The NHS Diversity Photography Project instills a sense of pride in our diverse cultures, races, and ethnicities.
Northampton High is a great place to find diversity. You see it in the hallways, in every classroom, at sporting events and in clubs. At NHS, diversity isn’t looked at as an alien concept that is disapproved of by anyone here. Diversity is seen as a part of who we are, and is accepted by everyone. At NHS, we’re given the chance to be who we are, and no one will criticize you for being different. We are all different, but in that way, we are all the same.
-Liz Martinez (2012)
Our school is very accepting of people. It doesn’t really matter what race or ethnicity or background you come from, there is still a group of kids to hang out with.
-Brian Noyes (2012)
Diversity is seen in many different aspects of this school. The sports teams enjoy diversity through a common hobby. The clubs combine diversity because they have common goals or want to help another group of people. For example, S.O.C.A. stands for Students of Color Association, but people that are not of color are welcome in the club too. All of the students at NHS have respect for each other and their environment.
-Jordan Daniels (2012)
Diversity at our school is both good and bad. I’ve seen the good, and I’ve unfortunately seen the bad sides of diversity in my four years at NHS. Since there is so much diversity at NHS, and people are allowed to be who they want to be, there is some hating between people who think they are “normal” and people who are “different”. I have been made fun of for being gay, but have also been embraced. I have friends of many size, color, and shape, and I love them for who they are, not what they look like.
-Anonymous
The diversity at NHS makes for an environment of acceptance and understanding.
-Edward Fath (2012)
Here at NHS, there is a wide range of diversity. Through school events many people from different backgrounds come together in relation to a common interest. The diversity of our school has created many unlikely relationships.
-Maggie Russo (2012)
Diversity in this school is good because it is a small school with a big diverse population. More people interact with different types of people in many classes.
-Tom Mazuch (2012)
Diversity at NHS is a wide array of different colors, races, sizes, personalities, beliefs, and values. This is beneficial to us in that it provides a unique culture within our school where everyone is accepted for who they are.
-Derek Flynn (2012)
We have diverse ethnicities such as Caucasian, African American, Puerto Rican, and Chinese. The ethnicities in our school do not stick out because everyone is respected in Northampton High, where no one is targeted. The diversity in our school is not just limited to ethnicity, but also towards social diversity where we have the jocks, smart kids, preps, and skaters, although none are treated differently, for we are a whole at NHS.
-Chelsea Corbett (2012)
A lot of teachers at NHS do their best to bring together everyone despite their backgrounds, race, beliefs, and sexuality, and make sure that even though we’re not all the same, we can learn things about one another, which in turn helps us come together.
-Emily Lampron (2012)
Diversity is our secret to equality. Here in our school we are not just students or peers, we are people with stories. Our stories make us who we are. By being who we are, we are diverse. Feel free to tell your story, for it makes NHS a better place for all to learn.
-Tonya Andrews (2012)
Having a bunch of different ethnicities in our school is important because without it we may form stereotypes of others, or never get to learn about certain cultures or beliefs.
-Anaisa Garcia (2012)
The diversity at NHS makes it a better place. Students are very respectful of other people’s ethnicities and lifestyles. People look more at personality more than at how you dress.
-Devon Colon (2012)
I believe at NHS we take diversity seriously and don’t judge anyone of different skin color or people they hang out with. Diversity Week brings many people together and is fun for all grades. I don’t think certain grades “pick” on each other or give each other a hard time. Band and theater kids aren’t treated differently, like they show in movies and television. Jocks don’t bully other kids, at least that I have seen. Outside of school, people still treat each other equally when we are not around teachers. NHS is a very diverse school, but everyone accepts each other for who they are.
-Hayley Aloisi (2012)
At NHS, there is a ton of diversity. I have a lot of friends who go to other schools and when they come to an NHS event, they’re shocked at the diversity, and almost afraid of it. I feel that diversity isn’t even a question for students in Northampton schools because we have experienced it from the start.
-Jenna Murray (2012)
Thank you Michele Bernhard for helping your students write about diversity at NHS.
Funding was provided by the Northampton Education Foundation.