Hey y’all . It’s ya gurl, Deborah! I’m here with Betsy-Jane, who is a junior at MVA, to help start off my interview series called, Just Jokin’ w/ the Juniors! She was all camera shy🙈 so we couldn’t have a video today, but maybe next time. In order for y'all to get a better understanding of Betsy-Jane, I got up close and personal in her MVA life since school is what takes up most of her time.
Q: What clubs are you a part of?
Betsy-Jane: I’m in the Debate club, Women Empowerment club, Creative Writing club, MVA Times: Newspaper club, Model UN club, Help Club, and Probability club.
That’s a lot of clubs to be a part of, especially when you’re taking AP classes and writing college applications. Is she Wonder Woman? Is this your future wife? Probably not. She’s too busy for a love interest. Anyway, moving on to the next question!
Q: Do you have any significant roles in those clubs, if so what are your roles and the duties that go along with them?
Betsy-Jane: In the Debate club, I’m co-captain. I help make lesson plans/slides and teach the class. I help recruit members. If there’s anything the captain needs help with, I pick up the slack. I attend competitions and help in any way I can! In the MVA Times, I’m a news reporter. I propose ideas concerning news in the world or in MVA. Once it’s approved by the leaders, I make the best article I can on that particular topic. In the Women Empowerment Club, I’m the vice president. The roles are not really clear and it’s not outlined. I just do what I can and I manage the Instagram account/page.
So not only is she in 7 clubs, but she also holds a leadership position in 2 of them and a writer’s position in another! This girl can do it all.
Q: You recently wrote an article for the MVA Times about a theory on why a large number of clubs came into existence this remote school year compared to any other year, what is your hot take on all the new clubs in general?
Betsy-Jane: Some of those clubs are redundant. There are clubs that are similar, and I believe that they should just make a compromise and come together to be more effective. They shouldn’t simply want to be head of a club with a few members because they don’t want to merge with other similar clubs and be co-founder/leader. However, at the end of the day, it is ultimately up to the leaders of the club to run it as they see fit.
Amen to that sister! But I have a follow-up question.
Q: How do you think all these new clubs are affecting students?
Betsy-Jane: Students feel pressure to be involved in clubs. They might feel the need to be part of at least one club since there are so many popping up. Then, some people are inspired to make their own club and it might end up a burden at some point. However, it also provides a safe community for like-minded people. Making it easier for them to make friends and ask questions they wouldn’t feel comfortable asking other students in other situations.
People are thirsty for power, be careful y'all. With power and leadership comes great responsibility. That is true, I didn’t vibe with half of the people I talk to now. It personally allows me to be more open to who I decide to socialize with.
Q: I know about 2 years ago, you moved from Nigeria to the United States. How has MVA differed from the schools you attended back home?
Betsy-Jane: The subjects here [America] are less. The subjects in Nigeria were a lot, but they overlapped. Like I would learn the same thing in 2 classes, it happens here in America, but less often. I had 18 subjects in Nigeria and in MVA I only have 8 subjects.
18 subjects!?!? That’s wild sis. You must be glad to have only 8 subjects.
Q: How has the MVA experience changed since we’ve shifted to remote-learning?
Betsy-Jane: Schoolwork has doubled. I think there’s a common subconscious bias that teachers have that we can handle more work because we're at home. Grading has also shifted. The grades I got when I was in person, were well-deserved because I knew I earned them, and worked hard. But now when I get good grades, I often don’t acknowledge them because most times, I don’t fully understand what we’re learning in class.
Heavy! The school work has increased way more than it should have. Yes, I have good grades as well, but I’m not sure I retained much.
Q: How do you think the teachers at MVA could make your learning experience better and effective?
Betsy-Jane: By offering more extra credits. I ask teachers for extra credits but they think I’m joking or not serious because my grades are good. But I really need the extra credit. Also, I would love for teachers to assign work properly. I mean, if it’s due, give it a due date and assign it correctly. Some teachers still make the mistake of putting assignments that are due under no due date and vice versa, and it can easily get very confusing for the student.
We love us some extra credit assignments!
Q: Why should teachers give extra credit if they already give enough assignments?
Betsy-Jane: Extra credit is optional, it’s not mandatory. It's extra help and benefits my grade. It only benefits. They should do substitute assignments. I’m glad that some teachers already do this. A substitute assignment is basically when the teacher gives an assignment that would replace any missing assignments and/or any assignments with low grades. And fewer projects that give you a mental breakdown because of that Algebra 2 project from Mr.Wheeler, heheheh.
Yea-- Mr.Wangdak be goated with the substitute assignments, but he was wildin’ with the 85 question castle learning substitute assignment. That profit project was another story, but I’m sure we all did well.
Q: How do you think all these assignments affect the teachers here at MVA?
Betsy-Jane: I think the assignments are a lot. I feel bad for teachers because they stare at blank screens, but they don’t have to show their face so... They also can’t give or receive feedback as easily. Sometimes, I’ve had to wait 3-4 days to get feedback. They most likely feel overwhelmed, but that does come with their job. I do feel they also have a lot to take in as well, because they also have to adjust to online learning which would be even more difficult for them because, for the most part, they did not grow up with technology as students did.
In my honest opinion, when they assign us less work they will have less work to grade. It’s that simple, so they have themselves to blame for feeling the need to swamp us with work. It’s honestly the last thing we need during this time.
Q: Anything else you would like to talk about or make aware of the MVA community?
Betsy-Jane: Nope! I’m done.
Well, in that case, Imma head out! I hope y'all enjoyed this interview with Betsy and be sure to comment and react below. Stay tuned for the next interview on Just Jokin’ w/ the Juniors!
