The Voice of the Loy Norrix Community

Knight Life

The Voice of the Loy Norrix Community

Knight Life

The Voice of the Loy Norrix Community

Knight Life

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(Photo Illustration) A student drives her car while talking to someone on the phone. This violates Kelsey’s Law which prohibits drivers from using their cell phone while driving.
Scholarship rewards $5,000 to high school students for bringing awareness to distracted teen driving
Sophia Wrzesinski and Flora Harper March 21, 2024

The Kelsey’s Law scholarship is open for submissions until Mar. 31. Hosted by the Michigan Auto Law, the scholarship awards a total of $5,000...

What are Your Spring Break Plans?
What are Your Spring Break Plans?
Isaac Atkinson and Stan Thomas March 21, 2024

Red Cross Supervisor Cindy Vandermeer prepares Teya Dawson for her blood donation. Dawson was a first-time donor.
NHS hosts a successful blood drive, saving lives in and out of the community
Isabella Figueroa, Chief Copy Editor • March 21, 2024

“My dad and my mom both needed blood products when they were still living, so it's just really important to me so that the blood stays local,”...

Jada Lassiter Likes Being Little

Jada Lassiter requests help from journalism teacher Tisha Pankop. She needs to make sure that her "Opinion Column" is ready to go into publishing. Photo Credit: Chandler Maples
Jada Lassiter requests help from journalism teacher Tisha Pankop. Lassiter makes sure that her Opinion Article is ready to be published. Photo Credit: Chandler Maples

“How’s the weather down there?” or “You’re too short to do that” are two degrading comments that are heard by many shorter-than-average people everyday, such as Jada Lassiter.
Comments such as “midget” are unacceptable to the little people community. Stereotypes about little people are that they cannot perform the everyday activities that an average person could do, such as opening a cupboard to grab a glass. A little person can grab the glass as well; they simply will do it in a different way. Perhaps they will use a stool or chair to reach the cupboard. Another stereotype is that little people have brain damage and that they are all mentally incapacitated. This is, in fact, not true. Dwarfism has no effect on the human brain; someone with this syndrome can be just as intelligent as someone without it.
Lassiter being one of these “shorter-than-average” people was born at 4 lbs. From the ages of 3-11 she was 3 feet 5 inches, and now at the age of 14, Lassiter is 4 feet 3 inches. At first Lassiter was shy and avoided contact with others, but as she grew up she learned how to become as outgoing as possible.
“In Elementary it was hard because I was the shortest kid, until I built my confidence up,” said Lassiter.
Dwarfism is the physical condition exhibited by little people. In order to be registered as a little person, WebMD states that the person must be no taller than 4 feet 10 inches. Dwarfism can be related to 200 different causes, one of them being Achondroplasia. In Lassiters’ case, it’s unknown as to why it occurred. Lassiters’ parents are both above average height for the average African-American family. Her mother at 5 feet 9 inches and her father at a solid 6 feet tall. Lassiters states that she doesn’t mind being short and it really isn’t all that bad.
“I like to be different,” said Lassiter.
Many little people face problems such as discrimination and stereotypes, and that’s where Little People of America (LPA) comes in. They inform friends, family, and others about Dwarfism. Lassiter lives with her mother, father, brother and nieces. She enjoys hobbies that are similar to those any other teenager, such as watching TV, Instagraming, Snapchating, or playing laser-tag.
Although in some sports, being tall can be an advantage, Lassiter feels that she is not wholly compromised.
“When it comes to sports, I feel limited to some stuff, but not all,” she said, “Overall, I don’t feel that my condition hinders me from everyday activities.”

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Jada Lassiter Likes Being Little