Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School: Tribune scholars profiles and essays

More than 200 of Hillsborough County’s top high school seniors from 35 public and private schools accepted an invitation to share their accomplishments and take part in an essay contest through the 2021 R.F. “Red” Pittman Tribune Scholars program. Their profiles and essays are published here, just as the students submitted them. To search all schools, click here.

Loren Miranda

School activities and accomplishments:

- National English Honor Society, Vice-President

- Student Government Association, Secretary

- Executive Producer of Morning Show, two years

- Freshman Mentorship Program (CLIC)

- 50+ hours of community service tutoring at Cyrus Greene Recreation Center

- Hispanic Scholarship Fund Youth Leadership Summit Participant, Summer 2020

College or post high school plans:

Journalism at the University of Florida

Essay:

As a child of two at-risk parents, the way that Florida has handled the coronavirus pandemic has been disappointing to me. The general lack of regard since the beginning of the pandemic last March leading to the exponential growth of rates of cases in the summer was stressful and scary.

Many people expressed distress as they followed different rules in some areas than others. I think many young people my age would agree that the best way to stem this confusion, in addition to the spread of the coronavirus, would be to have clear guidelines for everyone in a certain state until the spread slowed throughout the state. Also, the federal government should increase accessibility and promotion for the vaccinations we have available at our disposal now. The government has been doing a fantastic job at distributing the vaccine but many people are still hesitant to receive it.

It would be effective to have a federal campaign with ads and informational guides on the side effects and results of the vaccines so people can be more aware that it is safe. Also, we should increase access for less recognized populations, such as the homeless and undocumented immigrants, to receive the vaccine as well. Some pop-up clinics I have researched do not require ID to receive the vaccine but most federal sites do. This is an unnecessary barrier; both the federal and state governments should be more concerned with getting the pandemic under control rather than restricting access to at-risk populations.

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