Episode 2

Kim and Liz: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities

Published on: 30th June, 2026

On this episode of Kids These Days, Liz Mcalpin is reunited with her former fifth-grade student, Kim Nolasco.

Now in middle school and thriving, Kim is confronting the differences between elementary school and middle school, the challenges and opportunities that come with being bilingual, and the possibility of achieving her aspiration of one day being a police officer.

But what happens when things get hard? From navigating the awkwardness of raising your hand in front of a classroom crush to breaking massive obstacles down into small, manageable goals, Kim reveals her practical playbook for facing adversity head-on.

Kids These Days is a podcast from Batavia Public School District 101, produced in partnership with Area Code: Batavia. New episodes every month.

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About the Podcast

Kids These Days: A Podcast from BPS 101
Real talk between local residents and Batavia Public School Students.
Kids These Days brings together long-time Batavia residents and current students for real, unscripted conversations.
Hosted by Superintendent Tom Kim and produced in partnership with Area Code: Batavia, the show aims to bridge the gap between generations. By sitting down to talk—about school, work, and life in Batavia—we’re moving past stereotypes to get to know our younger neighbors.
The gap between the Batavia we remember and the one students are navigating today might not be as wide as you think.