The exigence for my issue brief stems mainly from the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the education system. As schools were forced online and in-person classes could no longer be safely held, this created a significant issue for students who were scheduled to take SAT and ACT entrance exams to gain entrance into colleges […]
Author: Derek Deihl
Just One of Those Things – Nat “King” Cole
Nat “King” Cole, officially named Nathaniel Adams Coles is well-known as one of the “crooners” of the early to mid-1920s. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Nat King Cole was a singer and jazz pianist that was one of the most well-known of his time. Recording numerous songs to hit the top charts, his jazz trio also […]
Issue Brief – College Admissions Standardized Testing
In my issue brief, I plan to discuss the ongoing issues in the standardized testing system concerning socioeconomic status. These tests, such as the SAT and ACT, have long served as one of the primary measures for assessing a student’s preparedness and readiness to move on to college. What many of these tests fail to […]
The Rising Cost of College
The cost of college has become an increasingly daunting statistic for parents who save for their child’s education or for the students who take out loans to pay for college. As a topic of heated debate in modern politics, some argue that colleges should be completely free or that all student debt should be cancelled […]
A Chorus Line
“Orchestra… and balcony!” A Chorus Line is a hit broadway musical that premiered in 1975, but is still widely performed to this day off broadway and in some high school. It is a very unque musical for the time, because it went against most principles of big, flashy shows, costumes, and sets. The show consists […]
Public vs Private School
The long-lasting debate for K-12 schooling is whether to enroll a child in public school or to invest in a private school. There are numerous factors that sway parents towards one or the other including funding, quality, or other aspects such as religion. Nationwide, schools vary significantly by state, but also within any single state […]
Black Brown and Beige – Duke Ellington and his Orchestra
Duke Ellington and his orchestra were one of the most prominent and impactful jazz big bands of the swing era. Beginning in 1923, the orchestra was named the “Washingtonians” then changing to “Duke Ellington and his Kentucky Club Orchestra” and “Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Orchestra” before simplifying to “Duke Ellington and his Orchestra” […]
“This I Believe” Draft Script
I won the lottery. Now, I’m no Mega-Millions or Powerball winner, but I’ve collected my fair share from scratch-off’s, two $50 tickets to be exact, and both were gifts from my girlfriend. But, I also won a different lottery. A lottery that many people don’t really consider until it affects them or somebody they know. […]
Passion Blog and Civic Issue Topics
Passion Blog: My Vinyl Collection No matter how its framed, I am a “music kid.” My whole life has been framed by musical family members as well as taking part in music throughout elementary, middle, and high school as well as continuing it here at college. From the four saxophones to clarinet and flute, my […]
Ideas for Spring ’21
Passion Blog: For my passion blog this semester, I definitely plan to continue on the general topic of music. I feel as though I could continue with a blog purely based on jazz; however, it may start to become less enjoyable to write about or harder to cater to an audience that may not particularly […]