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This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025.
Note that any opinions expressed in legacy Jackson Free Press stories do not reflect a position of the Mississippi Free Press or necessarily of its staff and board members.

Names: (from left) Anna, Wiljerna, TyQuiria, Stanley, Zarrian

Location of Picture: Utica Elementary Middle School, Utica, Miss.

Grade in school: 4th

Reading the JFP Since: 2011—Ever since Ms. Natalie Long has been our teacher.

Anna

Favorite subject: Math

Last book read: “High School Musical”

Favorite thing about school: Being able to learn things I never knew before.

Role model: My teachers

My strengths: Singing and drawing

What I want to be when I grow up: A teacher

Hobbies: Reading, watching TV, drawing, singing, and swimming

Wiljerna

Favorite subject: Math

Last book read: “Sea of Monsters”

Favorite things about school: Going to art and music classes

Role model: My parents

My strengths: Hula hooping, jumping rope, and I’m very caring with a loving heart.

What I want to be when I grow up: A pediatrician

Hobbies: Reading, watching TV, sleep, play with my puppies, and shopping.

TyQuiria

Favorite subject: Math

Last book read: “The Secret Garden”

Favorite things about school: My friends and learning new things

Role model: My mom

My strengths:  Jumping rope, playing basketball, being in Quest (gifted class)

What I want to be when I grow up: A teacher

Hobbies: Reading, watching TV, playing with my dogs and shopping.

Stanley

Favorite subject: Math

Last book read: “The Outside Dog”

Favorite thing about school: “We have fun and learn new things in math.”

Role model: My whole generation

My strengths: Sports and giving Ms. Long hugs and calming her down.

What I want to be when I grow up: A policeman

Hobbies: Watching TV, playing with my dog, fishing and playing video games with my cousin.

Zarrian

Favorite subject: P.E.

Last book read: “The Titan’s Curse”

Favorite things about school: Doing math problems, meeting my AR (Accelerated Reading) goals and going to the computer lab.

My strengths: Sports, sharing with those without school materials, and I’m an excellent class helper.

What I want to be when I grow up: A fireman

Hobbies: Riding horses, playing video games and bowling

Mississippi native Donna Ladd and partner Todd Stauffer founded the Jackson Free Press in 2002 in the capital city. The heavily awarded local newspaper did many investigations heralded across the state and nation and served as a paper of record due to its diversity, inclusion, in-depth reporting and deep connection to readers and dedication to narrative change in and about Mississippi. In 2022, the nonprofit Mississippi Free Press, founded by Ladd and JFP Associate Publisher Kimberly Griffin in 2020, purchased the journalism assets and archives of the Jackson Free Press. A Google grant through AAN Publishers enabled Newspack's integration of the JFP archives into the Mississippi Free Press website to become part of a more searchable archive of recent Mississippi history and essential journalism.