By Christopher Cabrera
Brentwood High School
When Asher Squires applied to the Greene Team, they saw it as an opportunity for a writing experience.
Asher sees themselves more as a creative writer than a journalist.
They grew up in Sound Beach with their older brother, Noah, and their parents, Lorraine and Matt Squires.
They currently attend Miller Place High School, where they engage with all sorts of media, including books like House of Leaves, music from artists like My Chemical Romance, and games such as Undertale, which have helped them explore different creative mediums.
Asher loves attending concerts and volunteering in the backstage crew at Theatre Three in Port Jefferson, where they gain knowledge and experience with the work involved in the creation process while also getting to socialize and directly bond and build connections in a team effort.
It’s their personality that draws cooperation. “Asher always has this charm-power,” says Fei Shi-Zhong, one of Asher’s “best buddies.” “They are able to literally lighten any room they enter. They always know what to say, what to do, and the entire mood just shifts.” She said that she is “forever grateful that I’ve got to meet such an incredible individual.”
Poetry has been Asher’s main outlet of expression. “I love poetry and making people feel things with my writing,” they said. They take classes every Saturday and use their free time to write pieces and even submit them for contests.
Support from their teacher and mom has pushed Asher to advance. Their mom, as a librarian, has motivated Asher to engage in literary works. “My English teacher once told me ‘You have a very good writing voice’ and I think about it every time I write,” Asher said.
Their teacher had helped them apply for the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists program.
“I’m definitely still a beginner, though,” Asher said. The Greene Team presented an opportunity for Asher to flesh out their writing and build the skills to communicate their vocal advocacy in more ways.
“I literally screamed when I got accepted,” Asher related. They hope to work on advancing their journalism skills, “especially ledes.” Even though Asher doesn’t intend to become a journalist, they want to use the skills from the program for a future career as an English teacher or librarian.