ABOUT
Our team comes from Stagg High School’s Voice of Witness class, a course designed to study the values of empathy through oral histories and interviews. For our class project, we wanted to create a collection of stories that captured people’s most mundane and most extreme emotions, namely The Human Dictionary.
"It’s important to be creative and necessary to help others.”
-Mary Ogarek
Our Mission
Our mission at Human Dictionary is to spread empathy, not only for everyday people’s stories, but also for those impacted by this historic outbreak.
I’m 18 years old. I have lived in the United States all of my life. I love comedy, and I host a YouTube channel called Project Mercury. I hope one day I can be a successful comedian.
ARJUN KUMAR
ARJUN KUMAR
KLEMENTYNA
BACHLEDA
I am 18 and a first generation Polish American. I love to travel as I have done this ever since I can remember and my life goal is to visit every country in the world. In the future, I would love to become an orthodontist. I plan to study dentistry at Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland this fall.
I’m (almost) 18 years old. Although I was born and raised in the U.S, I have strong Palestinian roots. I’m also a huge sports fan and love competing in several sports myself. I hope to become a successful teacher and a coach one day.
SUAAD RASHID
All members of our team are currently seniors at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School. We had the unique opportunity to take a class called Voice of Witness. In VOW, we learned the values of empathy that eventually led to this project.
Who are we?
OUR TEAM
NICOLETTE PENA
I was born in Mexico and I moved to the USA when I was 15. I enjoy helping others and making them smile. I can speak Spanish, English and French. I'm working on learning ASL. My goal is to at learn learn 3 more languages
I’m 17 years old, and I was raised listening to Phantom of the Opera and Wicked. I love volunteering with special olympics when I have time. I want to become an occupational therapist after high school so I can help kids with a variety of disabilities gain a sense of independence with certain tasks.
KALEIGH FITZGIBBONS
I’m 17 years old and I’m from Yemen. I’m involved in a community organization called Arab American Action Network, so if I’m not doing school work I’m usually working there! I hope to become an attorney and continue my work of organizing.
NADIAH ALYAFAI
I’m 18 years old. I enjoy making my friends laugh and love helping make a difference. In my free time, I like researching foreign affairs, listening to music, and watching films. I’m a future political science major who hopes to become a lawyer who can help make a difference in people's daily lives.
MARIELA SERNA
I’m 17 years old and I’m Mexican American. I love painting and getting creative. I am going to Elmhurst College to study pre-pharmacy, hopefully, to become a pharmacist. I’ve always wanted to become one since I was diagnosed with scoliosis.
JESSICA ARMAS
DANIELA REYNOSO
I’m 18 years old. I am a first generation Mexican American which makes me very in touch with my roots. I am a strong advocate for human rights which drives my dreams of one day becoming a Criminal Justice Lawyer.
I'm 17 years old and yes, I am Mexican. My first language is Spanish and later learned to speak and read English properly. Ever since I learned to read English I have my nose buried in a book. I was raised with music and is a great part of my life. I wish to become a lawyer when I am older, I want to help others and create justice when others need it. .
JAEL SAENZ
Human dictionary would not be possible without
Lisa
Thyer
Christopher Wendelin
In loving memory of
