Year: 2021

By Oona Montandon
Millennium Brooklyn High School

How does one find success as a high school journalist without a school paper to write for, a school culture to write about, or even a physical high school? 

“It’s a little different,” said 15-year-old Shayaan Tirmizi, who has, along with his two brothers, been homeschooled since 2012.

In lieu of a traditional school paper, Shayaan took the initiative in April 2020 to start his own blog, initially focusing on tech, primarily Apple. His attention has shifted, so “now when I write, it’s whatever comes to mind,” he said. 

Shayaan is pleased to have joined the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists. His mom regularly sends him links to programs he might be interested in, and the Greene Institute immediately sparked some interest. 

“So I emailed,” he explained, “asking about the due date and they wrote back saying, ‘Today is the last day to send in an application, send one in today!’”

Shayaan was excited to spend a week exploring journalism, especially using Clipchamp and getting a taste of broadcast work. 

Journalism is not Shayaan’s only area of interest, nor his only prospect. “If journalism doesn’t work out,” he said, “I’d move on to teaching.” Probably English, or something related to writing. 

According to older brother Rayyan, Shayaan “was always a good writer and he always had a great imagination.” 

When he isn’t writing or doing schoolwork, Shayaan enjoys playing basketball at local courts. There he’s been able to meet many new people and made some good friends. “There’s a lot of assumptions” about homeschooling he said, particularly that homeschoolers don’t have a lot of friends. But given Shayaan’s commitment to outside activities, such preconceived notions do not apply. 

Shayaan believes the Greene Institute could be instrumental in his  future. He loosely plans on attending Stony Brook University, as his brother will soon, and hopes to study journalism there, especially if his week on the Greene Team is rewarding. 

When it comes to specific areas of journalism, as well as his broader future, Shayaan is “open for anything.”  

By Tyler Wong
Millennium Brooklyn High School

Journalism has been a long-time interest of Liliana Stella.

“Journalism allows me to build a platform for myself and share my opinion freely,”
said the 16-year-old Greenvale resident who attends North Shore High School. “I love journalism’s impact on communities. Journalism allows people’s stories to be heard and motivates people to do better, and that’s something I want to be a part of.” 

Liliana is involved in many school activities. “I am a member of my school’s dance team, I write for my school’s newspaper, and I am president of the Italian club,” she said. 

Liliana has had an interest in journalism since middle school. “There was this extra-credit assignment, and I really wanted to do it, and once I did it I developed a deep love for it,” she said. “Journalism has been a contributing factor in building my confidence.” 

She is interested in both print and broadcast journalism and has big plans regarding who she wants to become in the news business. She envisions herself as a writer and television news reporter because she loves meeting and talking to people and being on camera.

“I perceive the field of journalism as a field that is diverse, and it can reach out into almost anything,” she said. “And journalists have the biggest responsibility, which is to share the truth.” 

Liliana applied to the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists because “I like to learn new writing skills that are not so formal.”

Most of the people in Stella’s life also think highly of her as a person and as an aspiring writer. Her friend Keira Jensen, who is also very involved in what she does both inside and outside of school, said “We are involved in a program together called Buddy Club. It is a club where we work with kids from North Shore Middle School who have different disabilities and help them become more comfortable socializing with their peers,” Keira said. “We do different things with them to get them engaged like games, making cards, etc.”

Keira described Liliana as “an amazing writer. She has a great vocabulary and imagination.” 

Stella’s family, specifically Rosa Stella, her mother, believe that the Greene program could help her expand on her passion. 

“Her passion for journalism started since she was in middle school and her writing continues to evolve and improve,” Stella said. “Her articles are intriguing to all audiences and very well developed.” Stella also perceives her daughter to be a great learner. “Liliana is very inquisitive, likes to think outside of the box, and is an extremely motivated student as well as a writer.”

By Demi Cabness
HCZ Promise Academy 1 Charter School

Aarya Patel wants to be a political newshound. 

It began indirectly with the 17-year-old from Port Jefferson getting interested in YouTubers such as Dig MC and PewDiePie who specialize in gaming videos. They inspired him to want to create his own channel.

“I grew up watching these famous YouTubers and always admired what they did, but never knew how much work it actually took to put the videos together,” Aarya said. He soon realized he needed to learn how to work with and be behind a camera, so he put his dream of becoming a YouTuber on hold. 

In the meantime, the rising senior at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School tuned into numerous news stations and felt inspired. 

“I loved watching the current political events, foriegn affairs and citizens standing up against injustice on channels like CBS and news platforms online like The New York Times,” he said. 

 The Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ movements are news events he enjoys watching unfold. 

“Events like protests from these groups led my interest further into filmography, and I realized I wanted to be more than a YouTuber,” Aarya said. “I want to present to a large platform that can always watch. I want to be the person with the most important job, behind the camera, who captures the essence in events that everyone is eager to see.” He wants to be in a news station covering modern issues in the world and “capture the quick moments no one sees.” 

His interest in journalism doesn’t end there. He found his way into photography as well when he took some of his most memorable photos on a family vacation to Hawaii. “I photographed volcanoes, beaches, sunsets and terrains,” he said. 

He soon realized he was interested in both videography and photography, but he still didn’t know much about these fields as they applied to journalism. Luckily, his parents thought they knew the right program. 

Speaking of the then-Dean of the Stony Brook University School of Journalism, Aarya’s mother, Pinky Patel, said, “I knew the founder, Howard Schneider … from when he would shop at my Hallmark store and remembered hearing of the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists. From knowing of my son’s raw talent and of the program, I urged Aarya to sign up.” 

Though her son was a bit skeptical at first, she said, “I had to kind of push him to go in the program because he likes to do his own thing, but I told him that this program could be really useful in his life and future career.” 

Aarya said he doubted himself in the beginning because the program was competitive, but when he was accepted he was thrilled. “I hope to learn the basics of journalism, get a better learning on filming equipment and cameras, make new friends and have a great time, with the help of this program.”

By Moriah Pettway
Baldwin High School

Miles Reese’s creativity and passion for playing the saxophone and painting also influences his writing. 

The rising senior at Copiague High School was born in Mineola and raised in Copiague with his younger sister Natalie Reese, his mom Ann Reese and dad Garry Reese. “What I like about Miles is how kind-hearted he is,” his mom said. “What I love about Miles is how humorous he is,” his sister added. 

Miles has been playing the saxophone for about nine years and painting for two to three. He is also active in extracurricular activities, including Mock Trial, Marching Band, and Track and Field. 

But Miles’ major interest is journalism. He has been writing since middle school. “In seventh grade, I had a teacher named Ms. Ingenito and she saw the hidden potential in me. She noticed my public speaking skills and she wanted to see more of that in my writing, so she put me in Achieve3000 for students who were exceptional in writing, and it really shaped me as a writer.” 

The COVID-19 pandemic played a major role in developing Miles’ writing skills, “I had a lot of alone time and found out who I truly am…. That’s where my love for analyzing politics and journalism came from.” 

As a young black man aspiring to be a journalist, the murdering of George Floyd was a pivotal point in Miles’ life, “I remember in the summer they shut the roads down and I heard Black Lives Matter and I was like ‘I’m living through history.’” 

Watching correspondents such as Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon inspired Miles to further pursue his interest in journalism. “There’s a segment on CNN called Prime Time with Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon and the way they connect to the audience is so natural and it proves that they don’t just do their show because they have to. They do their show because they enjoy it.” 

He feels that he has a lot to offer to the field of journalism. “I want to be that person that bridges the gap between everyday people and their understanding of politics.” 

Once Miles concluded that journalism was something that he was truly passionate about, he began taking the initiative to find programs where he could strengthen his skills. So Miles is very enthusiastic about spending a week at the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists. Through the program, “I’m hoping to find even more confidence in public speaking.”

By Shayaan Tirmizi

Oona Montandon has been interested in journalism since kindergarten, when she wrote a profile on a school security guard and liked the experience.

In first grade, she wrote for her school newspaper. And in 2012, Oona wrote a few articles for a youth paper called Firecracker.

Oona, now 17, of Windsor Terrace in Brooklyn, is a rising senior at Millennium Brooklyn High School where she can pursue her passion for writing and journalism.

“As of right now, I’m just really enjoying getting to know and better understand journalism,” she said, “but I think my favorite thing about it is probably getting to hear from so many different people, and putting new perspectives into the world.”

Oona’s journalism experience has impacted her 15-year-old sister Daphne.

“The way Oona used writing to tell her stories inspired me to also become a storyteller,” Daphne said. “However, I don’t think it would be through writing, but instead film.” 

Oona’s parents, Catherine and Maccabee, are also journalists. Catherine writes for GrowNYC and Maccabee is a freelance editor. Both parents have given Oona advice on how to be a successful journalist.

“My dad is a big believer in ‘don’t do things you hate,’ so although he wouldn’t encourage quitting, I’ve learned from him that you don’t have to be miserable with what you do, and the best work you’ll produce is when you’re doing things you enjoy.”

Oona said she imagined being an investigative journalist, but she is also intrigued by the idea of becoming a music critic. 

In her free time, Oona likes to write poetry, hang out with friends and play soccer. She also has a part-time job as a restaurant hostess. 

“Living in Brooklyn and living off the subway has given me so much more freedom than I’d imagine I’d have living outside the city. I feel so lucky to be able to go on my own or with friends to new places every day.”

When it comes to life after high school, Oona said, “I’ve always fantasized about going to Europe for college, someplace like Trinity [College Dublin] because I have Irish citizenship.” She’d also love to go to Claremont College, “or someplace on the East Coast, maybe Stony Brook! I’m still figuring it out for sure.” 

If journalism doesn’t work out, Oona is interested in studying linguistics.

Oona wanted to attend the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists because “I wanted to learn more about journalism and this seemed like a great crash course.”

Oona said she intends to leave a lasting impact on the field. “I definitely want to reimagine the ethical considerations of journalism. In a social media world, real journalism can be used to dispel misinformation and even save lives. I think navigating ‘the truth’ in the upcoming years is going to be really important, and a discussion I’d like to be a part of.”

By Alex Chen
John Dewy High School

Noel Gonzalez, a 16-year-old rising junior at Bard High School Early College Queens, has a tremendous passion for writing.     

“Literature is my favorite class,” said Noel, a resident of the Bronx. Whenever he has an opportunity to write about a book that his class uses or he reads voluntarily, he will use it as an inspiration for a creative piece. 

Debates and arguments are Noel’s main speciality, and he’s always picking up interesting points to develop an insightful essay or even a story. “He has written for different reasons and he makes very thoughtfully arguments. He’s a thinker; that’s come through in his writing,” said Limarys Caraballo, Noel’s mother.

Reading is another subject that Noel has a passion for. He is intrigued by intense, psychological literature that requires a deep analysis to fully comprehend what the characters are thinking. 

Noel also is captivated by politics. He’s always seeking articles that would deliver some information of what’s happening worldwide. Noel’s vast interest for political news and literature, attracted him to journalism. “Writing about political things was the closest I got to journalism, in terms of finding a story and chasing it,” he said. 

Noel also had the urge to discover what it takes to be a journalist. He wanted to understand the research and writing employed by reporters to have their stories approved. “He’s more interested in what’s takes to become a journalist,” his mother said. “The kinds of skills that journalists develop and need to do their work well. He’s still trying to find out what his own interests are, but journalism  combines a lot of things that he finds interesting.” She thought the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists would enable Noel to experience a professional journalism environment. 

By attending the Greene Institute, Noel hopes to enhance his writing skills by being exposed to new writing styles, such as building a script for a broadcast or reporting a story. Noel also desires to be a better interviewer and “actually try to schedule interviews. Hopefully I can learn more about finding the correct people to interview.”

He also wants to become a better video editor. “Would be cool to experience something new like Clipchamp,” Noel said. He has some practice with iMovie; therefore using another editing platform such as Clipchamp would improve his editing skills. “

“Would be cool to branch out my writing,” Noel said, “since I’ve never really written many papers as a reporter.”

By Isabella Lenarduzzi
Kings Park High School

T’Neil Gooden is striving to become the first person in her family to pursue a writing-based career in journalism.

T’Neil is a 17-year-old rising senior at Leon M. Goldstein High School for the Sciences in Brooklyn.

Alysia Charles, a friend of T’Neil’s, explains that, “T’Neil truly has a way with words, which is evident if you read her writing. With her persistence I feel she would go far in journalism.”

T’Neil talked about her love of reading, with her favorite book being Love & Olives by Jenna Evans Welch. Not only does T’Neil love reading, she pays close attention to all things she reads, revealing that she has a long-running note on her phone where she keeps track of quotes that she finds throughout her day that are important to her. 

She also said her favorite movie is The Perks of Being a Wallflower. This is a movie that heavily focuses on a character who loves literature and at the same time is figuring out who he is and what his place is in the society that he lives in.

T’Neil reflects that after coming to New York from Jamaica, she “felt really out of place [in this] new environment because it was so populated [but] as the years went on I started to come out of my shell.” 

In watching The Perks of Being a Wallflower, this feeling of loneliness or separation from the crowd may not have been a new feeling to her, and she may have felt a connection to this story for this reason, as well as because of her love of literature.

Similar to the main character of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, T’Neil’s favorite teacher she has had to date is her freshman year English teacher, Mr. Oleson. This teacher ultimately inspired her interest in writing and journalism. 

When she’s at school T’Neil is not heavily involved in any sort of journalism programs but she is still very interested in her school’s academics and extracurriculars. T’Neil is part of her school’s Black Student Union and she created a club called Future Preparation Club, which works to help her fellow students become prepared for college and life beyond high school. 

T’Neil’s interest in journalism also stems from years of watching the news every morning and night with her family. This constant exposure led to her interest in becoming a broadcast journalist for a cable TV network. 

 In terms of what she’d like from the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists, T’Neil said, “the one thing that I want to gain is exposure and more of an understanding [of what journalism is]. You watch YouTube videos of what journalism is but nothing is really specific enough for me to [know] this is what I want to do.”

By Sophia Herrera
Our Lady of Mercy Academy

Around the age of eight, Julia Capitelli became fixated on the field of sports journalism.

Her parents would always find her watching the NHL or reading an article about a recent hockey game. She would watch or read any source of news she could get her hands on. This exposed her to the injustices between sexes and races in the journalism industry.

 “There is a significant gap in the hockey sports broadcasting industry between men and women,” the rising senior at North Shore High School said. “There are still far more men than women. It’s been dominated by the men forever.”

“Julia is a fierce fighter for the underrepresented, with women being the main category there,” her father, Steve Capitelli, added. As she grew up, Julia was exposed to her family’s love for the New York Rangers. Her family bonded over watching a Rangers game and analyzing it.  Although she has never played the game, her passion for hockey quickly consumed an enormous portion of her life. 

As Julia continued to grow, she developed a love for writing. She decided she wanted to use her skills to promote the hockey broadcasting industry and to be an advocate for women in sports journalism. “I always feel like there’s a part of her that would love to write scathing pieces about injustice,” her father said.

Julia has calculated the tedious steps she must take to make it to her new dream job at NHL Network. First, she reached out to a New York Rangers blog titled foreverblueshirts. She was given a chance to write for the blog and continues to do so almost weekly. Her posts on the blog consist of her deep analysis of games. Unlike other journalists, Julia not only studies the main events of each game but also the actions of players and coaches away from the puck. 

The next step she took was joining the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists. Julia applied because she wants to write in a more journalistic style. “Right now, a lot of my writing can sound like an essay I would write in English class, so I need to get used to the journalism style of writing,” she acknowledged. She also aims to get more of an understanding of broadcast media. “Overall, I’m looking for this week to be the first step to a career in journalism.”

“As far as journalism goes, I think it is really important that people get the truth,” she said. It was distressing for her to see the lack of truth in some of the news in recent years.

“It would be nice to be someone that just writes articles,” Julia concluded. “But I also think I would be really into broadcast media and to be a face that people see as a part of women’s representation in the field,”