Growing the Voices of Our Future
The Westside Gazette Newspaper is honored to feature these editorial contributions made by local students.
Haley Taylor Schlitz isn’t old enough to buy a drink, but at 19 years old, she is on track to become Southern Methodist University’s youngest law school graduate. According to a news release from SMU, Taylor Schlitz was admitted to nine different law schools in 2019, finally enrolling at the Dedman School of Law in Dallas. According to the release, she is also an author, public speaker, and advocate for “the problems students of color experience in navigating gifted and talented programs in public schools.” Taylor Schlitz struggled to be recognized by her public school’s gifted and talented program as a fifth grader, according to the statement. Instead, her parents chose to homeschool her, and she excelled, graduating from high school at the age of thirteen. According to her website, she graduated from Texas Woman’s University as the youngest student ever. In a press release from SMU, Taylor Schlitz noted, “Many girls and kids of color are left out of our nation’s gifted and talented programs.” “The prospective scientist who cures a major disease, the entrepreneur who begins the next Amazon, and so much more will be lost to society. It’s all because of their gender or skin color “she stated. Taylor Schlitz aims to work on education policy problems and enhance chances “for gifted and talented females and students of color” after graduation on May 13, according to a press release.
Submitted by Layla Davidson
