Jose Montoya* is the kind of kid that can walk into a room, and you just know. You know he’s going to give you some kind of hell just by the way he struts—sly and cool, no hint of effort on his part. He makes a plain uniform look cool with his clean red Vans, his white shell necklace, and his hair spiked into a faux-hawk that looks like he woke up that way. Jose Montoya is the leader of my first class of the day—a class dominated by fearless boys, who will do anything to en

Few things have the unique ability to shape our opinions, construct our perceptions, and bring us together like stories. For most of my life, my story was one of rural Oklahoma. It was full of red clay, hollers and bottoms, and people who lived a life very much like my own. I was fortunate to discover the power of stories early. The tales of other people and experiences have inspired me to listen to the stories around me and give voice to my own. I’m lucky to know that words

I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of perception—the way people view the world around them and how two people can be looking at the exact same scenario yet see different things. Anais Nin once said, “We don’t see things as they are; we see them as we are.” I heard this when I was just a little girl, and it is still one of my favorite quotes. It communicates what I believe to be an important truth: that our perceptions of the world shape everything we do—how we communic

I am a die hard, unashamed lover of Tulsa. I've traveled and am aware of what other cities across America have to offer. Yet, despite the benefits of other places, I’m certain Tulsa will forever be my home. When I describe Tulsa to those who are unfamiliar, I try to paint a picture of a community that has a natural inclination to help one another without expecting anything in return. There are good people here who promote good values. Because I was baptized in this ethos of v