High School Students Voice Their Fears About Violence In New Columbia College Chicago Booklet

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 30, 2012 1:45PM

Out of the mouths of babes (oft times come gems): Don’t Shoot, I Want to Grow Up is a booklet published by Columbia College Chicago that rounds up essays from 22 members of the Columbia Links journalism outreach program detailing their fears and perceptions about violence in Chicago.

The stories are haunting: an essay by one South side student reveals he and his friends refer to the South side as “Chi-Raq;” a student at Kenwood High School writes about how some high school cliques are starting the slow roll to becoming gangs; another student worries that the increase in the city’s murder rate may lead to lasting misconceptions about Chicago.

The essays reveal these students' hopes and fears about growing up in Chicago, and they aren't any different from our fears at that age and that, hopefully, the power of words can help them cope with it better, if not help effect some change.