Issue 17

Student Spotlight is back with another issue! And boy oh boy is there a lot to talk about. Since our last issue in April, we’ve seen many things happening in the Northern Territory as the dry season hits. From the well-loved Bass in the Grass to art shows happening in Darwin, young Territory talent continues to be championed and celebrated all around.

But outside of the celebrations are also real issues that young Territorians are facing. From the fuel crisis to the reality faced by young carers, the Student Spotlight is continuing our work in bringing you the real voices of young Territorians and their thoughts how we can do better.

On the cover this issue is Chris Sampson, a teenager who I would call a hero hidden in plain sight. At only 17 years old, Chris is already taking up the responsibility to care for his grandparents and mother, all while balancing his education among other responsibilities. But for young carers like Chris, it is not often that they are recognised by their school or even people around them, and they are calling for that to change. In this story, Editor-in-Chief Nokthor Tripura sat down with Chris and spoke to him about his journey to advocacy, and his ongoing challenges as a young person who wears many hats.

But outside of the public interest journalism we do at the Student Spotlight, the magazine also continues to focus strongly on promoting youth opinions. For this issue, Darwin High School student Katya Dimos explains how our news is skewed to make the world look a lot gloomier than it is, and how we can find hope in our news – something much needed in these difficult times.

Finally, if you are looking for a light finish to some of the heavy-hitting stories we have brought you, Indiana Grimes and Supipi Rathnayake’s review of Noah Kahan’s new album The Great Divide will surely cheer you up. From witty remarks to detailed analysis about Kahan’s work, it is a must-read if you’re looking to start a conversation with someone about this album.

On a personal note, it has been a great few months since I handed over the NT Student Society and the Student Spotlight to Indiana and Nokthor. Throughout these few months I’ve witnessed so much positive growth from the magazine, and it always amazes me how committed they are to what started as a school newspaper shared on a PDF file. And as we continue our work in producing quality journalism and become a platform for students to champion their voices, I cannot wait to see what’s next for the NTSS.

Pak Chan

Founder

NTSS