By Faith Welch
Greenport High School
Gabrielle Sanders has always existed in the in-between, a place where creativity meets logic, where introversion meets growth, and where the sciences and the arts dance together in harmony.
The 17-year-old rising senior at Roosevelt High School wants to use the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists to explore how her many interests can intersect and how storytelling can be a bridge between them.
“I feel like journalism is an art form that can be used in powerful ways,” Gabrielle said. “It helps people learn things they wouldn’t otherwise know. It can bring awareness, expose truth and make a difference in communities.”
That belief inspired her to apply to the Greene Institute. Though she’s relatively new to journalism, Gabrielle is already a member of her school’s newspaper club and helped develop a journalism class.
She sees this summer as a chance to deepen her skills and discover what a career in media might look like. “We don’t really learn journalism in school,” she explained. “So I saw this as an opportunity to explore something that’s not usually offered.”
Sanders has many passions, from music production to marine biology, and she doesn’t believe in putting herself in a box. Instead, she’s drawn to the ways journalism can combine disciplines and allow for creative expression. “I love that journalism can involve writing, music, science, storytelling — all of it,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be one thing.”
“I feel like journalism is an art form that can be used in powerful ways,” Gabrielle said. “It helps people learn things they wouldn’t otherwise know. It can bring awareness, expose truth and make a difference in communities.”
– Gabrielle Sanders
Her favorite classes include music theory, biology and creative writing. Her interests spill into her free time, where she enjoys drawing, producing music and learning about the environment.
Outside the classroom, Gabrielle participates in a range of extracurriculars. She’s part of her school’s student government and National Honor Society. She even performed in a majorette event for Newsday during a local band festival.
Despite her confidence today, Gabrielle said she hasn’t always been outgoing. “When I was younger, I was very shy,” she said. “But being in different social environments at school helped me learn to talk to people and open up.” That self-awareness and empathy are qualities those close to her admire.
Gabrielle’s mother shared some warm words describing her daughter: “She has been a blessing. Gabrielle is kind, courageous, not afraid to attain what she wants, and I couldn’t be prouder. She’s ambitious, loving and a force to reckon with.”
While she doesn’t have a specific media figure she looks up to, Gabrielle is excited to discover new voices and perspectives during her time at the Greene Institute. She’s especially interested in cultural journalism. “Culture is something that connects everyone,” she said. “It helps us learn about each other and how we experience the world differently.”
In five to 10 years, Gabrielle envisions herself in a career that combines logic and creativity, whether that’s journalism, tech or something yet to be discovered. No matter the field, she hopes to keep learning, creating and connecting.
“If someone were to write about me,” she said, “I’d want them to say I can adapt, that I’m someone who steps out of their comfort zone and understands people.”