MixedInk

Beauty: Is Makeup Standard?

5/18/2026

Photo: Courtesy of Fashion Magazine. (https://fashionmagazine.com/beauty-grooming/kids-and-makeup/)

There’s a growing pressure for girls to look older, polished, and camera-ready before they’ve even had the chance to fully grow into themselves. What used to feel like play makeup and lip gloss at sleepovers has, for some girls, turned into contouring routines, skincare hauls, lash appointments, and beauty standards shaped by social media algorithms before they’ve even reached high school.

According to freelance writer, Kaya O'Rouke, "Over Winter Break, I went to Sephora with my mom to get a new eyeliner that I wanted to try. I left shocked by what I saw. The store was packed with pre-teen girls who pushed and shoved their way through crowds of people, searching for Drunk Elephant products, anti-aging creams, and everything in between. I have heard about the phenomenon of Gen Alpha infiltrating Sephora stores, but I did not know the severity of the situation until I was right in the middle of the war zone.

TikTok coined the term “Sephora Kids” at the end of 2023 with multiple videos of young girls shopping in groups in Sephoras across the United States. The girls were rude to the employees and other customers and left the display and sample counters in shambles, and used ridiculous profanity, the kind that would have gotten my mouth washed out with soap as a kid. Their actions seemed to imply that the world exists purely with the intention to serve their needs and nobody else’s."

The conversation isn’t really about makeup itself; it’s about why so many girls feel like they need it so early, and what happens when childhood starts competing with performance, appearance, and online validation.

Let's Write: What is the "right" age to start wearing makeup and why?

INSTRUCTIONS

1. INCLUDE: Last Name, First Initial, AND Class Block. You do not have to include an email address or a website.

2. Respond to the post. Read the entire post, including watching any videos or reading any articles attached. Do not post vague or ambiguous commentary. Your post should have depth, be thoughtful, and provide specific, meaningful insight. Make sure it addresses the topic and encourages reflection, discussion, or a connection.

3. You MUST comment on at least TWO other posts from any student in any class. Your replies cannot be identical comments on different posts and posting shallow comments such as "I agree" or "I disagree" will earn you a zero. Make sure your reply addresses the comment that you are responding to.

4. Language. Do NOT use profanity. Vague or repeated responses will not be accepted in your post or replies.

5. Disrespectful comments will not be accepted and will result in a zero whether you do the assignment or not.

REMINDERS

**Set a weekly alarm or calendar timer. Whatever you do to remember other important events, I'd do the same for this assignment.

**Don't wait until the last minute. Telling me that you didn't do the assignment on Friday because you broke your leg, for example, on Thursday will not do anything for you when you've had a week. Be responsible and accountable.

**How to post. Click in the top right hand corner or the lower left hand corner where it says Comments to access the discussion board. Once there, scroll to the bottom of the page to post a Reply. After, choose comments from at least two students from any class and Reply to what they wrote.

CAUTION!! Do NOT embarrass me, yourself, your class, the English department, the school, your family or your upbringing with tasteless, meaningless comments. This is for a grade.

DISCLAIMER: If you do not respond AND comment on TWO others, you will not receive credit for this assignment. If you do not write your name correctly, and I don't see your work, you will not receive credit for this assignment. If you use profanity, you will not receive credit for the work. It's all or nothing.

WARNING: If you post even one second past midnight, your comment might appear to be posted, but as soon as it is opened to be graded, it will automatically delete.

Due Fri., May 22, 11:59 p.m. CST

3 Comments

No Degree? No Content.

5/11/2026

As of October 25, 2025, the Chines government has passed a new law requiring influencers to hold a degree in the topics they discuss in their content, according to the English edition of the Economic Times.

Now, if someone wants to talk about or give advice or tips about specialized subjects, they have to prove verifiable credentials such as professional qualifications, official certification, or degrees in those fields.

According to Forbes contributor, Tim Bajarin, when a fitness influencer with millions of followers recommends unproven supplements, or a finance guru without credentials advises followers on retirement strategies, the potential for harm is real and measurable.

The policy primarily targets areas considered high-risk to public safety, financial stability, or social order including:

Finance and investing
Health, medicine, nutrition, and mental health
Education and test preparation
Law and legal advice
News and political commentary
Real estate and housing advice
Insurance and taxes
Child psychology and parenting guidance
Science and technology claims
Cryptocurrency and trading
Automotive repair and mechanical instruction
Beauty, skincare, and cosmetic procedures
Fitness training and rehabilitation
Traditional medicine and herbal remedies
Business coaching and entrepreneurship advice

So, for example, in China, an influencer could get online and show their makeup routine, but if they were to give skincare advice or recommend their favorite treatment for skin conditions, they would have to could require credentials. In addition, showing off a car build as entertainment is acceptable, but explaining to someone how to install an engine or giving advice on technical repair or safety advice would land you in serious legal trouble.

The goal is to separate entertainment and personal opinion from content presented as expert guidance in order to protect the general public from harm. However, reports suggest that the new rule has sparked debate that it might harm creativity and limit freedom of speech.

Let's write! What are you thoughts on this ban? Should the United States do the same?

SCOTUS Guts Voting Rights

5/4/2026

The Ultimate Demolition: that’s how some people are describing what the Supreme Court of the United States has done to parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

When Congress passed that law, it was meant to address barriers that had long kept many Black Americans, especially in the South, from fully participating in elections like literacy tests, poll taxes, and intimidation.

It didn’t take long to see how some of the South’s most powerful white politicians responded to those changes. They worked to maintain control of the political process, often finding ways to limit access despite the law.

Over time, the Voting Rights Act became one of the key protections for voters who had historically been excluded. Recently, however, the Supreme Court weakened parts of that law, specifically provisions that were designed to prevent voting practices that could disadvantage certain groups.

Critics argue that this change could give some racial minorities like Latino voters, Native American voters, and Asian American voters "less opportunity than other members of the electorate" to elect candidates they support.

Supporters of the decision see it differently. Some describe it as a modernization of the law, arguing that conditions today are not the same as they were in 1965. They believe that racism is small and barely exist, so they feel that states should have more control over their own election processes.

Others view the decision as a rollback of protections that were put in place to address longstanding inequalities. Roland Martin, journalist, has argued that, "white folk don't tell each other not to vote, even when they are unhappy with the candidates or outcomes." However, people within Black communities "discourage participation, saying things like "it doesn’t matter" or "I’m sitting this one out," even though when Obama got elected in 2008, it was documented as the highest Black voter turnout ever in history, and he won. According to Martin, we saw the consequences of Black people voting then, adn we are seeing the consequences of thinking our vote doesn't matter, now.

Let's Write! What do you think about the Supreme Court’s decision and Roland Martin's fact-based opinion, and what do you think it will mean moving forward?

Your Mind vs Tech

4/27/2026

People now rely on their phones for things they once had to remember on their own, like phone numbers, directions, addresses, birthdays, driver's licence numbers, social security numbers, spelling, or basic facts.

Some people believe that constant scrolling, short attention spans, and depending on apps for every answer can weaken critical thinking. As smartphones have become more common, they have also changed daily habits, routines, and how people access information. Some people see them as one of the most useful inventions of this era, while others question how constant use may be shaping behavior, attention, memory, and decision-making.

Others argue that phones do not lower intelligence at all, they simply change how people use it, which raises questions about how technology influences the way people think and function.

Let's Write! Are smartphones making people less intelligent, or just changing what intelligence looks like today? Explain.

No Secrets..., Right?

4/20/2026

Some people see going through a partner’s phone as a violation of privacy. Others see it as understandable when something feels off. In many relationships, phones hold conversations, photos, passwords, memories, and private thoughts, which can make the topic more complicated than a simple right-or-wrong answer.

When trust feels strong, the issue may never come up. When trust feels shaky, the phone can become a symbol of bigger questions. Where should the line be between personal privacy and transparency in a relationship? If someone goes through a partner’s phone, what matters more: the act itself or what led to it?

Let's Write! Is it okay to go through your partner's phone? Why or why not?

I Do...n't?

4/14/2026

If a woman turns down a proposal, it means something about timing, readiness, trust, or vision isn’t fully aligned. That matters. Marriage isn’t just about love, it’s about agreement on the life you’re building.

The real question is what happens next.

For some couples, a “no” creates space for deeper conversations they should’ve had before the proposal. For others, it exposes differences that can’t be worked through.

Let's Write! Explain whether the relationship should be over if a woman turns down a marriage proposal.

WE Do, Not Just I...

4/7/2026

Some couples keep the tradition. Some flip it. Some meet in the middle. Some build something entirely new.

The idea of both partners changing their last names raises questions people don’t always ask out loud. What does a name actually hold—identity, history, ego, legacy, convenience? And who decides which of those matters most?

For some, it feels like balance. A visible way of saying the relationship isn’t built on one person folding into the other. For others, it can feel unnecessary, even disruptive—especially when names are tied to family lines, professional reputations, or cultural meaning.

There’s also the practical side. Paperwork. Degrees. Publications. Credit histories. Digital footprints. A name isn’t just personal, it’s administrative.

Then there’s how it lands in different communities. In some spaces, it might read as progressive. In others, confusing. In others, not even worth a second thought.

What’s interesting is how something as simple as a name can carry so much weight, and how that weight shifts depending on who’s holding it.

Let's Write! Men should start hyphenating their last names when they get married so that they can create a shared name that reflects both identities.

Do Strict Parents Raise Better Liars?

3/5/2026

For the purpose of this commentary, the term kid(s) refers to anyone under the age of 18. While the word technically refers to young goats, it is commonly used to describe children and teens, and here it is meant to include all young people under 18, not just younger children.

A popular discussion happening on social media claims that strict parents raise the best liars. This notion is reinforced by parenting opinions that having fear‑based households push kids toward deception as a survival skill.

Debates about parenting styles often ask the same question: Does fear actually teach discipline, or does it simply teach kids how to avoid getting caught?

Some people believe strict households build responsibility and respect for authority. Others argue that when kids feel like they will still get punished for telling the truth, they start hiding things instead of being honest as a way of avoiding.

For many teens, especially, social media makes things worse. When they see what they think is other teens having more freedom than them, their strict rules feel like prison and unfair. Sometimes, this ideation pushes them to move in secret rather than ask for permission.

So the deeper question might be is the real issue strict parenting or the level of trust between parents and their kids? Discipline can create structure, but trust is often what leads to honesty.

Let's Write!: What are your thoughts on the discussion that strict parents raise great liars?

INSTRUCTIONS

1. INCLUDE: Last Name, First Initial, AND Class Block. You do not have to include an email address or a website.

2. Respond to the post. Read the entire post, including watching any videos or reading any articles attached. Do not post vague or ambiguous commentary. Your post should have depth, be thoughtful, and provide specific, meaningful insight. Make sure it addresses the topic and encourages reflection, discussion, or a connection.

3. You MUST comment on at least TWO other posts from any student in any class. Your replies cannot be identical comments on different posts and posting shallow comments such as "I agree" or "I disagree" will earn you a zero. Make sure your reply addresses the comment that you are responding to.

4. Language. Do NOT use profanity. Vague or repeated responses will not be accepted in your post or replies.

5. Disrespectful comments will not be accepted and will result in a zero whether you do the assignment or not.

REMINDERS

**Set a weekly alarm or calendar timer. Whatever you do to remember other important events, I'd do the same for this assignment.

**Don't wait until the last minute. Telling me that you didn't do the assignment on Friday because you broke your leg, for example, on Thursday will not do anything for you when you've had a week. Be responsible and accountable.

**How to post. Click in the top right hand corner or the lower left hand corner where it says Comments to access the discussion board. Once there, scroll to the bottom of the page to post a Reply. After, choose comments from at least two students from any class and Reply to what they wrote.

CAUTION!! Do NOT embarrass me, yourself, your class, the English department, the school, your family or your upbringing with tasteless, meaningless comments. This is for a grade.

DISCLAIMER: If you do not respond AND comment on TWO others, you will not receive credit for this assignment. If you do not write your name correctly, and I don't see your work, you will not receive credit for this assignment. If you use profanity, you will not receive credit for the work. It's all or nothing.

WARNING: If you post even one second past midnight, your comment might appear to be posted, but as soon as it is opened to be graded, it will automatically delete.

Due Fri., March 6, 11:59 p.m. CST

Maletine's Day

2/23/2026

First, we only had Valentine's Day. Then, along came GALentine's Day. And now...

Maletine's Day.

On February 14th, a group of men got together and decided to celebrate their singleness and bond on Valentine's Day. But the Internet was not having it. What started as an opportunity for men to chill and have a good time without female interruption quickly turned into a social media debate.

Now, critics whisper that moves like this reflect a shift in traditional expectations of men. They claim that men today are more emotional, reactive, dependent, and less disciplined than previous generations. In other words, males seem to yell, scream, cry, rage out and expect to be pampered or financially supported by partners more than any other era in history.

But then supporters say something different. They say, while men are finally being given space to feel, communicate, and reject outdated standards of masculinity, the very thing women complained that men did not do (cry, communicate, express how they feel), their actions are being weaponized.

Still others say men are using this trend to avoid accountability, discipline, and emotional strength and disguising it as vulnerability.

They call this the "soft man era," a social media term used to describe a cultural shift in how some men express masculinity. It often refers to men who are more emotionally open, less traditionally dominant, and more vocal about their personal needs in relationships.

Let's Write!: How have expectations of masculinity changed over the past few years?

INSTRUCTIONS

1. INCLUDE: Last Name, First Initial, AND Class Block. You do not have to include an email address or a website.

2. Respond to the post. Read the entire post, including watching any videos or reading any articles attached. Do not post vague or ambiguous commentary. Your post should have depth, be thoughtful, and provide specific, meaningful insight. Make sure it addresses the topic and encourages reflection, discussion, or a connection.

3. You MUST comment on at least TWO other posts from any student in any class. Your replies cannot be identical comments on different posts and posting shallow comments such as "I agree" or "I disagree" will earn you a zero. Make sure your reply addresses the comment that you are responding to.

4. Language. Do NOT use profanity. Vague or repeated responses will not be accepted in your post or replies.

5. Disrespectful comments will not be accepted and will result in a zero whether you do the assignment or not.

REMINDERS

**Set a weekly alarm or calendar timer. Whatever you do to remember other important events, I'd do the same for this assignment.

**Don't wait until the last minute. Telling me that you didn't do the assignment on Friday because you broke your leg, for example, on Thursday will not do anything for you when you've had a week. Be responsible and accountable.

**How to post. Click in the top right hand corner or the lower left hand corner where it says Comments to access the discussion board. Once there, scroll to the bottom of the page to post a Reply. After, choose comments from at least two students from any class and Reply to what they wrote.

CAUTION!! Do NOT embarrass me, yourself, your class, the English department, the school, your family or your upbringing with tasteless, meaningless comments. This is for a grade.

DISCLAIMER: If you do not respond AND comment on TWO others, you will not receive credit for this assignment. If you do not write your name correctly, and I don't see your work, you will not receive credit for this assignment. If you use profanity, you will not receive credit for the work. It's all or nothing.

WARNING: If you post even one second past midnight, your comment might appear to be posted, but as soon as it is opened to be graded, it will automatically delete.

Due Fri., February 27, 11:59 p.m. CST

Love Ain't Loud

2/16/2026

Teen dating violence awareness organizations note that many teens enter relationships without the communication skills or emotional maturity they need, which can lead to unhealthy or even violent dynamics. Nearly 1 in 10 U.S. teens experiences dating violence, and youth groups often report concerns rising after Valentine’s Day as relationship pressure and break-ups increase and some teens are left dealing with pressure, heartbreak, and sometimes unhealthy or even abusive relationship dynamics.

But love isn’t supposed to hurt, and control isn’t the same as care. Too many teens mistake jealousy for protection and manipulation for love. But real love gives freedom, not fear. It listens, it respects, and it doesn’t keep score. Teen dating violence doesn’t always show up as bruises. Sometimes it’s in the way someone checks your phone, isolates you from friends, or makes you feel guilty for having boundaries.

Conversations about confidence, mental health, and personal power matter and can be the difference between staying silent and speaking up, between feeling trapped and realizing you deserve better.

Let's Write!: When the person who says they love you starts controlling who you talk to, what you wear, or how you feel, is that love, or abuse wearing a disguise, and what can you do about it?

Suddenly Single

1/12/2026

Let's Write! Click the video. Watch and explain who's right. (PS: the video will only show at home, so make sure you remember to do your homework.)

Empty Church Pews

12/15/2025

Lately, a familiar explanation keeps popping up when adults talk about young people’s behavior, especially on radio talk shows like The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, the D.L. Hugley Show, and The Breakfast Club. All three hosts blend personal faith with cultural commentary and have spoken about how their spiritual foundation shaped their resilience and choices, and pointed to faith as part of their journey.

But from all three and many of their co-hosts and listeners, the sentiment is that young people don’t go to church anymore. The assumption is that without church, young people lack accountability, moral grounding, or a sense that consequences are real, so they move through the world feeling untouchable.

On a conversation with Kirk Franklin however, rapper T.I. questioned the modern church, saying sometimes the word gets twisted or loses real relevance for everyday life. He suggests that whether or not young people go to church, what they feel they get out of it (or don’t) shapes how they see rules, consequences, and community.

Let's Write! Explain whether youth attending church on a regular basis would improve their behaviors and boost their emotional IQ.

I Reckon It's 50/50 True

12/8/2025

139 Comments

After watching Sean “Diddy” Combs: The Reckoning, society is wrestling with a hard question: How do we hold powerful people accountable when the truth comes out years later, and how do we protect those who come forward?

In the documentary, survivors describe harm that stayed hidden because of fame, influence, fear, and money. At the same time, some people argue that public opinion can move faster than the legal system, creating a “trial by social media.”

What does accountability look like in a world where influence can silence people or distort consequences and how can we explore the tension between justice, celebrity culture, and the way society responds when power is abused.

Let's Write! If you know that someone with cultural power is abusive, mean, and violent, and have hurt many people in a number of violent, cruel, demeaning, and financially harmful ways, but then find out that they were severely abused as small children, is their behavior excusable? Why or Why not?

139 Comments

Shortcuts and Shadows

11/16/2025

107 Comments

Image: Courtesy of Bhabna Banerjee, Creative Director

Cheating shows up everywhere: classrooms, friendships, sports, jobs, even online. It’s so common that people often overlook the bigger question: why does it happen in the first place? Some say it’s about pressure. Others say it’s about opportunity. And sometimes, it’s simply a moment where someone chooses the easiest path instead of the honest one. But regardless of the reason, cheating always leaves a mark, even when nobody gets caught.

There’s also the question of what cheating does to the people around us. When someone bends the rules, it can create a quiet ripple that affects trust, fairness, and how people see one another. Some folks act like it’s not a big deal, while other folk feel like it shows you easily betray people.

At the same time, cheating shows our values. If winning matters more than learning, or appearance matters more than integrity, people will find shortcuts. How do you show your face with pride if you know you cheated to get that "A" or pass that test and your grandma, parents, and friends cheer you on, talk about how proud they are, or brag about you to everyone they know? How do you feel accomplished when the praise isn’t really yours? It belongs to the version of you they think they know.

Let's Write! Is cheating, on tests, in relationships, in life, yourself, ever okay? Why or Why not?

107 Comments

Welfare: Help or Hindrance?

11/10/2025

104 Comments

Times are hard. But in any given economy, some might say, they always have been. Right now, the government is “shut down,” and people who already struggle to make ends meet can’t buy food because their benefits are paused. For some, it’s proof that too many people rely on the system. For others, it’s proof that the system isn’t strong enough to protect the people who need it most.

Either way, it exposes a deeper truth: millions of Americans live so close to the edge that one government decision can change what’s on their table. Some people believe welfare should be temporary, maybe six months at most, with regular check-ins to prove that recipients are actively looking for work, like it used to be. Others argue that life doesn’t always fit into timelines or paperwork. Jobs aren’t always available, childcare isn’t always affordable, and health issues don’t wait for benefits to run out. And still others believe, if that were the case, then why are some of their very neighbors surviving without government support?

Still, the idea of personal accountability versus government responsibility is an ongoing argument: how long is long enough, and who gets to decide when help should end?

Let's Write! How much should people depend on government aid, and how much should they depend on themselves?

104 Comments

Hurt People Hurt People

10/27/2025

110 Comments

Malte Mueller/Getty Images

Remember that.

October is Bullying Prevention Month, but let’s be for real: bullying isn’t always loud or obvious. Sometimes it hides behind jokes, silence, or a screen. Sometimes it’s the things we don’t say when we should. Whether it happens in school hallways or group chats, bullying leaves a mark that words alone can’t erase.

Here’s the truth: you can’t always stop people from being cruel, but you can decide not to join in, and that decision can change someone’s story.

Let's Write! What makes standing up for someone harder than standing by?

110 Comments

Copy Edited

10/20/2025

Think of your life like a draft—you can always go back and make edits. Missed chances? Try again. Different dream? Chase it. It’s your story, so write it the way you want it to end.

Do you get it? Really GET it.

Every day is a new draft. You can rewrite your story, edit your choices, and choose a different ending—no matter how many chapters came before.

Let's Write! Thoughts? Can you for real?

No Way, PJ!

10/8/2025

NOTE THE UPDATED
DEADLINE BELOW

If you want the grade from this assignment to count in this grading period, make sure it is completed by the deadline below.

PJ Washington, Jr. is a pro basketball player in the NBA. P.J.'s relationship with his ex-wife, Brittany Renner, became public in 2020, and by 2021 the two welcomed a son, Paul. Their romance, however, ended not long after his birth.

In October, 2023, Washington remarried, and with his new wife, Alisah Chanel, had two children. Chanel has a son from a previous marriage which Washington is also taking care of. So in his household, there are three young children. Also, recently, Washington signed a 4-year, $90 million extension with NBA's Dallas Mavericks which will keep him on contract until 2030.

Renner has openly addressed the rumors surrounding her financial arrangement with Washington, noting that she receives $2,500 a month in child support. But public court records prove that he is, in fact, paying $5,500 a month in child support, and she received a lump sum of $130,000.

Despite their breakup, Renner says she is committed to making co-parenting with Washinton work, but after Washington got remarried, had two children, and then signed his new contract with the Mavericks, Renner has filed to increase support to “at least” $35,000/month because she said with a new wife and a new car, he can afford more.

Then, things got messy. A custody exchange between Renner and P.J. went viral. The child cried, tensions escalated, Renner's mother was pissed that Washington's wife came with him to pick up her grandson and called her a derogatory name in front of her grandson. Washington was also accused of saying something derogatory to Renner's mother, also in front of he and Renner's son. The mother in-law-commented that she probably would do

Washington's wife remained quiet until she was called a derogatory name by Washington's fomer mother-in-law, who also hit Washington's car. See? Ugly.

Renner claims that Washington doesn’t "do" anything with the child when he picks him up and suggested that he come to her home to spend time with and "do things" with their child.

This entire situation is a window into bigger issues around family, money, and co-parenting in the public eye.

Let's Write! Should child support increase just because one parent comes into more money? And, was PJ Washington wrong for bringing his new wife along to pick up his son he had with his ex-wife?

Glow-Up on Figueroa

9/20/2025

That video shows one dude giving a homeless man a cut, shave, "shower," fresh clothes, food, money, and real care. Most folks would’ve just walked past. Why do you think most of society ignore people who don't look like them or make them uncomfortable? How does the way someone looks change how we treat them?

Let's write! Is it your job to dress, talk, or behave defferently than you do to make others feel comfortable about you? Why/Why not?

Secret, Secret, Do Not Tell...

9/15/2025

Keeping a dangerous secret forces you to ask yourself: What matters more: being a good friend or doing the right thing? If you tell an adult, you might save your friend’s life… but you might also lose their trust forever. If you stay silent, you prove your loyalty… but what if your silence costs them their safety?

Sometimes the hardest part of this choice is that there’s no clear “right” answer. Either way, you risk losing something important: trust, safety, or even both. In this situation, you are forced to think about what friendship really means: is it about protecting secrets no matter what, or protecting the person even if it hurts them in the moment?

Let's Write! Your best friend confide s something dangerous. Do you keep their secret or tell an adult?

What’s in a Name: Legacy or Identity?

9/6/2025

Russell Wilson Officially Gives Future and Ciara s Son His Last Name Russell Wilson, Future Zahir Wilburn and Ciara. XNY/Star Max/GC Images

Future and Ciara’s Son Future Zahir Officially Has Russell Wilson’s Last Name

When a child takes on the last name of a step-parent, it’s more than paperwork, it’s a statement about family, belonging, and identity. Some see it as a powerful act of love and stability, while others wonder what it means for ties to the biological parent.

Famed singer, Ciara, and starting NFL quarterback for the New York Giants, Russell Wilson, are parents to three children they had together: Sienna, Win and Amora. Ciara also has a son, Future Zahir, with superstar rapper, Future.

According to several news outlets, Ciara has legally added Wilson's last name to her son, Zahir's name. For Future Zahir, having Russell Wilson’s last name may symbolize the bond they’ve built, but it also raises questions: How do names shape who we are? Do they carry loyalty, or just legal formality?

Let's Write! So, should children take on the last names of step-parents—or is that a choice too big to make?

Keeping Your Word vs. Changing It

9/1/2025

Promises carry weight because they build trust. Still, life isn’t always black and white. Sometimes keeping a promise can feel impossible or even unfair. The real tension comes when loyalty to your word clashes with loyalty to yourself or others.

Some people believe that once a promise is made, it should never be broken. Others see promises as flexible, shaped by the circumstances around them. Which idea makes more sense depends on how much you value certainty versus change.

Even the smallest promises can raise big questions. Is a broken promise always the end of trust, or can it be the start of honesty? Does keeping a promise matter more than the reasons behind it?

Let's Write! Is it ever okay to break a promise?

If Only...

8/24/2025

Image: https://cadenceleadership.ca/i-choose-risk/

Fear is one of the biggest barriers that keeps people from reaching their goals. It shows up in different ways—fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of not being good enough, or even fear of success. Sometimes fear protects us, but other times it holds us back from opportunities that could change our lives. Imagine for a moment that fear didn’t exist. No doubts. No second-guessing. No voice in your head telling you “you can’t.”

Let's Write! If fear didn’t exist, what risk would you take tomorrow?

When Risk Outweighs the Reward

5/19/2025

□: Troy Babbitt, USA Today Sports

According to Dallas Texas TV, Jarred Shaw, 34, from Dallas, who is playing basketball in Indonesia was arrested after police raided his apartment and seized 132 pieces of cannabis candies. Now, because he wanted to get high with his teammates, Shaw faces a life sentence or possibly the death penalty by firing squad if found guilty. Shaw attended Dallas ISD’s Carter High, he was District 11-4A Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.

Shaw, who has played in the Indonesian league since 2022, reportedly told police he planned to share the candy with teammates.

These days, a lot of people use illegal drugs and don’t think about the consequences—especially when the laws around them are different in other states or countries. They might believe it’s not a big deal, or that they won’t get caught, or even that the rules shouldn’t apply to them. But in some places, as evidenced by Brittney Griner and now, Shaw, the penalties are serious—and even deadly.

Let's Write! What are your thoughts? Do you think getting high is worth the risk?

Rajon Rondo's Next Award-winning Play

5/13/2025

□: Katelyn Mulcahy

Two-time NBA champion, Rajon Rondo, returned to the University of Kentucky (UK) this month for a graduation ceremony.

His own.

At 39 years old on a Cawood Ledford Scholarship.

On their website, UK Athletics notes that this award is part of UK Athletics’ Post-Eligibility program which allows former student-athletes to complete their degrees with full academic support and tuition coverage.

According to AFROtech, a digital news hub for Black S.T.E.M professionals, innovators, entrepreneurs, & visionaries, the former All-Star point guard officially earned his bachelor’s degree in communications during the commencement ceremony at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY. It had been 20 years after he first enrolled at UK in 20024 as a standout freshman.

When he officially retired from the NBA in April 2024, he had amassed a net worth of over $45 million.

Let's Write! In at least three sentences, voice your opinion/thoughts about this information. YOU MUST WRITE AT LEAST THREE OR MORE COMPLETE SENTENCES.

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Mixed Ink

Mixed Ink is our class blog, the window into our souls. It was designed to improve students' writing, critical thinking and communication skills by giving them a platform to provide meaningful content based on their interpretation of what they see.

Although the students receive a grade based on a rubric for completing this assignment, they are not graded on complexity of thought. This is a place where students of all levels can freely, confidently and creatively express themselves and their opinions in a nonjudgmental platform. They are required to respond to and critique each other, but degradation, slander, lewdness, etc., will not be tolerated.

Bridge Builders

All subjects are vital to learning, but English is the bridge of communication. So let's build the arch, one word at a time...

Grading Rubric

Learning Objectives

Communicate effectively
Be aware of current events
Write concisely
Boost critical thinking skills
Be accountable
Follow directions
Have a voice about what goes on in the world around you

Beauty: Is Makeup Standard?

No Degree? No Content.

SCOTUS Guts Voting Rights

Your Mind vs Tech

No Secrets..., Right?

I Do...n't?

WE Do, Not Just I...

Do Strict Parents Raise Better Liars?

Maletine's Day

Love Ain't Loud

Suddenly Single

Empty Church Pews

I Reckon It's 50/50 True

Shortcuts and Shadows

Welfare: Help or Hindrance?

Hurt People Hurt People

Copy Edited

No Way, PJ!

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Glow-Up on Figueroa

Secret, Secret, Do Not Tell...

What’s in a Name: Legacy or Identity?

Keeping Your Word vs. Changing It

If Only...

When Risk Outweighs the Reward

Rajon Rondo's Next Award-winning Play

Mixed Ink

Bridge Builders

Grading Rubric

Archives

Categories

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Mixed Ink

Bridge Builders

Archives

Categories

NOTE THE UPDATED
DEADLINE BELOW