Giovanna Fernandez, Lailana Pril, Ollie Smith, Elias Robles 

15 December 2020 

Journalism Final- Podcast 

Ollie: Good morning Conquerors and welcome to ​Build you up! Featuring LEGO. ​Today we’re all 

going to talk about the arts and why it’s important for students like you and me. 

PSA 1: Funding for Performing Arts (Elias) 

*Clapping* 

Students step off the stage after their final performance. Feeling accomplished and proud, they 

look forward to their next dance recital, choir or band concert, theatre performance. All these 

amazing programs that make up the entertainment unit of high schools worldwide bring so much 

life, so much energy to their communities. However, the students, feeling so proud of their work, 

are about to receive detrimental news. Their schools have lost the funds to support these 

programs and they now must cancel their upcoming projects. Budget cuts lead schools to focus 

on their prioritized programs, many times excluding the arts. While they still may exist, the funds 

are still needed to maintain quality programs. We can’t keep letting performing arts programs 

lose funds.  

​ ppletree​ by Erykah Badu from her 1997 album 

Gio: Today’s first song on the episode is A

​ rykah Badu, as an artist, encourages others to be authentic and not waste time trying 
Baduizm. E

to match up to anyone’s standards or success. She creates what she wants and doesn’t change for 

anyone.  

 
Ollie: Thank you Gio and Elias! The arts are very important to both students involved and 

students who observe. A good way to get involved in the arts at Los Altos is by joining some of 

our art programs and clubs! Like National Art Honor Society (NAHS), or joining Theater, dance, 

digital graphics, or traditional art! 

Ollie (Question): What arts do you participate in? 

Elias: I do musical theatre! Ever since I was 7, I’ve performed in over 15 musicals, participating in 

all aspects of the show from the ensemble, to leading roles, to leading the tech crew. It’s my little 

escape from reality. I love that adrenaline performing for a crowd gives you and I definitely want 

to continue throughout my whole life.  

Ollie: I take part in both digital and traditional art. I’ve enjoyed art ever since I was little and got 

more serious about drawing in the fourth grade.  

Gio: I enjoy creating visual art and writing! Ever since elementary school, I would write my own 

stories and now I focus on writing poetry. I have always loved to draw and paint, which I 

continue to do in my free time.  

Ollie: That all sounds amazing! Now we’re taking it back to Gio, who has another song for us. 

Gio: The second song of today is ​Feel the Need ​by Eryn Allen Kane. We chose this track because 

of its catchy instrumental and uplifting, jazzy sound. Kane sings about spreading love, which 
youth can do through art and be reminded to find their calling! Its motivation makes it even more 

worth listening to when you need a pick-me-up throughout the day.  

Ollie: Thank you for that second song! And now we have a PSA from Lailana. 

Lailana: PSA 2 on visual arts.  

How can visual arts help people with stress? You can look at pictures to help you relieve stress. 

Some examples of visual arts are drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, 

photography, video, filmmaking, design, crafts, and architecture. And why students are stressed 

is because of school or other problems. And this can maybe help them relieve stress. 

Ollie: Thank you Lailana! The arts are very important to the student body of Los Altos as well as 

those on the Build you up! Podcast. Thank you for tuning in, conquerors, to Build you up! 

Featuring LEGO! Lailana, Elias, Giovanna, and Ollie signing out! But before you go, we have one 

last wong to play you out. 

Gio: The last song we’re sharing with you today is ​After the Storm ​by Kali Uchis and Tyler, the 

Creator. This song reminds us that there is beauty at the end of a personal struggle. We need to 

have patience with ourselves and others.