance department, although counselors such as Mrs. Keeley Harris were always willing to help.

There is no doubt that our lack of Decades Day during Homecoming week was one of the biggest disappointments of our senior year, however it is somewhat understandable that as a first year Principal Ms. Haley was more careful than usual when it came to making executive decisions. Everyone is bound to make mistakes and, sadly, our class felt the brunt of this error, but hopefully our conceding to the decision of the administration will grant future classes the ability to once again celebrate the cherished '80s Day.

According to yearbook staffer Jessica Klein, Ms. Haley shot down certain yearbook stories/ideas with a simple, "because I said so." I do believe that it was unfair that this was the only stated reason; however I understand why she said no. Personally, I was confused, uncomfortable and embarrassed for East Lake High School when I flipped to a page titled, "Should We…?" -- referring to contraception -- when looking through my yearbook with my Mom and boyfriend. I thought it was an odd story to be published in a yearbook, and one that will keep me from sharing this yearbook with my kids when I become a parent. Jessica, I understand your desire to express journalistic creativity; however I do not believe the yearbook was the place for that. I am sure that the school newspaper or tb-two* (the Times' high school weekly and website) would gladly have accepted you on staff and allowed you to write on these social issues. I am not reviewing the yearbook by any means, for I am in no place to do that, however I personally do not wish to remember my high school years via stories about "Peer Pressure," "Contraceptive Knowledge," etc.

In your letter to Ms. Haley, you pointed out that only D1 athletes or trouble-making students are noticed, however the yearbook staff, under the supervision of you and other students editors, committed the same crime by failing to recognize our theatre department, home to nearly 100 extremely talented and under-appreciated students. This is part of school life that should have been acknowledged whether or not every production of Peter Pan this spring was sold out, a feat which they achieved with ease. Nearly 50 pages in the yearbook teem with sports accomplishments and memorable game day photos, yet not one page was saved for one of the largest clubs in our school.

We may not always understand why certain decisions are made or why specific guidelines are set up, but we will always have authority figures in life no matter how old we are. It is up to us to learn how to deal with them and find new ways to reach our goals by standing up for what we want.

Rather than writing a letter bashing East Lake's administration, you could have simply found a way to publish your restricted pieces in the school newspaper or some other publication. Would that not have accomplished your overall goal? To bring awareness to these social issues?

Jessica, you thanked Ms. Haley in your final paragraph for helping you to learn how to overcome obstacles; however you did not overcome your obstacles pertaining to the yearbook. Instead you simply complained about their existence in your letter rather than finding new and creative ways to get your work published.

As class president, Alex Carbonelli stated in his speech at graduation, it is up to us to stand up for what we want and to find ways to overcome obstacles. What he encouraged, when done in a respectful manner, will help us to go far in life. Overcoming obstacles involves finding effective ways to jump over them. Not just yelling at them for standing in our way.

Angelina DeVincenzo, East Lake High class of 2014 and former tb-two* staff writer